FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NAWIC Midwest Region to Hold Fall Forum in Minnesota - October 2018
NEWS RELEASE Media Cotact: Jodi Wiemerslage
Oct 1, 2018 jwiemerslage@huntelec.com
507-281-3226
NAWIC Midwest Region to Hold Fall Forum
ROCHESTER, MN — Jodi Wiemerslage of Hunt Electric Corporation and Midwest Region Director of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), has chosen dates and location for the Midwest Region Fall Forum. The Midwest Region, known as the Heart of NAWIC, includes 18 chapters and spans nine states including Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Missouri and Kansas.
The Fall Forum will be held October 26 – 27, 2018 at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. The conference theme this year is “Grow | Gather | Give” representing the responsibilities members have to themselves, their employers, their families, their chapter, their communities and the construction industry.
“Conference sessions and speakers will motivate and enrich those who attend,” says Wiemerslage. “Education and camaraderie are key elements that make these conferences memorable empowering women in our industry with tools, ideas, motivation and peer support”
In addition to excellent speakers and networking, the location should give members additional reasons to attend. The Mall of America, located in Bloomington, MN is home to unrivaled shopping, dining and entertainment experience. According to their website, “Since opening its doors in 1992, Mall of America® has revolutionized the shopping experience of tens of millions of visitors a year. A leader in retail, entertainment and attractions, Mall of America is one of the top tourist destinations in the country and is known around the world.”
The conference speakers this year are a fantastic representation of talent from the state of Minnesota.
Opening the conference is a key note duo comprised of Mary Weber, principle at E2 Leadership and Kelsey Johnson, President of the Iron Mining Association. Based in the Twin Cities, Mary has more than 25 years of successful experience as a human capital management leader working in a broad range of organizations and industries. Among other things, in her current role, Kelsey has a demonstrated history of working with governmental agencies and officials, collaborating on issues that are important to the people who run the mines and companies that supply the products and services to the mines northern Minnesota.
Another key session will be a panel discussion moderated by Mary Benike-Kisilewski of Benike Construction in Rochester and charter member of the Southeast Minnesota Chapter of NAWIC #346. Serving on the panel are the following:
- Laura Karow, President of Gunnar Electric
- Polly Friendshuh, Assistant Professor | Construction Sciences & Building Technology at Dunwoody College
- Seaen M. Kosmides, Vice President at OlympiaTech Electric
- Joanne Hagar, Construction Craft Laborer at John Foley Masonry
- Kristin Schultes, President at Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Closing the conference for the women in attendance is Carly Melin. Carly is currently the executive director of the Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council which is the advocate voice for all 14 building trades unions statewide, which includes over 70,000 members. Carly is an attorney and former state legislator from Hibbing. Her closing presentation will provide her perspective on the future of construction.
The conference is being planned by members of the Minneapolis/St. Paul and SE MN Chapters of the National Association of Women in Construction.
For additional conference details including session information, speakers and sessions, networking activities and social events, visit our conference page at https://www.nawicmsp.org/mwrfallconference
###
About NAWIC
For more than 55 years, NAWIC has helped women take advantage of the opportunities in construction. Whether you want to embark on a new career, grow your business, establish a reliable networking base, become a mentor/mentee, make a difference in your community, continue your education, or invest in great friendships with other women in the industry NAWIC offers a variety of opportunities — large and small.
