Last week, we had the pleasure of attending the 2025 SRBX Women In Construction (WIC) conference at the Safe Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Sacramento, and we left feeling inspired, energized, and connected with so many amazing women in our industry.
The conference started with a pre-conference welcome event at the Crest Theatre on Wednesday evening, which DeAnn attended. It was incredible to hear the journeys of two leaders from Swinerton Construction. Lia Tatevosian began her career as a newly graduated mechanical engineering student answering phones, and now she serves as the Senior Vice President of Swinerton’s Southern California region. Lori Dunn-Guion began as a summer intern and rose to Senior Vice President of the Northern California region. Their stories reminded us that no matter where your journey starts, hard work, mentoring, and dedication can take you far. 
On Thursday, we spent the full day participating in workshops, networking, and learning from some truly inspiring women in the AEC industry. The overarching theme of the conference focused on self-care, self-assurance, and perseverance, encouraging women to push boundaries and support one another.
One workshop that really stood out for us was “Put on Your Oxygen Mask First: Mental Health in Construction.” It emphasized the importance of taking care of our own mental health while advocating for mental health awareness within our organizations. We learned about 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and brainstormed ways to bring more attention to this important resource in offices and on jobsites. 
We’re excited to collaborate with our marketing team at Nacht & Lewis to promote this advocacy further because taking care of ourselves first helps create healthier and more supportive work environments for everyone.
Another powerful session was “Get Out of Your Own Way.” We learned about the Misha Method, which teaches us to reframe the narratives we tell ourselves, “Brag Better” about our accomplishments, and carve out time for self-care throughout the workday. As women in the AEC industry, it’s easy to underestimate ourselves or over-apologize for our expertise. This workshop reminded us to stay focused, stay confident, and not let others’ assumptions or expectations hold us back.
Beyond the workshops, we enjoyed connecting with friends and colleagues in the AEC industry, hearing their inspiring stories, and seeing the next generation of women ready to make their mark. It reinforced the importance of mentoring and encouraging young women to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
Attending the WIC conference was a powerful reminder that when women in the AEC industry support and lift one another up, incredible things can happen. We left feeling motivated to continue advocating for ourselves, our teams, and the next generation of women in construction.
Written by: DeAnn Splinter & Michele Hausauer
