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Women in Construction Operations
Northern California Chapter
Serving the Bay Area and surrounding counties, WiOPS Northern California Chapter was launched as the organization’s second chapter in 2018. The chapter garnered immediate support from the local building community, with 150 prospective members at its introductory meeting. It now serves more than 1400 registered members.
With the area’s diverse mix of project types ranging from technology, to healthcare, sports stadiums and more—chapter members represent leading general contractors, trade partners, design professionals, construction managers, and owner representatives.
Construction tech firms from nearby Silicon Valley and the surrounding areas also are part of the mix, bringing awareness and training for the latest construction innovations to our group. All involved freely use their expertise to mentor and support one another during fun and educational chapter meetings and events.
Graciously sponsored by construction firms, suppliers and vendors, meetings and most chapter functions are free to registered members. Each meeting or event is conveniently held at a new location or online, with approximately 50 to 200 women and men in attendance.
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Contact NorCal WiOPS
Please contact us directly at norcal@wiops.org
Board of Directors
Northern California Chapter
Melissa Berg
President
Bio
Melissa Berg is President of WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Melissa is an owner and Director at Dome Construction, a mid-sized general contractor with locations throughout California. Her teams specialize in healthcare construction in the Bay Area. She also leads efforts in the advancement of women and diversity and inclusion within Dome.
Outside of work, Melissa loves to travel, especially trips involving scuba diving. Most weekends you can find her at a beach with her dog Mia and wife Kristen.
Kelly Coogan
Vice President
Bio
Kelly Coogan is Vice President of WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Kelly is a Sr. Project Manager with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a large national General Contractor founded in 1864. Based in their San Francisco office, Kelly is a passionate construction professional who has focused on building healthcare projects within the Bay Area over her 13-year career with McCarthy.
When Kelly is not on the jobsite, you can find her spending time with family and friends, camping, hiking, cooking, or working on her own property in Sebastopol, Calif.
Kelly is a Sr. Project Manager with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a large national General Contractor founded in 1864. Based in their San Francisco office, Kelly is a passionate construction professional who has focused on building healthcare projects within the Bay Area over her 13-year career with McCarthy.
When Kelly is not on the jobsite, you can find her spending time with family and friends, camping, hiking, cooking, or working on her own property in Sebastopol, Calif.
Jennifer Lauritzen
Secretary
Bio
Jennifer Lauritzen is Secretary of WiOPS Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Jenn is a Project Executive with Swinerton, a commercial contracting company founded in 1888. In this role, she oversees projects in the San Francisco Bay Area for the company’s Northern California Healthcare Division and is actively involved in fostering the division’s Lean journey.
When Jenn is not on the job, look to the skies where she may be found paragliding among the clouds. She also enjoys riding her motorcycles, rock climbing, and taking on a DIY home improvement project.
Stacie McConnell
Director of Membership
Bio
Stacie McConnell is Director of Membership for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Stacie is a Senior Operations Manager with ISEC, Inc., a commercial specialty subcontractor whose scopes include architectural woodwork, ornamental metals, specialties, doors frames and hardware, laboratory casework and lab & medical equipment. In her 24th year at ISEC, she oversees several project management teams in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Stacie enjoys music, going to live concerts, hanging out at the beach, craft beer, and spending time with family and friends.
LaDrena Dansby
Treasurer
Bio
LaDrena Dansby is Treasurer of WiOPS Northern California Chapter. She helped co-found WiOPS in 2013 along with a group of pioneering women from construction, architecture and engineering companies.
LaDrena is a Program Manager with AECOM currently overseeing a major healthcare master plan implementation program. LaDrena is a California registered Professional Engineer and a certified DBIA Professional with over 26 years of program administration, project management and design experience. Her expertise includes delivering over $4.1 billion in California healthcare projects which entails working with project owners to plan, design and construct hospitals and healthcare facilities and providing resilience, tactics and leadership.
LaDrena enjoys day trips, spending time with family and friends, cooking, and taking walks to observe the everyday beauty around us.
LaDrena is a Program Manager with AECOM currently overseeing a major healthcare master plan implementation program. LaDrena is a California registered Professional Engineer and a certified DBIA Professional with over 26 years of program administration, project management and design experience. Her expertise includes delivering over $4.1 billion in California healthcare projects which entails working with project owners to plan, design and construct hospitals and healthcare facilities and providing resilience, tactics and leadership.
LaDrena enjoys day trips, spending time with family and friends, cooking, and taking walks to observe the everyday beauty around us.
Jeanette Slye
Director of Fundraising
Bio
Jeanette Slye is the Director of Fundraising for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She began serving on the chapter’s Board of Directors in 2020.
Working in the construction industry since 2011, Jeanette is an experienced project administrator. She is currently a Sr. Project Cost Administrator for Swinerton, a commercial general contractor founded in 1888. Based in the firm’s healthcare division, Jeanette oversees all job cost documentation for the company’s Bay Area healthcare projects while working closely with subcontractors and clients.
Away from work, Jeanette enjoys spending time outdoors participating in activities such as skeet shooting, camping and traveling.
Christina Greystone
Director of Events
Bio
Christina Greystone is the Event Director of WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter and has served on its board since the chapter was founded in 2017. Christina is a Sr. Project Engineer with ISEC, Inc., a commercial specialty subcontractor whose scopes include Architectural Woodwork, Ornamental Metals, Specialties, Doors Frames and Hardware, Laboratory Casework and Lab & Medical Equipment.
Christina is responsible for assisting projects in the Bay Area. Christina enjoys playing softball, golfing, participating in 5k & 10k running events with friends, going hiking or traveling to new places with her family and dog Rufus.
LaToya Thompson
Public Relations Director
Bio
LaToya Thompson is Public Relations Director for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter.
A Fire Sprinkler Specialist for Hilti North America, LaToya works with fire sprinkler contractors and engineers on major top-tier commercial and multi-family projects around the Bay Area. With 18 years of sales management experience, she has helped change the face and mindset of the construction industry. LaToya has an open-door policy for anyone who wants to reach out to her for mentorship and networking.
In her free time, LaToya is a guest drummer for her mother’s Blues band. She also enjoys hiking, dog-sitting for friends and helping loved ones manage their personal properties.
A Fire Sprinkler Specialist for Hilti North America, LaToya works with fire sprinkler contractors and engineers on major top-tier commercial and multi-family projects around the Bay Area. With 18 years of sales management experience, she has helped change the face and mindset of the construction industry. LaToya has an open-door policy for anyone who wants to reach out to her for mentorship and networking.
In her free time, LaToya is a guest drummer for her mother’s Blues band. She also enjoys hiking, dog-sitting for friends and helping loved ones manage their personal properties.
Marie Patterson
Education Director
Bio
Marie Patterson is Education Director for WiOPS’ Northern California Chapter. She has served on its Board of Directors since the chapter’s founding in 2017.
Marie is an Assistant Professor at California State University, Chico in the Construction Management Department, and is advisor to the Chico State Women in Construction and Mechanical Contractors Association student clubs. Her industry career included working for specialty piping contractors focusing on advanced technology and pharmaceutical markets, as well as overseeing facility renovations for project owners.
Marie’s hobbies include golfing, hiking, camping, and fly fishing. She also enjoys evenings at home cooking.