From Community to Construction

Building Inclusive Power, Purpose, and Legacy

In her powerful address, Liliana Perez, Senior Director of Cultural Affairs for the Los Angeles Chargers, draws from her distinguished career in public service and cultural connection to deliver a compelling vision for the future of the construction industry. Perez argues that true progress in construction — just as in strong communities — begins not with blueprints and bricks, but with intentional coalition-building and human connection.

Core Message:

When women lead with inclusion and collaboration, they don’t simply enter male-dominated industries like construction — they fundamentally transform them into spaces where everyone belongs and truly thrives.

Key Themes:

Courageous Leadership that Expands the Blueprint

Perez shares her personal journey from government leadership roles to shaping cultural impact within professional sports. She illustrates how courageous leadership is not a single breakthrough moment, but a daily mindset of stepping into unfamiliar territories, redefining influence, and ensuring women’s voices are central to shaping the future of industries like construction.

Legacy is Measured by Who We Lift

True legacy, Perez emphasizes, is never measured by titles or individual achievements alone. Instead, it is defined by the people we mentor, the barriers we help remove, and the opportunities we create for others. Just as construction builds the physical infrastructure that supports society, women in construction are actively building pathways for equity, greater representation, and lasting generational change.

Through inspiring stories, practical insights, and a clear call to action, Liliana Perez challenges the audience to prioritize building bridges before buildings — fostering inclusive cultures, expanding opportunities, and creating a more equitable industry that reflects the diverse communities it serves.

From the Trades to Transformation

A Journey of Purpose, Equity, and Community

As the daughter of immigrant union workers, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis brings a deeply personal perspective to breaking barriers and expanding opportunity in the construction industry. She reflects on her path from local public service to U.S. Secretary of Labor, and how that journey shapes her work delivering purpose‑driven projects like LA General’s adaptive reuse, the 10,000‑unit affordable housing pipeline, new parks, and major transit expansions. Her keynote inspires attendees to lead with heart, lift up women in the trades, and build communities where everyone has a chance to thrive

About Hilda Solis:

Los Angeles County Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis is a lifelong resident of the San Gabriel Valley and the daughter of immigrant parents from Nicaragua and Mexico. She is a graduate of La Puente High School, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and the University of Southern California. Solis has dedicated her career to public service, beginning on the Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees before serving in the California State Assembly, State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2009, Solis made history as the first Latina to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet when she was appointed Secretary of Labor by President Barack Obama. She now serves as Chair for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and represents the First District, which spans communities from East Hollywood to Pomona in the East San Gabriel Valley.

This panel brings together experienced tradeswomen to share firsthand perspectives on jobsite safety and leadership in the construction trades. Drawing from their lived experiences, panelists will explore what safety truly looks like on today’s jobsites—addressing not only physical hazards, but also psychological safety, workplace culture, and accountability.

Panelists will discuss the unique challenges women face in male-dominated work environments, including access to properly fitting personal protective equipment, speaking up about unsafe conditions, and navigating harassment or isolation. The conversation will also highlight effective practices that create safer, more inclusive worksites for all workers.

In addition, the panel will examine leadership pathways for tradeswomen, emphasizing how leadership often begins long before formal titles are assigned. Panelists will share how they lead through experience, mentorship, and advocacy, and what support is needed from unions, contractors, and training programs to advance women into supervisory and decision-making roles.

This discussion is designed for apprentices, journey-level workers, contractors, union leaders, workforce practitioners, and policymakers committed to strengthening safety, equity, and leadership within the skilled trades.

This address is an energizing and thought-provoking call for leaders across construction, sports, public service, and beyond to embrace collaborative, courageous, and legacy-minded leadership that lifts entire communities while constructing a stronger, more inclusive future.

Leadership Tools For Leading Through Change

A Human and Pragmatic Approach to Organizational Change Management

In this practical and insightful workshop, Morgan Traynor, Director of Product and Competitive Enablement at Procore, explores a human-centered and pragmatic approach to organizational change management.

Change is the only constant we can truly count on — in business and in life. This session equips leaders with the tools and mindsets needed to navigate change effectively, honorably, and with empathy.

Participants will learn how to lead through uncertainty by combining clear strategy with genuine human connection. Morgan shares actionable frameworks and real-world insights drawn from her experience driving product enablement and competitive strategy in the fast-evolving construction technology industry.

Key Focus Areas Include:

•  Understanding the human side of change and why emotional intelligence matters as much as project plans

•  Practical tools for communicating change clearly and building buy-in across teams

•  Strategies for maintaining momentum, trust, and morale when navigating disruption

•  Leading with honor — balancing decisiveness with compassion during times of transition

Takeaways:

1. Define the stages of change and describe change management needs in your business.

2. Identify correlating challenges and practical remedies.

3. Implement a change management model built for buy-in and results.

Whether you’re guiding a team through new technology adoption, organizational restructuring, or industry shifts, this workshop delivers immediately applicable leadership tools that help turn change from a challenge into a catalyst for growth.

Attendees will leave with a stronger leadership toolkit, renewed confidence, and a clear understanding of how to lead people — not just processes — through change.

Tradeswomen Take Center Stage

Leadership, Confidence, and Career Growth