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My name is Aretha Fung-A-Wing, I was born in Paramaribo, Suriname but raised in South Florida. I have an Associates degree in Business Administration from Broward College. I am currently a junior at Florida International University and I am pursing a Bachelors in Construction Management. I am very much interested in project development and the inner workings of planning the construction of any structure, I'd like to be apart of the business aspect of the industry. My dream is to build an NFL stadium and to become the first African American woman to own a professional football team and stadium in the National Football League. I am a firm believer in "speaking it into existence," as my faith in God is my guiding force and in everything I do. I would love to be apart of the greater good and give back to my community by creating jobs, educating our youth, and so much more. Success isn't contained to financial wealth, it's not when an individual has accomplished his/her goals, but it's when you've broken barriers

Brian McPherson is Director of Diversity & Workforce Compliance at Suffolk Construction. In this role, Brian spends one hundred percent of his time working with project teams and trade partners to ensure established compliance plans are implemented on the company’s projects. Brian has built strong relationships with countless local MBE, WBE, and DBE firms, providing mentoring, coaching, and introducing them and their work to Suffolk’s project management teams. As a result of Brian’s hands-on management, Suffolk is able to consistently meet or exceed designated project compliance goals. In 2012, he was recognized with a Leaders in Diversity Award by Boston Business Journal. Brian is currently involved with projects around the country, including Miami Worldcenter and All Aboard Florida’s MiamiCentral. He has been critical in the development of a successful diversity and workforce compliance program for these two projects which will account for well over $500 million in contracts. Brian offers

NABWIC speakes with Dr. Revonna Mitchell President of Nabwic's Atlanta Chapter!  Jan Prisby Bryson is President & Founder of BenchMark Management, an engineering & construction services firm. Jan has extensive experience in government affairs; in particular she has over 20 years experience promoting minority inclusion in federal, state and municipal governments through her active involvement in social and economic activities. Her successes are demonstrated by the history of the companies she has formed and supported. Daphne Bryson Jackson brings over 20 years of experience in community and government relations to her position as founder and principal of GovLink, Inc, a strategic consulting firm providing clients with dynamic strategies to access local government relationships and procurement opportunities. The firm also has extensive experience in crisis communications, fundraising, public/private partnerships and development of effective community/public involvement programs. http://wicersatlanta.

The WICERS conference is designed for women who work in construction, engineer and related services, but any professional will benefit from leading industry experts. Both women and men will leave the conference with new tools, newconnections and new opportunities. The WICERS conference will be anything but typical.

NABWIC speakes with Jan Prisby Bryson and Daphne Bryson Jackson of Women in Costruction, Engineering and Related Services conference (WICERS).  Jan Prisby Bryson is President & Founder of BenchMark Management, an engineering & construction services firm. Jan has extensive experience in government affairs; in particular she has over 20 years experience promoting minority inclusion in federal, state and municipal governments through her active involvement in social and economic activities. Her successes are demonstrated by the history of the companies she has formed and supported. Daphne Bryson Jackson brings over 20 years of experience in community and government relations to her position as founder and principal of GovLink, Inc, a strategic consulting firm providing clients with dynamic strategies to access local government relationships and procurement opportunities. The firm also has extensive experience in crisis communications, fundraising, public/private partnerships and development of effectiv

Fundamentamentals for Emerging Contractors:  Financial Statements, Invoicing, and What the Surety wants to see. BRIAN A. WOLF is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP.  He is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar and AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Brian’s practice is concentrated in the defense and prosecution of complex construction and design claims involving both public and private projects.  His practice includes all facets of construction law, including representation of construction managers, contractors, design professionals, sureties, subcontractors, owners, material suppliers and others, in State and Federal Court, arbitration and mediation.  Brian is the author of chapters Four and Fourteen of Florida Construction Law & Practice, published by the Florida Bar. Brian is a contributing editor of Common Sense Construction Law and the author of Florida Lienlaw Online, Construction Publications, Inc. Honors & Awards Awarded Da

Born in Philadelphia, Thea Jeffers started making her clothes at age 14 and has been sewing ever since. She also started decorating the family home at that time.  She attended Fashion Design School in Longbeach, CA.  Her 30 years of sewing and teaching sewing skills, is combined with her love and formal training as a decorator in the early eighties.  Her current Interior Decorating Business focuses on her belief that Décor is for the Soul. As an Interior Decorator, Thea delivers rich, warm looking, comfortable, and intimate spaces.  Her trademark is always making it cozy, functional, and within budget.  She is available for consulting. Contact info;  thea37@comcast.net

Kiesha has been a construction project manager of 17 plus years experience with extensive operational knowledge including financial management, schedule and material/labor resource management and team collaboration. I have worked for large to small general contractors as well as a small consulting firm. Kiesha's professional experience is primarily in commercial, multi-use residential and institutional construction management. Projects of note include the Baltimore NFL Stadium currently known as M&T Bank Stadium for the Baltimore Ravens, Court Building B for DC Superior Court, 22 West Condominiums, Network Solutions Headquarters relocation, Westory Annex Office Building, Hilton Washington Hotel Renovation, Hayes Street Apartments, Rosedale Community Center and the USAID Design Mobility Lab Tenant Improvement in the Ronald Reagan Building for International Trade. She also serve as a board member for Sarah’s Circle which is an independent living senior resident community in the Adams Morgan section of W

Account executive and business owner with over 25 years of experience in providing excellent customer service in the area of office furniture and supplies. My greatest priority is to be the most responsive and attentive I can be to those who are a part of my universe and to encourage as many as I can to seek to be the same in their respective arenas. I am able to provide the greatest service to companies that desire personalized service without compromising the value proposition.  I am passionate about assisting others in pursuing their desires to be entrepreneurs and offer myself as a resource. Office Express is a full service office supply company that has operated in South Florida for over twenty five years. We always strive to exceed our customers' needs and provide fast and simple ordering. Let me be your single source for all your office supply, janitorial, breakroom, paper and toner supplies and office furniture. We do all the work so you don't have to! Check us out at www.xpressbuy.com!! We take ca

CORNELIUS SHIVER is a life-time Coconut Grove resident, has an Associate degree from Florida State University, a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami. A Juris Doctorate degree from St. Thomas University School of Law and is a member of the Florida Bar.   Prior to attending law school, Cornelius worked as a Production Analyst with Racal-Milgo, an international high-tech corporation based in England and from there he worked for the University of Miami as the Director of Materials Management. During law school, Cornelius worked for the Brickell Avenue law firm of Silver and Garvett. By the time Cornelius graduated from law school, he was proficient in civil trial litigation, complex commercial litigation and local government law. Cornelius further sharpened in legal skills in New York City working for the American Arbitration Association and later, obtaining additional jury trial experience from the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office.   Cornelius has worked in seve

Joanne S. Brooks, Vice President and Counsel the Surety and Fidelity Association of America Admitted to the bar in Maryland.  Graduated from American University with a BS in Urban Affairs and Administration of Justice in 1982 and the University of Maryland School of Law in 1985.  Employed by Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, which became Zurich Insurance Company, from 1985-2010, initially as a Claims Attorney in the Salvage Division to Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer of Zurich Surety.  Joined Hanover Insurance Company as Chief Risk Officer in 2010.  Joined The Surety and Fidelity Association of American in 2013.  Also admitted in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.  Joanne has co-authored several publications for the American Bar Association and has given numerous presentations for AGC, DBIA, AMAC, COMTO, US DOT, ACCA and many other trade associations and panels. Joanne S. Brooks, Esq. Vice President & Counsel The Surety and Fidelity Association

Lolalisa D. King is one of the first one hundred African-American women in the entire United States licensed to practice architecture. She serves as President of a green consulting and sustainability corporation providing full-service holistic deliverables with projects in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. She recently received reciprocity in Colorado and Massachusetts with a newly formed Denver address. She has served on various boards including the AIA, YWCA, Assisted Living, Christian Message through Art and more. She served as Board Chair of the Orlando Technical Community College downtown campus. Her dynamic negotiation skills have proven successful throughout the different environments and venues. At the one-time largest architectural-engineering firm in the southeast United States, approximately 1600 employees, she made her mark by establishing a benchmark for dealing with clients and contractors. She used her technical expertise and business savvy to negotiate the best deals and

Peter K. Semler – Chief Executive Editor and founder  Prior to launching Capitol Intelligence, Peter was the Washington, DC Bureau Chief for Mergermarket (Dealreporter/Debtwire) of the Financial Times and personally headed political/economic coverage of the US House of Representatives and Senate. Before moving back to his native Washington, Peter launched Mergermarket’s foreign coverage starting in Italy and later opened the news services bureaus in Italy, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, Russia/CIS, Middle East and North Africa and was instrumental to start-up’s 2006 sale to the Financial Times for USD 200m. Peter worked as an investigative journalist and business reporter for the Sunday Times of London and launched Bloomberg Business News in Italy in the early 1990s. Peter started his career as a police reporter for the City News of Bureau of Chicago. PK Semler Chief Executive Editor and Owner Capitol Intelligence Group, INC -Turning Swords into Equity® 3924 18th Street NE Washington, DC20018 Tel. 20

LifeLung, Inc. is a multi-certified woman-owned small business headquartered in Southern California. Since 2005, we have been providing permanent employment as a nationwide staffing/recruiting firm based in Southern California.  Our nationwide opportunities attract many talented candidates who are seeking jobs across the country. Ms. Palazuelos is a member of the National Association of Small Disadvantage Businesses (NASDB) an organization founded by the Late Henry T. Wilfong.  His wife, Wyllene Watson-Wilfong is the current President.  NASDB, is a Trade Association, consisting of over 300 minority and women-owned businesses, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, and HUBZone businesses, located throughout the United States.  We do this primarily by educating minorities and women as to what they're entitled to under the law, and how to best achieve it. In addition, we help educate the Governmental agencies, and the major prime contractors who serve them, as to their responsibilities under the Constitutio

Katherine is the queen of transformation, she didn’t let 10 years of incarceration, racism, sexism or fear, hold her back. She is the original (CBK) “Come Back Kid”. Katherine started her journey of reestablishing her life in 2000 in Norfolk, VA while working for The Virginia Pilot, she was offered a position to move to Washington, DC where she managed a multimillion dollar construction project being built for President Bush. She’s married to Mr. Eric Smith, and together they have a 3 year old daughter named Livia. Katherine later moved back to Virginia where she continued to work in construction overseeing major projects for VDOT. Katherine quit her job and started investing in real estate which she began rehabbing houses. Katherine soon realized her true passion for construction was so strong. In 2006 she started her own construction company. She is the owner of two established businesses; Heritage Construction a leading general contracting firm certified under the SBA as a WBE, DBE and SWAM; and the other

James M. Breaker, Jr LTC, Retired U.S. Army.  I have deep roots in Jacksonville's northside community.  I’m a devoted family man, married for 32 years, the father of five sons and 2 grandchildren.  The Breakers are long time active members of St. Pius the V Catholic Church where I serve as an Extra Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist.  I attended Jacksonville area schools and is a proud graduate of William M. Raines Class of 1971.  I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Marketing/Management from the University of North Florida.  After graduating from college, I was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Army.  I served honorably in "Operation Enduring Freedom" and retired at the rank of LTC after 26 years of service to our country.   I declined several promising job offers because I feel that I’m needed more in my community. As a Real Estate Developer, I have continued to work in the community by revitalizing commercial and residential property for the beautification an

William Bishop, AIA is vice president of Akel, Logan and Shafer, Architects and Planners, a 50-plus year old Jacksonville architectural firm. He is a graduate of Lawrence Technological University with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and of University of Detroit Mercy with Master of Architecture and MBA degrees. He has been active in Jacksonville and Florida both professionally and in the civic arena for over 25 years. Bill is a two-term Jacksonville City Council Member and served as Council President in 2012/13. He served as chair of the Rules Committee in 2011/12 and led the city's redistricting process required by the 2010 census in the least contentions manner in 20 years. Bill was also actively involved in the effort to bring the USS Charles Adams to Jacksonville as a naval ship museum. Akel Logan Shafer PA 704 Rosselle Street Jacksonville, Florida 32204 Tel:  904.356.2654 wbishop@alsarchitects.com

Rekha S. Jadala is the president and owner of SRR International which provides ·         IT and GIS solutions for Industries like Construction, Health Care, Aviation, Engineering ·         Provide Engineering & Construction Staff Augmentation Services ·         Construction Inspection and Material Testing Services. Ms. Jadala holds degree in Alternative Medicine and Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications.Ms. Jadala has a broad background in engineering, construction, environmental, health care and forensic systems, integrating data for applications, planning, operations and decision support. Because of her combined professional background in industry, science, engineering and technology, Ms. Jadala can translate between providers, scientists, operations managers, decision makers, and information-systems staff to define common goals clearly and implement specific solutions. Contact info: www.nabwic.org Email: rekha@srrintl.com   |  Website: www.srrintl.com  

We have a special program instore for today.  Through archived interviews we will review the Vision and Mission of NABWIC then we will discuss ways companies can work with the federal government, some things to look out for in a contract and how to stay in business in these economic times. NABWIC Talks with Founder, Ann McNeill, of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) as she introduce NABWIC's Vision and Mission Statement. Gloria Shealey, CEO of the Danielle Company in North Carolina and the President of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC). Attorney Lisa Colon Heron with Smith, Currie & Hancock, LLP as she discuss construction contracts and the benefits to retaining and attorney for small and minority businesses. Please contact us at www.nabwic.org Follow us at www.blogtalkradio.com/nabwic, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN  

Cherron Covington Newby (CC), owner of CC’s Consulting & Training.  CC moved to Florida from Georgia in June of 1998.  Born and raised in Washington, D.C., I was suppose to be a statistic; I’ve been a single mother, unemployed and homeless. In 1994 I started a construction final cleaning business.  I hired the homeless, veterans and ex-offenders; providing transportation and a meal to my employees.  In 2003 I employed as many as 45 individuals to work on three Better Jacksonville Projects.  Today I am an authorized OSHA trainer and consultant in environmental health, safety and services; I began training in 2008.  Mother of three daughters, two of whom are veterans and the youngest one is in college.  I have three grandsons and one granddaughter.                                                              Prior to starting my business, I worked as an Administrative Assistant for a former Congressman, worked at the Pentagon and for the Department of Defense.  In 2012, I ran for State Senate, speaking to