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Join several members of the South Florida Chapter as they talk about Moving Forward in  2022.   Meet the new president, see what exciting events are coming up, and hear from other South Florida members.  Join special guests: Shamelil Mattis, Margaret Anglin, Allison Horton, and Kerry Ann Williams ____________________________________________ NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

Brenda began her career at Port Houston in 2006 and is the Director of the Technical & Business Analytics Department.  In her capacity, she guides technical subject matter experts on work efforts including grants, project controls, process improvements and project management related to new and existing marine terminal assets including the management of consultants.   Brenda graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.   She received her Masters of Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University.  She is also a Project Management Professional. Prior to joining Port Houston, she held positions with Exxon Company USA and the Harris County Flood Control District.   Brenda is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and Project Management Institute.  ___________________________ NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organ

Kenyatta Lee, Interim Chief of Staff and Chief of Modal Development, Florida Department of Transportation Kenyatta Lee is a seasoned, results-driven leader in the transportation industry. Throughout her nearly 30-year career, Lee has successfully strengthened multimodal organizations with the implementation of thoughtful process improvements and innovations designed to achieve strategic goals and objectives.  Her expertise spans into every facet of the public transportation spectrum, including finance, operations, human resources, safety, technology, compliance, innovation, communications, and marketing for some of Florida’s largest ports and transit agencies. Throughout her career, she has consistently championed programs designed to foster employee engagement, enhance economic growth, utilize technology, and improve sustainability.   Lee recently joined the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as the Chief of Modal Development. In this role, she oversees Florida’s comprehensive multimodal network,

Kenyatta Lee is a seasoned, results-driven leader in the transportation industry. Throughout her nearly 30-year career, Lee has successfully strengthened multimodal organizations with the implementation of thoughtful process improvements and innovations designed to achieve strategic goals and objectives.  Her expertise spans into every facet of the public transportation spectrum, including finance, operations, human resources, safety, technology, compliance, innovation, communications, and marketing for some of Florida’s largest ports and transit agencies. Throughout her career, she has consistently championed programs designed to foster employee engagement, enhance economic growth, utilize technology, and improve sustainability.   Lee recently joined the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as the Chief of Modal Development. In this role, she oversees Florida’s comprehensive multimodal network, which includes the Offices of Aviation, Freight and Multimodal Operations, Seaports, Spaceports and Transi

NABWIC TALKS with Tashana M. Fenner, CEO, Swept Demo & Clean Up LLC Tashana Fenner is a strategic conservator in the custodial/ construction industry, with twenty years experience. She’s a visionary that cultivates her team in excellence, as an idealist leader. Tashana and her husband Richard are the owners of Swept Demo & Clean Up LLC, a demo, debris removal, and cleaning company. Together, Tashana and Richard use their collective 35 years in the industry to exercise their foundation scripture Romans 8:28 All things work together for the good of those who love him, who are called according to His purpose. Tashana and Richard share six children and two grandchildren as a blended family. Tashana Fenner impacts the lives of others as a Founding member of the Loved by God Tribe, and recently joining the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) Follow Tashana on Instagram/ Facebook @SweptDemo and visit the website at www.sweptdemo.com for more information. Contact:  tashanaknox79@

NABWIC TALKS with Tashana M. Fenner, CEO, Swept Demo & Clean Up LLC Tashana Fenner is a strategic conservator in the custodial/ construction industry, with twenty years experience. She’s a visionary that cultivates her team in excellence, as an idealist leader. Tashana and her husband Richard are the owners of Swept Demo & Clean Up LLC, a demo, debris removal, and cleaning company. Together, Tashana and Richard use their collective 35 years in the industry to exercise their foundation scripture Romans 8:28 All things work together for the good of those who love him, who are called according to His purpose. Tashana and Richard share six children and two grandchildren as a blended family. Tashana Fenner impacts the lives of others as a Founding member of the Loved by God Tribe, and recently joining the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) Follow Tashana on Instagram/ Facebook @SweptDemo and visit the website at www.sweptdemo.com for more information. Contact:  tash

NABWIC TALKS with Dr. Salimah El-Amin Witherspoon, CEO of Bridge Builders Trucking Dr. El-Amin Witherspoon has 17 years of experience as a public health practitioner, researcher and educator. She began her career in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania serving as a sexual health educator for the first high school STD screening program in country. During her tenure in Philadelphia she also worked with the Connect to Protect HIV Prevention Program for MSM youth of Color. She has published and presented nationally on sexual health, sexual gender minority health, sexual history elicitation, Black infant mortality and health disparities. Dr. El-Amin Witherspoon is a former Faculty Affiliate/ Senior Research Associate at the Samuel Dubois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University. She currently serves as a Core Public Health faculty member at Capella University in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Dr. El-Amin Witherspoon is also the managing Partner of Bridge Builders Trucking LLP in Garner, NC. Bridg

Our guest-Tylene Henry is an entrepreneur, powerful change agent, and staunch advocate for socioeconomic parity. Tylene believes that her faith, character, and mindset of abundance have been the foundation of her continued success. Tylene has been referred to as the "follow up queen" as a result of her "3 P's" professional, patience, and persistence in developing relationships and access to resources necessary to create a positive impact on the communities she serves. In addition to being a doting mother and aunt, Tylene owns and operates a professional financial services practice and a strategic business consulting firm; she serves as the new Vice President for the National Association of Black Women in Construction and was recently recognized and spotlighted as a dynamic leader in Oakland County's 40 under 40 program. Tylene also serves on Congress Woman Brenda Lawrence’s Women’s Advisory Committee, is a long time Mentor and Volunteer with the Rhonda Walker Foundation serves on the Board of Fresh Perspecti

Dr. Esther Lambert is originally from the island of Jamaica. She is a small business owner with a company that provides project management services on capital improvement projects on mostly engineering and construction projects in South Florida. She is the incoming president for the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) where she is also a member of the local South Florida Chapter.  Dr. Lambert is also a board member of Artserve, a not-for-profit organization, which is one of the nation's original arts incubators, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Lambert is passionate about volunteering and has served as a committee member with the Mustard Seeds Gift of Hope organization, as well as a past tutor to students at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Hollywood, Florida.  Dr. Lambert has a PhD in Organizational Management with a Specialization in Project Management from Capella University, 2015.  She also has an MBA, International Business, Nova Southeastern University; a BS in Internationa

Ms. Kimle Nailer is a licensed builder and owner of Nail-Rite Construction Company. Ms. Nailer is the outgoing President of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC). Her primary goal is inspiring Black Women to pursue careers in construction, an industry that supports the wealth transfer for economic empowerment of Black Communities.   Ms. Nailer expanded her residential construction company in 2015 to include commercial contracting and landed partnerships with several prime contractors to build Detroit’s Hockey and Basketball arena in 2017, and the Detroit Piston’s Training Center in  2019. Her company also develops retail space. Ms. Nailer holds a business degree from Wayne State University and has successfully built her career as a Senior Business Analyst at major firms before transitioning into construction. She currently serves as a Planning Commissioner, and previously was a Zoning Board member.  Ms. Nailer serves as a board member with the Michigan Women’s Forward non-profit

SHERO:  a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; a heroine. Everyone has someone they admire and idealize.  NABWIC's podcast hosts would love it if you took a moment to call into the studio at 714.459.3918 on February 16 and take 1-2 minutes to tell us about your favorite Shero.   It's Black History Month and we would love to hear from you!  So join us on the internet at  or call in at 714.459.3918 Contact:  Jada Williams, NABWIC Talks Host Email: marketing@nabwic.org Phone: 786.702.1005

Host Jada Williams kicks off February (Black History Month) with an up close and personal interview with NABWIC member and Co-Host Ersula Odom who recently launced her new entreprenuerial venture, "Ersula's History Shop", located  at 1421 Tampa Park Plaza, Tampa, FL  33605. Ersula K. Odom is the owner of Sula Too LLC, a legacy writer, the author of "At Sula's Feet", "African Americans of Tampa" and, co-author of The Doris Ross Reddick Story. She is a motivational speaker and portrays Mary McLeod Bethune as a one-person show. She is a founding member of Fortune's Friends. As founder of Sula Too, LLC she has published books for clients from Georgia to California. She was raised in Georgia, graduated from Eckerd College and is deeply rooted in Tampa with business, family, and friends. Recent commendations: Signed copy of Congressional Record, presented by then U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, of the decision to place Dr. Bethune's stature in Statuary Hall in Washington, DC.  Odom performance was written about in

NABWIC TALKS WITH ENGINEER, AUTHOR AND NABWIC'S WOMAN IN THE SPOTLIGHT BELLANDRA FOSTER, PE Our special guest is Bellandra Foster, PE, President of  BBFoster Consulting, PC, which is a North Carolina-based corporation providing engineering, facilities management, utility coordination, inspections, program management, quality control and technical assistance. BBFoster Consulting, PC is an SBA certified 8(a) and HUBZone Corporation and a certified and prequalified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Dr Foster has provided management consulting and coaching to various city department including transportation, and public works. She is a liaison for senior leadership, city planners, and research teams to ensure the company’s engineering support and management structure is driving the organization forward with minimal expenditures. Dr. Bellandra Foster is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and has obtained the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) designation.  She is a member of NABWIC and has

NABWIC presents comments for U. S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, and Ebony Pittman, Deputy Secretary NC Department of Transportation.  Tune in to listen to segments from NABWIC's Billion Dollar Luncheon in Transportation Opportunities.   Pete Buttigieg took office in January, 2021, as the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Secretary Buttigieg served two terms as mayor of his hometown of South Bend, Indiana. A graduate of Harvard University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Buttigieg served for seven years as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, taking a leave of absence from the mayor’s office for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014.In South Bend, “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg worked across the aisle to transform the city’s future and improve residents’ everyday lives. As deputy secretary for Business Administration, Ebony J. Pittman directs the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights, the Office of Historically Black Colleges a

Eric Boyette was named secretary for the N.C. Department of Transportation by Governor Roy Cooper in February 2020. As transportation secretary, Boyette oversees one of the largest state-maintained highway systems in the nation, and all modes of transportation, including aviation, ferries, rail, public transit and bicycle and pedestrian transportation, as well as the Office of Civil Rights and Division of Motor Vehicles.  He is the chairman of the N.C. Turnpike Authority Board of Directors and serves on the State Ports Authority Board of Directors and State Emergency Response Commission.   Boyette brings more than 25 years of state government experience in various roles, with responsibilities ranging from technical to financial practices. As deputy secretary for Business Administration, Ebony J. Pittman directs the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights, the Office of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Outreach and oversees Purchasing and Facilities Management. As a 16-y

NABWIC TALKS WITH ENGINEER, AUTHOR AND NABWIC'S WOMAN IN THE SPOTLIGHT BELLANDRA FOSTER, PE Our special guest is Bellandra Foster, PE, President of  BBFoster Consulting, PC, which is a North Carolina-based corporation providing engineering, facilities management, utility coordination, inspections, program management, quality control and technical assistance. BBFoster Consulting, PC is an SBA certified 8(a) and HUBZone Corporation and a certified and prequalified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Dr Foster has provided management consulting and coaching to various city department including transportation, and public works. She is a liaison for senior leadership, city planners, and research teams to ensure the company’s engineering support and management structure is driving the organization forward with minimal expenditures. Dr. Bellandra Foster is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and has obtained the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) designation.  She is a member of NABWIC and has

NABWIC TALKS What's Ahead in 2022: Roundtable Discussion with Women in Construction Special Guest Appearances by: Kimle Nailer, President, NABWIC Dr. Esther Lambert, Vice President, NABWIC Tylene Henry, President, Detroit Chapter, NABWIC Bellandra Foster, BBFoster Consulting,PC, North Carolina Area, NABWIC _________________________________ NABWIC's Vision: The Vision of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is to build lasting strategic partnerships with first-rate organizations and individuals that will provide ground-breaking and innovative solutions for black women in construction and their respective communities.| NABWIC.ORG

Lisa Colon advises on legal issues involving public and private construction projects and real estate development, along with government contracting compliance. Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar, Lisa focuses on both negotiation of deals and litigation of construction-related disputes involving businesses and professionals. Owners, contractors, designers and suppliers look to Lisa to draft construction contracts across various project delivery systems. In particular, she has in-depth knowledge of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ConsensusDocs contract forms. Her experience with claims, litigation and arbitration includes matters involving liens, defects, contract disputes and disaster recovery . Lisa has significant trial experience taking cases to verdict in state and federal courts as well as arbitrations resulting in awards for clients. She is certified as a mediator by the Florida Supreme Court and as an arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association. Beyond her wor

This repeat show features hosts Jada Williams and Ersula Odom as they interview Bell Jackson, owner of Foundation First Permitting,  a leading and reputable permit expediting company serving the Tri-County area of South Florida.  Services offered:- Permit Expediting |  Permit Running  |   Pre-construction meetings  |  Final Inspection meetings |  City Registrations  | CPR/AED certification & recertification Bell also heads the NABWIC Haiti Relief Effort. In this episode, listeners will hear more about this important reflief effort. Contact:  Bell at 954406.7659 or at email:  belljfoundation1stop.com For more information on the Haiti Relief Effort, call:  Jeff Lovema at 954.520.3987

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and certificate in Project Management, Shamelil is attending Nova Southeastern University to further her education and obtain a Master of Business Administration degree in Process Improvement. In addition to conquering a college career, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of Teloi Services. Her expertise is in working as a project manager and overseeing operational logistics, process improvement plans and implementation, strategy development, customer management, and organizational effectiveness. She also works for MCO Construction as an eBuilder Admin Consultant. Shamelil is an active member of her community and an essential part of a few organizations such as National Society of Black Engineers, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where she serves as a Next Generation Leader, Co-Chair for the Women In NAACP better known as WIN, and a board member for the National Association of Black Women In Construction, South Florida Chapte