Wendy
K. Venoit, Esq., president - is a partner with the law firm, Pepe & Hazard,
LLP in Hartford, Connecticut. Her practice is concentrated on construction
litigation and dispute resolution. Ms. Venoit has litigated in state and federal
forums throughout the country, and has mediated and arbitrated construction
disputes both nationally and internationally. She also counsels clients with
respect to claims that arise during the course of construction projects so as to
avoid litigation and achieve resolutions that are optimal to the client. She
also has extensive experience in both prosecuting and defending complex
insurance coverage disputes. Ms. Venoit is heavily involved in the ABA Forum on
the Construction Industry, serving on the Steering Committee of the
International Contracting Division and the Forum Membership Committee. She sits
on the executive committee of the Lawyers Collaborative on Diversity, the board
of the Amistad America Golf Classic and on the Advisory Committee of the
Institute for Transnational Arbitration. Prior to becoming President of the
Connecticut Chapter of PWC, Ms. Venoit served as Secretary and General Counsel
of the chapter. Ms. Venoit has lectured and authored articles on the topics of
International Dispute Resolution, insurance coverage issues arising out of
construction defects, E-Discovery and legislation and issues affecting the
construction industry. She is the Executive Editor for a book entitled
"International Construction Law" to be published by the ABA Press in mid-2008,
and recently authored a chapter on construction manager tort liability in the
"Design Professional and Construction Law" handbook. Ms. Venoit received a B.A.
degree in economics and Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross, and a J.D.
degree, magna cum laude, Valedictorian, from Pace University School of Law.
While attending law school, Ms. Venoit was an editor on the Pace Law Review and
authored multiple publications. Ms. Venoit is admitted to the bars of
Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
Susan
Labas, CPSM, vice president - Susan is a Senior Associate and the Director
of Marketing for van Zelm Engineers, a mechanical and electrical design and
consulting firm serving clients throughout the U.S. since 1930. Susan’s
background includes construction management and industry environmental
regulations as well as business development. She holds a B.A. from Vassar
College and a Master’s Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Susan
serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the Central Connecticut State
University Construction Management Department. She is an officer on the Hartford
Advisory Board for the ACE Mentor Program, and Vice President of the Connecticut
Chapter of Professional Women in Construction. She is a past president of the
Hartford Chapter of NAWIC, The National Association of Women in Construction.
Carolyn
Kurth, CPA, treasurer - Carolyn S. Kurth, CPA, is an Internal Audit Manager
at Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Ms. Kurth is responsible for managing
Tribal Internal Audit’s involvement in the ongoing construction activities of
the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Expansion Project. Prior to joining the company, Ms.
Kurth was a Manager in the Accounting and Auditing department at Blum, Shapiro &
Co., PC in West Hartford, CT. Ms. Kurth’s construction industry expertise
includes claims analysis and consulting services related to major construction
projects for a range of project owners in both the public and non-public sector.
Ms. Kurth’s experience also includes working with various municipalities to
provide financial reporting services for school construction projects. Carolyn
previously served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Women
in Construction. She is a member of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public
Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Jane
Milas, Esq., director - Jane Milas is the Managing Director of Garcia &
Milas, P.C., a construction and commercial law firm in New Haven, Connecticut.
Her construction law practice includes representation of general contractors,
major subcontractors, owners, sureties and design professionals in connection
with public and private vertical construction projects and public infrastructure
projects such as roads and bridges. Jane also serves as an arbitration panel
member. She is the immediate past chairman of the Construction Law Section of
the Connecticut Bar Association and was named a Connecticut Super Lawyer by the
publishers of Connecticut Magazine and Law & Politics.
Mary
Jo Olenick, AIA, director - Mary Jo Olenick is a Principal and member of the
Board of Directors of The S/L/A/M Collaborative, a 160-person architectural and
engineering firm headquartered in central Connecticut. With experience ranging
from public and independent schools to public and private colleges and
universities, Ms. Olenick has dedicated her career to campus planning and the
design of educational facilities. She is currently director of the firm’s higher
education practice and is working on major projects for Mount Holyoke College,
Cornell University, and SUNY University of Buffalo. Ms. Olenick received B.
Arch. and B.A. degrees from Pennsylvania State University. She is active in the
Society for College and University Planning and the Association for the Study of
Higher Education as well as being a member of the advisory board for the
Architectural Engineering Technology program at the University of Hartford.
David
C. Brownell, director - David is General Manager of Crest Graphics, a
division of the American Reprographics Company. David has been associated with
the Connecticut A/E/C community for over 25 years. His background includes a
strong financial acumen, sales marketing and management, as well as client
service and project delivery. David has been a strong supporter of Professional
Women in Construction, volunteers his time to the Construction Institute's
Marketing and Technology committees, and is a member of the Society of Marketing
and Professional Services.
Dena M. Castricone, Esq., director -
Dena is an attorney for Murtha Cullina LLP in New Haven, Connecticut. She works primarily in the areas of construction and business litigation. As a construction litigator, Dena represents contractors and owners, both public and private, in connection with construction disputes.
Beth S. London, CFP®, MST, secretary -
Beth is a Certified Financial Planner with Gateway Financial an independent Financial Planning firm located in Glastonbury, CT.For more than 15 years, Beth has helped business owners and individuals in the design and construction industry gain control of their complex financial challenges. She helps them gain clarity about what’s important to them financially, showing them how to effectively achieve their goals, have financial confidence, and have more time and energy for their business and family. She takes an objective long term approach to financial planning to help ensure that client’s goals, objectives and risk tolerance are properly considered and managed. Receiving both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Bentley College, she went on to attain the industry designation of Certified Financial Planner The CFP® mark is given by the CFP® Board of Standards, Inc. to planners that have met rigorous professional standards and passed a comprehensive exam. They must adhere to the principals of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism, and diligence. Beth has served on the FPA Board (Financial Planners Association) and the “Women Build” board for Habitat for Humanity. She has also been an active volunteer for Make-a-Wish.
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15 minutes media
Wendy
K. Venoit, Esq., president - is a partner with the law firm, Pepe & Hazard,
LLP in Hartford, Connecticut. Her practice is concentrated on construction
litigation and dispute resolution. Ms. Venoit has litigated in state and federal
forums throughout the country, and has mediated and arbitrated construction
disputes both nationally and internationally. She also counsels clients with
respect to claims that arise during the course of construction projects so as to
avoid litigation and achieve resolutions that are optimal to the client. She
also has extensive experience in both prosecuting and defending complex
insurance coverage disputes. Ms. Venoit is heavily involved in the ABA Forum on
the Construction Industry, serving on the Steering Committee of the
International Contracting Division and the Forum Membership Committee. She sits
on the executive committee of the Lawyers Collaborative on Diversity, the board
of the Amistad America Golf Classic and on the Advisory Committee of the
Institute for Transnational Arbitration. Prior to becoming President of the
Connecticut Chapter of PWC, Ms. Venoit served as Secretary and General Counsel
of the chapter. Ms. Venoit has lectured and authored articles on the topics of
International Dispute Resolution, insurance coverage issues arising out of
construction defects, E-Discovery and legislation and issues affecting the
construction industry. She is the Executive Editor for a book entitled
"International Construction Law" to be published by the ABA Press in mid-2008,
and recently authored a chapter on construction manager tort liability in the
"Design Professional and Construction Law" handbook. Ms. Venoit received a B.A.
degree in economics and Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross, and a J.D.
degree, magna cum laude, Valedictorian, from Pace University School of Law.
While attending law school, Ms. Venoit was an editor on the Pace Law Review and
authored multiple publications. Ms. Venoit is admitted to the bars of
Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
Susan
Labas, CPSM, vice president - Susan is a Senior Associate and the Director
of Marketing for van Zelm Engineers, a mechanical and electrical design and
consulting firm serving clients throughout the U.S. since 1930. Susan’s
background includes construction management and industry environmental
regulations as well as business development. She holds a B.A. from Vassar
College and a Master’s Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Susan
serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the Central Connecticut State
University Construction Management Department. She is an officer on the Hartford
Advisory Board for the ACE Mentor Program, and Vice President of the Connecticut
Chapter of Professional Women in Construction. She is a past president of the
Hartford Chapter of NAWIC, The National Association of Women in Construction.
Carolyn
Kurth, CPA, treasurer - Carolyn S. Kurth, CPA, is an Internal Audit Manager
at Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Ms. Kurth is responsible for managing
Tribal Internal Audit’s involvement in the ongoing construction activities of
the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Expansion Project. Prior to joining the company, Ms.
Kurth was a Manager in the Accounting and Auditing department at Blum, Shapiro &
Co., PC in West Hartford, CT. Ms. Kurth’s construction industry expertise
includes claims analysis and consulting services related to major construction
projects for a range of project owners in both the public and non-public sector.
Ms. Kurth’s experience also includes working with various municipalities to
provide financial reporting services for school construction projects. Carolyn
previously served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Women
in Construction. She is a member of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public
Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Jane
Milas, Esq., director - Jane Milas is the Managing Director of Garcia &
Milas, P.C., a construction and commercial law firm in New Haven, Connecticut.
Her construction law practice includes representation of general contractors,
major subcontractors, owners, sureties and design professionals in connection
with public and private vertical construction projects and public infrastructure
projects such as roads and bridges. Jane also serves as an arbitration panel
member. She is the immediate past chairman of the Construction Law Section of
the Connecticut Bar Association and was named a Connecticut Super Lawyer by the
publishers of Connecticut Magazine and Law & Politics. 
Mary
Jo Olenick, AIA, director - Mary Jo Olenick is a Principal and member of the
Board of Directors of The S/L/A/M Collaborative, a 160-person architectural and
engineering firm headquartered in central Connecticut. With experience ranging
from public and independent schools to public and private colleges and
universities, Ms. Olenick has dedicated her career to campus planning and the
design of educational facilities. She is currently director of the firm’s higher
education practice and is working on major projects for Mount Holyoke College,
Cornell University, and SUNY University of Buffalo. Ms. Olenick received B.
Arch. and B.A. degrees from Pennsylvania State University. She is active in the
Society for College and University Planning and the Association for the Study of
Higher Education as well as being a member of the advisory board for the
Architectural Engineering Technology program at the University of Hartford.
David
C. Brownell, director - David is General Manager of Crest Graphics, a
division of the American Reprographics Company. David has been associated with
the Connecticut A/E/C community for over 25 years. His background includes a
strong financial acumen, sales marketing and management, as well as client
service and project delivery. David has been a strong supporter of Professional
Women in Construction, volunteers his time to the Construction Institute's
Marketing and Technology committees, and is a member of the Society of Marketing
and Professional Services. 
Dena M. Castricone, Esq., director -
Dena is an attorney for Murtha Cullina LLP in New Haven, Connecticut. She works primarily in the areas of construction and business litigation. As a construction litigator, Dena represents contractors and owners, both public and private, in connection with construction disputes.
Beth S. London, CFP®, MST, secretary -
Beth is a Certified Financial Planner with Gateway Financial an independent Financial Planning firm located in Glastonbury, CT.For more than 15 years, Beth has helped business owners and individuals in the design and construction industry gain control of their complex financial challenges. She helps them gain clarity about what’s important to them financially, showing them how to effectively achieve their goals, have financial confidence, and have more time and energy for their business and family. She takes an objective long term approach to financial planning to help ensure that client’s goals, objectives and risk tolerance are properly considered and managed. Receiving both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Bentley College, she went on to attain the industry designation of Certified Financial Planner The CFP® mark is given by the CFP® Board of Standards, Inc. to planners that have met rigorous professional standards and passed a comprehensive exam. They must adhere to the principals of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism, and diligence. Beth has served on the FPA Board (Financial Planners Association) and the “Women Build” board for Habitat for Humanity. She has also been an active volunteer for Make-a-Wish.