BUILD WITH US! 2023 Blue-Collar Gala & Industry Awards
September 29, 2023
The Loft at 8th Avenue
2010 SE 8th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97214
6:00 pm - Reception
7:00 pm - Program Begins
Join Oregon Tradeswomen as a sponsor, table host, or guest at our annual Blue-Collar Fundraising gala, Build With Us! Together, we will recognize the individuals nominated for a Woman on the Rise or Wanda Hall Legacy Award, and have a lot of fun raising critical funds to support the life-changing programs of Oregon Tradeswomen.
We are so excited to welcome Tra'Renee Chambers as our vibrant MC for the evening, and Eva Zore as our expert Auctioneer, both of whom will bring a wealth of fun and enthusiasm to this celebratory night. Join us to hear a special message from Interim Executive Director, Donna Hammond, bid in a live auction, and honor the six exceptional tradesworkers who will be revealed as our Industry Award Winners!
Tickets
A limited number of tickets to Build With Us! will be sold on-site at the Loft at 8th Avenue when doors open at 6pm! Tickets must be purchased with credit or debit at the door. Please send email to Nami Bigos, Build With Us! Event Manager, at nami@oregontradeswomen.org with questions.
2023 Industry Awards
Thank you to everyone who nominated someone extraordinary for our Industry Awards. The 2023 Wanda Hall Legacy Award and Woman on the Rise award winners will be announced live at Build With Us!, Oregon Tradeswomen's Blue-Collar Gala and Award Ceremony on Friday, September 29th.
Wanda Hall Legacy Award
This award honors the memory of Wanda hall, whose steadfast commitment to mentorship and support at the Portland Water Bureau helped many women find rewarding careers in the skilled trades.
The 2023 award will recognize a worker of any gender who is a champion of others, and who serves as a role model and mentor in the skilled trades who has helped lead the way for others.
Lindsey Birkenfeld, Backhoe Operator, Portland Water Bureau
Nominated by: Eric Wright, Water Operations Mechanic, Portland Water Bureau
Korri Bus, Union Organizer, Sheet Metal Workers iTi
Nominated by: Tammy Meyen, Recruitment and Retention Specialist, Sheet Metal Workers iTi
Rosemary Foutts, Carpenter Apprentice
Nominated by: Mary Elizabeth Armstrong, Fellow Tradeswoman
Brittany Hill, Water Distribution Worker, Portland Water Bureau
Nominated by: Eric Wright, Water Operations Mechanic, Portland Water Bureau
Laura Klement, Owner, Enerstructa, LLC
Nominated by: Lindsay Kemp, Climate Equity Workforce Coordinator, Earth Advantage
Lisa Pickert, Safety Manager, Neil Kelly Co.
Nominated by: Lois Shamberger, Facilities Manager, Neil Kelly Co. and Valerie Garrett, Project Associate, Neil Kelly Co.
Elizabeth “Tissi” Snelson, Lead Instructor at Job Corps
Nominated by Andrea Summerlin, Guidance Counselor, Wolf Creek Job Corps
Pat Daniels, Executive Director, Constructing Hope - 2023 Wanda Hall Legacy awardee
Woman on the Rise
Celebrating tradeswomen with an exceptional work ethic, who demonstrate leadership, and are contributing to our industry.
Oregon Tradeswomen's Woman on the Rise award recognizes tradeswomen in the construction industry who are rising as leaders in their career, industry, or community.
Taunia Blakely, Electrician
Nominated by: Patty Keller, Journey Level Electrician, IBEW Local 48
Alyssa Cadiz, Warehouse Manager, C.O.A.T. Flagging
Nominated by: Tracy Dunlap, Office Manager, C.O.A.T. Flagging
Lisa Davis, Administrator of the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI)
Nominated by: Tiffanie Bond, PR Director, Imagine Communications
Adria Frankowicz, Apprentice Sheet Metal Worker, Local 16
Nominated by: Mark Van Sickle, VP of Manufacturing, Streimer
Vickie Hatcher, Industrial Electrician, Lead journeyworker / Licensed, Collins
Nominated by: Hanna Cox and Eric Rose, Human Resources, Collins
April Hempenstall, Owner/Operator,
Nominated by: Michelle Prudden, Youth Transition Specialist, Brooking Harbor School District
Kristina Jones, Journey Level Electrician
Nominated by: Melody Groundflyer, Journey Level Electrician, Squires Electric / IBEW Local 48
Danielle Marcial, UWII/Admin Support, City of Portland
Nominated by: Cailey Woodward, Administrative Specialist II, City of Portland
Samantha Meizer, Operator Apprentice, Stacy and Witbeck, Inc.
Nominated by: Brent, Project Manager, Stacy and Witbeck, Inc.
Kristen Mendes, Safety Manager, Streimer
Nominated by: Joe Metsker, Regional Safety Manager, Western Partitions Inc.
Jennifer Morelia, Sanchez Perez, HVAC Service Technician, Portland Youth Builders
Nominated by: Abdona Sanchez Perez, Service Technician
Rachael Morton, Forewoman Carpenter
Nominated by: Sarah Dunn, Marketing Coordinator II, Skanska
Katrina Newberry, Service Supervisor, Harder Mechanical Contractors
Nominated by: Christina Blaser, Director of People & Culture, Harder Mechanical Contractors
Kim Peterson, Journey Level Sheet Metal Worker, Local 16
Nominated by: Jinnie Freeman, Journey Level Sheet Metal Worker, Local 16
Tiffany Powell, Commerical/Industrial Eletctrical Apprentice
Nominated by: Sheila Birkenfeld, Electrical Foreman, IBEW Local 48
Ana Rigsby, Foreman Sprinklerfitter, McKinstry
Nominated by: Mike Piggot, Superintendent, McKinstry
Nathalie Roloff, Ownter/Operator, Roloff Construction
Nominated by: Laurey Maslyk, Executive Director, National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Pacific NW Chapter
Abdona Danely Sanchez Perez, HVAC Service Technician
Nominated by: Elia Duran, Service Technician
Sarah Stanks, Ironworker Apprentice
Nominated by: Krisjan Salmo, Journeyman Ironworker, Ironworkers Local 29
Amara Templin, Journey Level Electrician
Nominated by: Erick Fuentes, Electrical Dispatch, Squires Electric
Alisha Valdivia, General Foreman, UA Local 290
Nominated by: Jason Cisco, General Foreman, UA Local 290; Christina Blaser, Director of People & Culture, Harder Mechanical Contractors; and Melissa Mehrens, Apprentice, UA Local 290
Adrian Wilcox, Plumber Apprentice
Nominated by: Daniel Stultz
Sarah Wolff, Journeyman Carpenter, Stacy and Witbeck, Inc.
Nominated by: Steven LeFebre, General Superintendent, Stacy and Witbeck, Inc.
Stephanie Young, Journey Level Piledriver
Nominated by: Shaz Lynch, Engineering Manager, CBRE
Congratulations to our 2022 Woman on the Rise Award Winners:
2022 Woman on the Rise Award Winners (pictured from left)
Sam Wright, Foreman Carpenter / Piledriver, Skanska
Amelia Templeton, Apprentice Plumber, UA Local 290, and Alliant Systems
April O’Neal, Assistant Superintendent, LMC Construction
Ashley Haysom, Foreman Steamfitter, UA Local 290
Irais Gandarilla, Steamfitter Training Coordinator, UA Local 290
Sponsorship
Thank you for your commitment to ensuring access, equity, and opportunity for women and BIPOC in our construction industry. Sponsorship offers you visibility and recognition opportunities and is an investment in Oregon Tradeswomen's work to build a diverse, skilled workforce.
Questions about Sponsorship? Please contact:
Nami Bigos, Build With Us! Project Manager
nami@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.449.3315
2019 Tradeswoman Storyteller, Ana Bradley
Through your generous investment in our work and mission at Oregon Tradeswomen, you are helping build strong women, strong communities, and a strong industry. Your incredible support is helping put women to work and to change lives!
Investing in Oregon Tradeswomen is an investment in our community. Our work helps women attain economic self-sufficiency through careers in the skilled construction trades. Not only does our work together help create a more diverse workforce, it helps to ensure safe and respectful jobsites for all tradesworkers.