The 2nd Annual Associated Building and Contractors, Inc. Women’s Leadership Forum was held Thursday, September 22, 2011 to provide solutions to the most common concerns of women in business, including being at the helm, behavioral skills in the workplace and communicating effectively. It was entitled “strategies for Women in Male-Dominated Industries. This is the second time we were given a special invitation by the organization to have our students attend.

The Keynote speakers were:

Kendaree Burgess – founding member of the Centre for Leadership, a women’s group in Bermuda helping women break through the glass ceiling. Donna Drake – host of Live It Up, a new TV talk show coming to the Albuquerque market.

Thelma Domenici – (special guest) author of the Albuquerque Journal “Ask Thelma”, a weekly etiquette advice column; CEO of Thelma Domenici & Associates.

.In addition, there was an all-male panel, which included Don Flanagan, former girl’s basketball coach at UNM; Steve Stucker from Channel 4; advertising executive Doug Turner, along with a Randy Baker, VP of D.R.B. Electric, Inc.

Chris Monet, CTS Manager and Melodee Saiz, WBL Coordinator took 5 female representative from the trades to the event and spent the day in sessions. Dr. Emily Salazar, BCL and Virginia Trujillo, OACTS Director, joined the group for lunch and to do some networking. Pictures were taken with the speakers and the MC, Deanna Sauceda, Noon anchor for KRQE-TV News 13. Ms. Sauceda posted the group picture on her Facebook page. Pictured are the students in their pink hardhats!!