2024 ElevateHER® Symposium

Áine is the Principal and CEO of Enovate Consulting, an Engineering and Construction Management Firm. Starting
the company in 2017, Aine leads Enovate in public and private sector CM/PM, and Engineering services. They have
worked on monumental projects such as the Verrazzano Narrows, Brooklyn and George Washington Bridges, JFK
Redevelopment Project, and the new Newark Airport Terminal projects.
Prior to Enovate, Áine worked for a large privately held International infrastructure development and construction firm.
There, she worked her way from a Field Engineer to Vice President, running Engineering globally for the firm. She has
worked on both national and multi-billion-dollar international development projects.
Aine is a licensed Professional Engineer in sixteen states. She is the recipient of the Engineering News Record (ENR)
National Top 20 under 40, ENR New York Top 20 under 40, Involve Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model List, NJBIZ
Best 50 Women in Business, Newark College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni, and has received a Proclamation
from the City of New York as well as a Citation of Merit from the Bronx Borough President for her achievements in
Gaelic Football. Under Áine’s leadership, and due to her commitment to diversity and inclusivity, her company is
ranked on several Fortune lists for its company culture, earned the Great Best Place to Work certification the last two
years, the NJBIZ Best Place to Work in NJ award as well as an American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
DEI&B Pioneer of Belonging Award in Culture of Diversity and the Anchin Construction and Design Award for Most
Impactful Support of Diversity and Inclusion.
Hailing from her native Ireland, Áine graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from
NJIT and a Master’s in Civil Engineering, also from NJIT. Whilst at NJIT, Áine played Division I basketball for 4 years
and soccer for 2 years, actively involved in sports throughout all 5 of her years at NJIT. She sits on the Industry
Advisory Board of the Civil Engineering Department and the Dorman Honors College Board of Visitors at NJIT, and
also sits on the State Board of Directors with ACEC New York, and the NY Board of the Professional Women in
Construction (PWC). Married to her award-winning Director, Writer, and Actress wife, Jenna, Áine remains active on
several local initiatives and plays soccer and golf as well as hikes and snowboards in the winter months.

Prior to Enovate, Áine worked for a large privately held International infrastructure development and construction firm.  There, she worked her way from a field engineer to Vice President, running Engineering globally for the firm. She has worked on both national and multi-billion-dollar international development projects. 

She is a licensed Professional Engineer in sixteen states.  She is the recipient of the Engineering News Record (ENR) National Top 20 under 40, ENR New York Top 20 under 40, Involve Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model List, NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business, Newark College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni, and has received a Proclamation from the City of New York as well as a Citation of Merit from the Bronx Borough President for her achievements in Gaelic Football.  Under Áine’s leadership, and due to her commitment to diversity and inclusivity, her company is ranked on several Forbes lists for its company culture, earned the National Best Places to Work the last two years, the NJBIZ Best Place to Work in NJ award as well as an ACEC DEI&B Pioneer of Belonging Award in Culture of Diversity and the Anchin Construction and Design Award for Most Impactful Support of Diversity and Inclusion.

Hailing from her native Ireland, Áine graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from NJIT and a Master’s in Civil Engineering, also from NJIT. Whilst at NJIT, Áine played Division I basketball for 4 years and soccer for 2 years, actively involved in sports throughout all 5 of her years at NJIT. She sits on the Industry Advisory Board of the Civil Engineering Department and the Dorman Honors College Board of Visitors at NJIT, and also sits on the State Board of Directors with ACEC New York, and the NY Board of the Professional Women in Construction (PWC). Married to her award-winning Director, Writer, and Actress wife, Jenna, Áine remains active locally on several initiatives and plays soccer and golf as well as hikes and snowboards in the winter months.

Tia Perry is an award-winning diversity, equity, and inclusion leader with a proven track record in construction association management and driving membership growth.

Perry, a results-driven leader with over 17 years of association experience, is the executive director at AEC Unites and is tasked with bringing the vision for the association to fruition by driving equity and inclusion for Black talent and Black-owned businesses in the architecture engineering, and construction industry. Perry spearheads strategic initiatives and operations of the organization’s programs and resources.

Before AEC Unites, Perry led the inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives as Director at Associated Builders and Contractors, providing consultative support and leadership to ABC’s chapters and member companies.

 Perry began her association career in 2015 with the Transportation Intermediaries Association. During her nine-year tenure, Perry developed and managed all aspects of the sales and membership efforts, affinity programs, and member services, including non-dues revenue. The Maryland Minority Contractors Association recently recognized her award-winning passion and success through its Professional Commitment Award and by the American Society of Association Executives as a Diversity Executive Leadership Program Scholar.

Daniela Ramirez is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the Dallas Regional Chamber where she works to strengthen DEI culture in the organization and throughout the Dallas region. In her role, she contributes to the development of engagement and education programs for her colleagues to foster a work environment that prioritizes inclusion. Daniela also shapes professional growth experiences for DEI practitioners from various industries to bolster a community of mutual learning. She oversees the DRC’s benchmarking efforts to understand the business community’s progress in DEI work with the goals of identifying areas of opportunity and making meaningful recommendations that improve the region. Furthermore, Daniela continuously engages community stakeholders to advance economic development projects in Southern Dallas County.

In previous roles, Daniela informed and guided decision processes to develop regional workforce training programs utilizing data and geospatial analysis. Daniela is a Baylor University alumna and earned a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.

Jamie Claire Kiser is a co-founder and advisor of Zweig Group’s ElevateHER® program. Jamie Claire was managing principal at Zweig Group for 8 years, has practiced law, and has worked in commercial banking. She holds a Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor, and Bachelor of Arts in History. She is a board member of Miyamoto International, based in Sacramento, CA; and is on the board of the Buffalo River Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to conserving the Buffalo National River.

Daphne Bryant joined ACEC in 2018.  She is a member of ACEC’s senior leadership team and is responsible for the overall management of the Institute, including strategic direction, board management, fundraising, and delivery of dynamic research and thought leadership programs benefiting ACEC members and the industry. She previously served as ACEC’s SVP Membership and MO Services, responsible for recruitment and retention of ACEC’s member firms, as well as providing services and support to ACEC’s 51 state Member Organizations (MOs). 

Prior to ACEC, Daphne spent 17 years at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) as the Executive Director, Research Foundation and Senior Vice President, Business Development. She is a results-driven association professional with over 35 years of nonprofit and association management experience and a demonstrated track record of building relationships and revenues.

Brien Graham is a Tyler School of Art and Architecture graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He is a licensed architect and the Civic, Municipal, and Cultural Market Leader for KAI in the Dallas office. Day to Day, Brien oversees strategic decision-making, problem-solving, and collaboration across multiple teams at all levels. In addition to his architectural background, Brien has served in facilities management, which has helped to inform his ability to keep the end-user in mind to ensure spaces are well-designed and functional.

Additionally, Brien is also giving generously of his time, currently serving the profession as the 2023 – 2025 AIA Strategic Council Texas representative and TxA board, and 2023 – 2024 Treasurer for DFW NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects). Most recently, he was elected as the 2024-2025 NOMA South Region Vice President. Previously, he served as the 2021-2022 Chapter President of DFW NOMA, 2022 At-Large Board member for AIA Dallas, chair of the TxA EDI Committee, and AIA Dallas's Education Outreach Committee member.
He has been vice-chair and chair of AIA Dallas's Emerging Leaders Program, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity International, is a Career Day speaker, and is a continuous advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the design industry. He is a recent graduate of the inaugural AIA National Leadership Academy, comprised of 14 architects selected from around the country – a three-year leadership development program designed for architects ready for the next level of accomplished leadership in their firm, profession, and community. Brien is passionate about transformational leadership and providing early exposure to architecture to young students, particularly those from under-represented backgrounds.

As Business Manager, Brenda is an executive leader of Turner Construction’s Dallas office in which she provides overall leadership and management of various facets of the business. With 20 years in the industry, she has been a leader in multiple market segments such as healthcare, hospitality, commercial, corporate office, and municipal projects throughout the metroplex. These projects have ranged in size from $1M to $750M. 

 More importantly than her ability to deliver projects to the client on time, under budget, and with the highest quality, Brenda provides a high-level of respect for people regardless of the person’s background, ethnicity, and gender. This consistency in her leadership has allowed her to earn the respect of leaders, city officials, architects, clients, and trade partners within the community.  

Over the course of her career, Brenda has taken initiative to develop and grow employee resource groups such as the Dallas
Women’s Group, the Dallas Training Committee, and the Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Committee in efforts to ensure employees have access to the development needed to advance and grow in their careers. 

In addition to her leadership at work, Brenda finds time to make a difference within the community. She serves as Chair-Elect of the Executive Leadership Council for Autism Speaks. She enjoys providing mentorship to elementary aged students and participates in various programs that develop children’s interest in STEM fields.  

Brenda is a loving mother of three boys and is a fantastic representation within our community of respect, commitment, and integrity. In her spare time, you can find her going on adventures with her husband and three boys or trying to beat her personal record on her Peloton.

Connect with Brenda.

Lauren Aguilar, PhD, - Founder and CEO at illuceo - is a leading expert on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Lauren specializes in translating the science of DEI into actionable strategies that organizations can use to foster more diverse and inclusive workplaces and products. She partners with innovative companies like Airbnb, Credit Karma, Clif Bar, XL Construction, Blach Construction, Zweig Group, Dome Construction, ESA, and eBay. Lauren’s superpower is using a data-driven—yet human-centered—approach to DEI. Her research on diversity, team dynamics, belonging, and communication has been published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Physics Today, Gender News, Symmetry Magazine, the Encyclopedia of Human Relationships, and the Journal of Personality. As a thought leader, she has been featured in Fast Company, Yahoo, HRCI, Top Employer, ZDnet, Popsugar, the Women in Science Forum. She was named a “40 Under 40” by San Francisco Business Times, “Top Diversity Influencer” by Culture Amp and a “Distinguished Emerging Global Leader” by Womensphere. Lauren has presented her research at many conferences around the world, and has taught courses on DEI at Stanford University and Columbia University. Lauren earned her PhD in social psychology at Columbia University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University.

Curious. Innovative. Passionate.

Marci is a forward-thinker: her leadership, and understanding of innovation, is transforming the SMPS business landscape: with the goal of always being relevant at our audience’s point of need. Her strategic approach to organizational development and experience-driven marketing amplifies core offerings such as membership, professional development, continuing education, and credentialing, thus fostering business growth. Marci is the Publisher of SMPS’s award-winning Marketer journal; she is also a contributing writer for trade publications and a two- time book author.

Shelby Harvey has over 6 years of experience in the AEC industry, and is currently the Talent Development & HR Lead at BHC, a civil engineering consulting firm in Overland Park, KS. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Communication from the University of Central Missouri and has her MBA with an emphasis in HR Management from Baker University. She has a passion for promoting professional growth and development, which has led her to become a certified CliftonStrengths coach, as well as manage BHC’s summer internship program. Shelby is also a co-lead of BHC’s DEI committee.

Chad Coldiron is a highly experienced Principal and Director of Development at Zweig Group, where he assists AEC firms in critical leadership transitions. With a passion for team and culture building, Chad brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to both internal and external processes. Chad’s professional background includes extensive experience in leadership, retention, recruiting, employee experience, sales, risk management, social behaviors, and contract negotiation. Prior to joining Zweig Group, he developed and directed the client retention department for one of the fastest-growing independent insurance brokerages in the United States. As an advisor at Zweig Group, Chad has worked with AEC firms across the country on a variety of strategic hiring initiatives, as well as organizational restructuring, ownership transition, employee training, marketing, and growth campaigns. He brings a pragmatic approach to building the right teams, enabling clients to maximize their growth potential while driving down their overall cost per hire. Chad launched his career by developing strong and valuable relationships in the local and professional communities around Northwest Arkansas. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from the University of Arkansas’ Walton College of Business. When he’s not busy helping clients achieve their goals, Chad enjoys spending time with his family and friends and engaging with the community that raised him. With a simple and fulfilling life philosophy, Chad is a dedicated professional who puts his expertise and experience to work for his clients.

You have a need. Amanda has an idea. Often referred to as an “Idea Machine,” Amanda serves dozens of A/E/C industry clients throughout the United States as a fractional-CMO, helping businesses develop the marketing ideas and capacity they need to move their companies forward.  Amanda combines 25 years of design experience with intimate knowledge of the professional services industry. She is a past president of SMPS Cincinnati, has presented at numerous events and conferences nationwide, produced award-winning work, and served as a volunteer for several organizations. As a fractional-CMO, Amanda’s experience is wide-ranging and includes brand development, graphic design, online presence, marketing initiatives, and client relationships. The breadth of her expertise gives Amanda better insight into the big picture – helping organizations quickly understand where they are lacking and how to easily find the best returns. Amanda and her team at Pixels and Ink Studio also use their talents and know-how to regularly give back to the community.

Kellie Delaney grew up in the AEC industry and is the product of multiple generations of construction contractors. Growing up, she gave impromptu tours to anyone who would listen and would highlight all the places her grandfather and father built in her hometown and surrounding areas. Even though she did not start her professional career in the AEC industry, she has returned to her roots.

Kellie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree and a Master of Science in Knowledge Management degree. She spent the last 15 years in the public service sector, working in digital and traditional marketing. She brings her education and marketing experience to HP Engineering Inc., where she serves as the Director of Marketing.

Her typical day includes promoting the HP Engineering brand through print and digital collateral, preparing statements of qualifications and proposals, developing strategic relationships, and researching potential business opportunities.

She is an active member of the Oklahoma City Community. She is a Women’s Leadership Society member and serves as the Vice Chair of the United Way Emerging Leaders of Central Oklahoma Steering Committee. She actively volunteers with the United Way of Central Oklahoma, the Pet Food Pantry, and the Friends of the Metropolitan Library System Booksale. Last year she was named a Journal Record #AchieversUnder40 for the state of Oklahoma.

Ms. Putzke is an Owner and Principal at Cyntergy.  Stephanie actively serves as a Principal on customer projects, along with performing her operational role at the firm as it’s Director of Interior Design.  Since joining the firm, Stephanie has worked on projects varying in scale and scope and her responsibilities have included conceptual design, design development, construction detailing, and graphic presentation. Stephanie holds a Masters degree in Architecture from the University of Kansas and spent the early years of her career focusing on architectural interiors. Later earning certifications and licensure as an interior designer Stephanie now possesses a unique ability to understand a project from multiple angles and successfully coordinate both disciplines. One of the most beneficial faculties Stephanie possesses is the talent to assess the needs of people, for strong teams and build trust both internally and with our customers. 

Open and fluid communications are key contributors to Stephanie’s success. She has a natural ability to allow her clients to feel heard and understood, and to draw on what they’re saying, or discern what they’re not saying in order to create remarkable interiors. Stephanie designs spaces where people live comfortably and work productively. By gaining an understanding of her client’s lifestyles and culture’s, she can translate their personalities to the built environment expressing the client throughout their surroundings.

Jessica Bazán brings 15 years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry.  As a Senior Associate with O’Connell Robertson, she serves as the Business Development Leader for a fully integrated architecture and engineering design firm. In that role, Jessica cultivates and supports client relationships across all markets by working closely with the Firm leaders, marketing team, and design professionals to communicate Firm strengths in order to develop new business and attain work in Central Texas.  Additionally, she provides strategic messaging and graphic design support for bond communication campaigns. Jessica’s knowledge of social media and virtual presentation platforms supports community engagement and public relations for bond programs and client events.  As an involved member in the community, Jessica has served as a Board member for non-profit organizations such as the Society of Marketing Professional Services, Austin Education Foundation and the Pflugerville Education Foundation.  She also serves on the grant review committee with another regional school district foundation, is a member and presenter with the Texas School Public Relations Association and participated in community programs such as the Central Healthcare Community Champions and Austin ISD UpClose programs.  Born and raised in Southwest Austin, Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Edward’s University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.  

Chad Clinehens is the president and CEO of Zweig Group. Passionate about the business side of design and technical service firms, Chad has built a career on leading them through growth and change. He has worked with AEC firms throughout the U.S. on a variety of needs – strategic business planning, turnarounds, partner separations, organizational restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, marketing and sales, growth campaigns, and more. As a registered professional engineer, Chad brings an in-depth knowledge of what makes professional service firms and the people who work for them unique. Working in the industry for more than 20 years, he has been involved in many aspects of the business including design, project management, department management, regional office management, and directional leadership. He holds a MBA and BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas and is a registered professional engineer in several states.