Join us to hear from this distinguished panel to empower yourself! We will connect for an hour to develop relationships and share successes!

Regardless of your position or tenure, this panel will highlight how we can all excel in the construction industry by owning who we are and by being leaders who empower. Led by Wendy Cohen, President of Kitchell, we will discuss the importance of getting effective feedback, having strategic planning discussions and; the necessity to learn how to be adaptable in an ever changing and dynamic industry.

Sing Sing Lee, AIA LEED AP Lean Black Belt

Architect, Facilities Planning, Design and Construction, Cedars Sinai

Sing Sing Lee received her bachelor’s degree for Architecture from SCI-ARC, her portfolio and experience ranges from Healthcare, Higher Education, Corporate commercial, and Entertainment type projects.

In the last 20 years she has held several positions from Project Designer, Medical Planner, and Project Manager. This is her 5th Year working at Cedars-Sinai.

Julie Owen, Senior Executive Officer, Program Management, LA Metro

Julie Owen is an industry leader with more than 30 years of experience in project controls, managing programs, and delivering capital projects. She is a Distinguished International Fellow of the International Cost Engineering Council, Fellow of the Guild of Project Controls and AACE International Fellow. She is the Senior Executive Officer, Project Management Oversight within the Program Management department for Los Angeles Metro where she is helping manage the $160 billion over 50-year capital program to improve Los Angeles County transportation infrastructure.

Alicia Ramos, CCM, Capital Projects Program Manager,

Los Angeles County Public Works

Alicia Ramos is a graduate of the California Polytechnic University Pomona with a Bachelor of Architecture and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University Long Beach. She has been a part of the County for the past twenty years performing project management for a variety of building types including courts and justice, parks and recreation, fire, and healthcare. She is an active member of the Construction Management Association of America and is a Certified Construction Manager (CCM). Her current role within the County of Capital Projects Program Manager places her in charge of active projects which include the development of new building types in the fields of Healthcare and Mental Health.

Farrah Farzaneh, Director of Facilities Planning, Emergency Management and Construction for San Bernardino Community College District.

Farrah has over 13 years of program management, project management, and construction management experience in all phases of the project life cycle from inception to execution and closeout. Farrah is a certified construction manager (CCM), as well as a certified design builder (Assoc. DBIA). She is also an accredited professional in leadership energy and environmental design (LEED AP BD+C). She holds a master’s degree in construction management and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with emphasizes in real-estate development and finance from University of Southern California.

Peggy M. Quijada de Franke

Director of Facilities, Planning and Development, Los Angeles Community College District

Ms. Quijada is a PE (Professional Engineer) and holds an MBA (Master of Business Administration) and an MSc (Master of Science) in Civil Engineering (Structures). Ms. Quijada has over 26 years of experience in engineering, planning, and management. In 2014, she joined LACCD’s (Los Angeles Community College District’s) Facilities, Planning and Development Department. In 2020, she assumed the Facilities Director position, where she oversees the development, execution, control, and closeout of Clean Energy projects, SMPs (Schedule Maintenance Projects), and Deferred Maintenance projects for the district’s nine colleges and satellite campuses.

Wendy Cohen, CCM, President, Kitchell

As President of Kitchell, Wendy oversees a workforce of over 400 employees managing construction projects across the western United States. With more than 25 years in the building industry, Wendy has worked in many aspects of the construction business; as a general contractor, construction manager, consultant, and owner. She is a trusted advisor in the construction industry and is known for her expertise in leading high-performance teams. Wendy has her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering Studies, from California Polytechnic University and is a graduate of the Stanford University, Graduate School of Business, LEAD Business Program.