About Julie

Julie Brown is a powerhouse speaker, networking guru, and unapologetic champion for women carving out their space in male-dominated industries. With 25 years of experience in the construction industry, she knows firsthand the challenges of thriving in traditionally male-dominated fields—and how vital a strong network is to overcoming them.

As a networking expert, business strategist, and the no-BS author of This Sh!t Works: A No-Nonsense Guide to Networking Your Way to More Friends, More Adventures, and More Success, Brown breaks down the barriers to building genuine connections. She is also the host of the This Sh!t Works podcast, where she mixes humor, straight talk, and expert advice. Her mission is to arm women with not just the skills but the confidence to grow networks that open doors, break ceilings, and lead to extraordinary success. With her energy, wit, and deep expertise, Brown transforms networking from a dreaded chore to an essential (and enjoyable) career tool that can change your life. Her sharp insights and no-nonsense approach empower women everywhere to unlock the full power of their networks and transform their careers.

About Kathyann

Kathyann M Cowles, AIA, NCARB, AAA, studied at Boston College and received her architectural degree from Pratt Institute. As an architect with over 35 years’ experience for diverse and complex design and construction projects, Cowles has a unique perspective on the multi-faceted issues facing today’s construction teams. She represents the interests of owners, designers, and contractors in complex science/technology, academic, industrial, manufacturing, civic and corporate projects, in the public and private sectors. Co-editor/author of The Future of the Design and Construction Industry, Cowles was awarded the Construction Institute’s 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award for contributions to the advancement of the regions design, construction, and facilities communities. A recipient of a 2018 Higginbotham Fellowship to study Alternative Dispute Resolution, Cowles is now an active Member of the American Arbitration Panel, and a certified mediator, focusing on issues facing the AEC Industry.

About Carolina

Carolina Cudemus Jones is the Senior Director of Capital Program Development and Delivery for Yale University medical and west campuses. Prior to joining Yale, Cudemus Jones was the assistant vice president for capital projects at Smith College, where she was responsible for a variety of capital projects and initiatives. She previously served as the director of design and construction management at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst, the flagship campus of the UMass system. At UMass Amherst, she oversaw a diverse capital projects portfolio. Cudemus Jones was also a pre-construction project executive for Gilbane Building Company and deputy director of the New Haven Schools capital program. She has over 20 years of experience in complex private and public commercial construction projects including healthcare, higher education and K-12 schools.

Cudemus Jones holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration. She is also a certified Design Build Institute of America Associate, an American Arbitration Association Higginbotham Fellow, and was recognized by the Connecticut Association of General Contractors as the 2016 Project Manager of the Year. She is an Associate Design-Build Professional and is certified in public purchasing in the State of Massachusetts. Cudemus Jones is the chair and co-founder with Nancy Greenwald of The Construction Institute’s “Women Who Build Summit”. She has also served on The Construction Institute Board of Directors and Board of Advisors Committee.

About Avishan

Avishan Montazer is an Assistant Project Manager of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company in New Haven, CT. She has experience working in complex utility distributions, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Throughout her time with the construction management firm, Montazer has managed the coordination for purchasing and installations in a higher education campus setting, multi-family apartment complexes and retail spaces. She is an avid problem-solver who enjoys collaboration and is highly motivated by customer satisfaction. Montazer is a member of the Women Who Build Planning Committee since 2023, and an active member of SWE (Society of Women Engineers). She enjoys reading, exercising, cooking and traveling the world any chance she can get.

About Anamaria

Dr. Anamaria Popescu, PE, PSP,PMP is a Senior Managing Director in Ankura’s Global Construction Disputes and Advisory Practice based in Denver, CO. She is a construction arbitrator with the AAA/ICDR and a licensed Professional Engineer with more than 30 years of experience in project management, construction claims, delay analysis, productivity loss, damages, project controls, and contract management. Popescu’s project experience includes power generation, pipelines, petrochemical and process plants, oil, and gas production platforms (on-shore and off-shore), mining, water treatment plants, airports, telecommunications, and commercial construction in Australia, Canada, United States, Mexico, South America, South Africa, and China. Her expertise as well as her doctoral thesis focus on forensic schedule analysis.

Popescu provided program/project management and project control services for projects ranging from $500,000 to $50 billion. As an Expert Witness, she has written numerous expert reports that led to successful settlements as well as testified in international and local arbitration hearings and dispute review board proceedings on delay, productivity loss and damages. Popescu has also taught seminars and courses on scheduling, effective project controls, and dispute avoidance in the United States and internationally. She is the co-founder and chairman for the Society of Construction Law North America Section since 2017.

About Wendy

Wendy Venoit is a Shareholder with Cozen O’Connor in Boston, MA. Her practice focuses on the litigation and arbitration of domestic and international construction disputes, including mediation and arbitration before the AAA, JAMS, LCIA, ICDR and ICC. She is an experienced trial attorney, having handled dozens of construction disputes, some involving claims in excess of $1 billion. Most recently, she obtained an arbitration award in excess of $237 million for her client in an international arbitration arising out of the wrongful termination of an EPC Contract. Venoit also serves as an arbitrator and is a member of the panel of neutrals of the AAA (Construction), AAA Mega Projects, ICDR, CPR (Construction, Insurance Policy Holder Coverage, and Boston at Large ADR Panels), LCIA, and ICC and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She is a Past Chair of the ABA Forum on Construction Law, a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, co-chair of the CIArb Boston Chapter, Board Member of the CIArb North American Branch, Board Council of the AAA, Board Member of Women in Construction and National Board Development Committee of Girl Scouts USA. For the past eight years, she has been named in the International Who's Who of Construction Law and was recently named Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year.