Women of NATE (WON) Women’s Leadership Summit: A Remarkable Success
For Immediate Release:
October 1, 2024
The Women of NATE (WON) successfully hosted their fourth annual Women’s Leadership Summit on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in San Diego, California. This year’s event was a notable achievement, driven by the enthusiastic support and participation of 21 sponsors and 92 attendees. The Summit provided a full day dedicated to both professional and personal development, fostering valuable networking and community-building opportunities. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions on leadership, empowerment, and the importance of effective mentorship.
Key highlights of the Summit included welcoming remarks, insightful panel discussions, and presentations from experienced leaders. The agenda was thoughtfully designed to deliver education, inspiration, and meaningful connections, empowering attendees to pursue their personal and professional goals. The event concluded with a networking reception, encouraging ongoing dialogue and collaboration among participants.
On Friday, September 20, WON held its Day of Giving, where attendees volunteered at Father Joe’s Villages. They served breakfast and lunch, assisted in the warehouse, and exemplified their commitment to giving back to the San Diego community. During lunch service, volunteers distributed an impressive 655 meals to support local individuals experiencing homelessness, creating smiles and gratitude among those they served.
“The 2024 Women’s Leadership Summit provided a day filled with valuable opportunities to share experiences and challenges within the telecommunications industry while learning from a diverse group of experts,” remarked Diane Mueller, co-chair of the WON Leadership Summit Task Team and Sales Representative at CITCA LLC in Bradley, Illinois.
“The fourth annual Women’s Leadership Summit offered great insight on professional development and opportunities to be empowered with some outstanding Educational Sessions, a Keynote Speaker Luncheon, and a Networking Reception,” stated WON Leadership Summit Task Team co-chair, Erin Smith, Regional Director for CSR – Collective Strategic Resources, in Hartselle, Alabama. “I am inspired by the information presented, and many ideas shared, as this agenda dug into some tough topics and challenged each attendee to find ways to empower themselves and others,” Erin continued. “We encourage all women in the tower and communications infrastructure industry to get involved with Women of NATE and look forward to our next Women’s Leadership Summit on September 18, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland.”
The Women’s Leadership Summit showcased the following educational sessions:
WELCOME
Andy Lee, Women of NATE (WON) Chairwoman
OPENING REMARKS
Leticia Latino Van Splunteren, NEPTUNO USA, Corp.
NETWORKING: EXCELLING THROUGH CONNECTIONS
Noelia Cordero, Nokia
WHO ARE YOU AS A LEADER?
Moderator: Noelia Cordeo, Nokia
Jie Abarca, Wealthwave
Heidi Nelson, Harmoni Towers
BRIDGING GAPS: EMPATHY IN THE WORKPLACE
Moderator: Dr. Crystal Camejo, Ritel Incorporated
Amanda Cahill, Branch Towers
Lori Church, Avalon Test Equipment
Brandi Putz, Murphy Tower Service, LLC
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON
LEADERSHIP REDEFINED: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE AND IMPACT
Kelly Lazuka, Fullerton Engineering Consultants, LLC
INTERCEPTING INTIMIDATION AT WORK
Conchita Tucker Hoffman, Tucker Technology, Inc. (TTI)
PLAN, REACT, AND DEFEND: SAFETY AND SELF-DEFENSE
Amanda Lawler, Teltech Group
Andy Lee, Lee Antenna & Line Service, Inc.
EMPOWER HER
Moderator: Ashley Skitt, TEMPO Communications
Layal Assi, RAM Telecom, LLC
Leticia Latino Van Splunteren, NEPTUNO USA, Corp.
Lauri White, Solaris Technologies Services
CLOSING REMARKS
Diane Mueller, CITCA LLC
Erin Smith, CSR – Collective Strategic Resources
A special Thank You to the Women’s Leadership Summit sponsors:
(Above) Attendees of the fourth annual Women of NATE (WON) Leadership Summit gather for a group photo in between sessions.
(Above) Attendees of the fourth annual Women of NATE (WON) Leadership Summit gather for a group photo in between sessions.
(Above) Thank you to Kelly Lazuka of Fullerton Engineering Consultants, LLC for delivering the Keynote Luncheon session, “Leadership Redefined: Empowering Women to Lead with Confidence and Impact.”
(Above) The WON Leadership Summit ended with a networking reception on the Kensington Terrace. Attendees connected with fellow leaders and celebrated a successful event. A sincere thank you to our speakers, sponsors, committee members, and attendees for making the Women’s Leadership Summit such a powerful and impactful day.
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About Women of NATE (WON)
The mission of Women of NATE (WON) is to promote collaboration, development, and camaraderie among NATE members, empowering them to maximize their potential and drive the future of both NATE and the telecommunications industry. Through networking, mentorship, and professional growth opportunities, WON supports members at every career stage, fostering leadership and excellence across all disciplines within NATE. For additional information on WON, please visit natehome.com/women-of-nate.
About NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to providing a unified voice for companies in the diverse tower, broadband and communications infrastructure industries. It is recognized as the tower industry leader in promoting safety, standards, and education. Today, the Association boasts approximately 1,060 member companies (mostly small businesses) that construct, service or maintain hundreds of thousands of communications towers and next generation networks throughout the United States and 12 other countries.
