talent. Her research is at the intersection of careers, mentoring and work-life issues, with particular attention to nontraditional developmental relationships and learning. We gratefully acknowledge the support of our corporate sponsors, including DiGioia Gray and Associates , Gannett Fleming, geotechnica, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, McCrossin Foundations, Menard, and Nicholson Construction. Women’s Professional Development Skills Workshop During IFCEE in March, DFI’s Women in Deep Foundations Committee partnered with ADSC, Geo-Institute and PDCA to present a joint professional skills workshop for women in the geotechnical engineering and foundations industry. The workshop focused on communication and negotiating skills, cultivating mentoring networks, current corporate initiatives that advance women’s careers in deep foundations and the importance of establishing, maintaining and growing confidence. Nancy Watt of Nancy Watt Communications conducted a dynamic, camaraderie-filled, improv-based workshop on communication and negotiation skills, infused with a ton of laughter. She highlighted how social science reveals subtle and powerful ways that women communicate that diminish their status and sabotage success. As a Second City Comedy Improv Conservatory graduate, Watt led the group through improv exercises that highlighted social status, communication skills and real barriers to negotiation. Elizabeth Smith, P.E., D.GE, of Terracon presented the company’s women principals’ network. Johanna Simon, P.E., of Schnabel Engineering presented its Women’s Initiative Network (WIN). It is hoped that these presentations inspired the attendees to develop their own corporate women’s support programs. The workshop concluded with an active panel discussion on the importance of confidence for a professional woman and the significance of establishing, maintaining and growing confidence. A dynamic multidisciplinary panel of industry representatives shared their experiences and strategies related to confidence: Mabel Chedid, Ph.D. candidate, Texas A&M University Sue Frank, president, TEI Rock Drills Debra Laefer, Ph.D., professor, New York University Vanessa Lucido, chief executive officer, ROC Equipment Jewels Stover, project manager, Condon Johnson and Associates Andrea Welker, Ph.D., P.E., professor, Villanova University Dawn Walters, chief operating officer, ROC Equipment We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our corporate sponsors who made this event possible, including geotechnica, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Menard, Moretrench, Nicholson Construction, Schnabel Engineering, Skyline Steel, Terracon and WSP . Ashley MacMillan of TenCate Geosynthetics, Nancy Watt, Johanna Simon of Schnabel Engineering and Dr. Debra Laefer of New York University Dr. Wendy Murphy of Babson College introduced the concept of developmental networks and led an interactive workshop exercise on mapping your own personal mentoring network. The exercise included small group discussions of personal opportunities and challenges, including gender and work-life issues. Each participant formulated goals, developed relationship action plans and discussed how to use the plan tools going forward. Industry representatives from geotechnical and foundation design and construction firms presented successful corporate initiatives that actively support women and encourage professional development. Johnna Emanuel and Justine Lentini, P.E., of Moretrench presented the Female Engineers at Moretrench (FEM) initiative. Lori Simpson, P.E., G.E., of Langan Engineering and Environmental Services presented the Women@Langan program. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAY/JUNE 2018 • 119
