Home
Events Calendar
Board of Directors
Links
Spring Forum
Block Kids
Scholarship
Annual Auction
Newsletter
Contact Us
Check your Email

Meet our Board of Directors

President: Jacqueline Eicher, LEEP AP - CG Schmidt, Inc. - www.cgschmidt.com

Founded in 1920 in Milwaukee, CG Schmidt is a leader in the construction management and design-build services of large, complex facility projects. We offer a higher-level of leadership and accountability throughout the entire planning and building process, and specialize in healthcare, corporate, industrial, senior living, educational, mixed-use and cultural markets. CG Schmidt is a value-based company that believes in creating exceptional facilities that improve the lives of others.
At CG Schmidt, I am a project manager with the responsibilities of managing all aspects on the construction project, including budget, schedule, quality, and safety. My experience has primarily been in the healthcare industry, from construction of new hospitals to remodeling and maintenance of existing facilities. I have a special interest in green building and am a LEED accredited professional.
Involvement in NAWIC has been a rewarding and educational opportunity for me to learn how a small group of professional individuals can impact the lives of others. My continued interest is due to the desire to encourage the involvement of women in the construction industry, either in a professional capacity or in the skilled trades where we continue to be a minority.

Vice President: Betty Kroll, MBA, CIT - Walsh Construction Company - www.walshgroup.com

The Walsh Group is a general contractor and construction management company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. They perform services in 38 states and have 12 regional offices. Walsh is ranked among the nation’s top 20 contractors in building services and 4th in heavy highway. The mission of The Walsh Group is to be the builder of choice for our customers; the employer of choice for our people; to set the highest standards for quality and safety; and to achieve a fair balance of responsibility, profitability and citizenship.
I am employed as a project accountant at Walsh Construction in the Heavy Highway division. Our current project is the reconstruction of I-94 from the Illinois state line to Hwy 50 and the Hwy C Interchange in Wisconsin. I have been in the construction industry for over fifteen years with experience in heavy highway, asphalt paving and electrical contracting. As an accountant, other responsibilities have included human resources, safety, and office management.
Since my NAWIC experience began in 2002, I have served on numerous committees, been on the Board of Directors four years, served as Membership Chair four years, Chapter Secretary one year and this is my second year as Vice President. I truly enjoy our diverse group of very talented women and am amazed at what we can accomplish when we work together. The Milwaukee Chapter 105 has had a positive effect on each of us and has rippled into the lives of our families, the families around us, our employers, our communities and the construction industry. NAWIC provides us the opportunity to learn to work together, set goals and develop leadership skills.

Treasurer: Michele Skaar - Gilbane Building Company - www.gilbaneco.com

Gilbane's Milwaukee office has been providing construction management services throughout Wisconsin for more than 28 years. Headquartered in Providence, RI, and founded in 1873, Gilbane employs more than 1900 professional staff nationwide with expertise in construction, real estate development and facilities consulting services. Gilbane is a leader in serving the educational, healthcare, pharmaceutical, public assembly, aviation and advanced technologies markets nationwide.
I have been working in the construction industry for over nine years. I currently work for Gilbane Building Company as the Human Resources advisor , but started with Grunau Project Development prior to its acquisition by Gilbane in April of 2003.
I have been a member of NAWIC for four years and previously served as Secretary. I enjoy the interaction with other members of the association and finding ways we can impact the construction industry and the community as a whole.

Secretary: Amber L. Thomas - Collins Engineers, Inc. - www.collinsengr.com

Collins Engineers, Inc. is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 14 offices in the United States, Ireland, and Northern Ireland providing civil, structural, water resources, and underwater engineering services to various public and private sector clients. The initial expertise of the firm when opened in 1979 was in the areas of structural and transportation analysis, design, and underwater engineering. Over the years, the firm’s ability to provide additional engineering services has evolved to provide design and analysis coupled with field experience to the transportation, marine, and construction industries. Continually on the leading edge of standards and methodology, Collins provides engineering ingenuity and solutions to complex problems, and realistic, honest answers.
I have worked for Collins Engineers since 2005. I am currently an E.I.T working towards obtaining my P.E. license. I have worked as a project engineer and inspector on numerous projects and have experience with bridges, roadways, and retaining walls. I provide construction engineering services for our clients which includes material sampling/testing, electronic documentation, payment of contractors, cost and schedule tracking, and ensuring quality control.
I have been involved with NAWIC since college, and have gained a lot of insight and knowledge from the group. Since I work in a male dominated field it is nice to have a way to meet other females in our industry. NAWIC provides a great avenue for networking and many unique learning opportunities.

Director: Brenda Graat, CPA - Baker Tilly, LLP - www.bakertilly.com

Baker Tilly, LLP (formerly Virchow Krause) originally built its legacy as a certified public accounting firm founded in 1931. The firm focused from the start on providing professional services that helped clients achieve success. Over the years, Baker Tilly has broadened its service offerings and expanded its geographic reach. Today, Baker Tilly is a full-service accounting and advisory firm. It is an independent member of a global network with access to competitive resources critical to meeting client needs. Baker Tilly is ranked as the 17th largest certified public accounting firm in the United States according to Public Accounting Report's "Top 100" in 2008. The firm balances such dynamic growth with a deep commitment to operating with absolute integrity and a belief in the value of trusted relationships. The down-to-earth style that built the firm remains evident today in a collaborative, client-focused approach.
I began working at Baker Tilly approximately 7 years ago after obtaining my Bachelors degree in Accounting in May 2002. I received my CPA license in 2004 and obtained a Masters in Business Administration degree in 2005. Baker Tilly has an emphasis on being knowledgeable about specific industries, therefore, currently I am involved in the construction group.
To better serve my clients, I joined the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in the fall of 2002 to learn more about the construction industry. At NAWIC, I held the position of director for three years as well as treasurer for two years. I have extremely enjoyed being a member of the NAWIC Milwaukee chapter because of the wonderful women I have met as well as the activities I have been involved in. I look forward to many more years with this chapter.

Director: Helena Johnson, CIT - CG Schmidt, Inc. - www.cgschmidt.com

I was born and raised in Milwaukee and received my B.A. in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After college I worked as an administrative assistant at Cannon & Dunphy law firm. But, being a lawyer was not for me. My next job was at SimplexGrinnell (formerly Simplex Time Recorder Company) where I was a customer support representative for our time and attendance software. But, being a computer ‘geek’ was not meant to be either.
I have been employed at CG Schmidt, Inc. for eight years now and I feel that I have found my second home. With the encouragement and motivation of one of our Project Managers, Jackie Eicher (our Chapter President), I became a member of NAWIC and in my fairly short time of membership of 3 years I have accomplished things I never thought I could. I don’t just have a job; I now have a career path. I began as an Administrative Assistant and am currently a Project Coordinator. But, with the certifications offered through the NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF) I am working towards becoming a Project Engineer. I currently have my CIT (Construction Certification Technician) certification and am half-way through the CDS (Construction Document Specialist) certification, currently studying for the second exam this summer.
In terms of my involvement in NAWIC, I am currently the Chapter’s Membership Chairperson and a Board Director. I am also on multiple committees for the Regional Spring Forum that we are hosting in Milwaukee this year. I am privileged and honored to be working with the great group of ladies that belong out our Chapter. Everyone works hard and pitches in where help is needed for the various events that we hold and we have a great time at our monthly meetings and tours. I have also enjoyed meeting all of the other women in our region and throughout the country at Annual Planning and National Convention. My experience with NAWIC has been nothing but positive and I am so happy to be a member!
I am married with no children, but two cats are about what I can handle in that department J. I don’t have much spare time lately, but I do enjoy golf and playing cards. I have to admit I can be a couch potato and my guilty pleasure is watching a slew of reality shows from Real Housewives of ‘Whichever’ County to Bridezillas and, yes, even Bret Michels Rock of Love . . . DVR can be a dangerous thing. I also love watching old movies.

Director: April Weatherston, CRIS, CIT, - HNI Risk Services, Inc. - www.hni.com

HNI is an insurance brokerage that helps businesses attack and conquer risk by unleashing the power of creative process and planning. Pulling from a host of disciplines, our innovative team of advisors looks beyond the obvious cookie cutter solutions to uncover current dangers and discover untapped opportunities. We address the central problem of changing organizational culture so that it becomes aligned with your goals. As managing organizational risk becomes more critical to success, companies are feeling the pressure to manage with limited resources. With HNI you will engage in activities such as: risk assessments, collaborative planning, innovative workshops, and insurance plan design and brokering. Our goal is to empower you to build and manage risk on your own terms rather than letting risk manage you. In short, we help you CHANGE THE GAME.
With over thirty years of experience within the insurance industry, I have spent the last 8 years at HNI working almost exclusively with construction clients. As the Account Executive within the Service Team, it is my responsibility to develop insurance programs that are client specific, making certain to fill coverage gaps and to establish “contractual risk transfer” procedures as a fundamental part of the Project Management function.
My area of responsibility also includes the development, management and implementation of a strategic plan that focuses on reducing the total cost of risk for our clients. We do this through our Risk Clarity Formula. Our process allows us to develop a “Game Plan” that is truly customer specific. This could include safety training, jobsite visits, educational seminars, OSHA compliance, leadership training or corporate cultural development. Ultimately our goal is to develop a plan that has the flexibility to consistently meet the needs of the client in an often unpredictable environment – the business of construction.
I have been a member of NAWIC for nearly four years, two years as a Director. I have served on the Scholarship Committee for three years and as the Scholarship Committee Chair for two of those years. I have assisted with our Block Kids event and Spring Auction, and I am currently the Chair for the upcoming 2010 Spring Forum.
My time spent with this organization has proven to be invaluable. I have the opportunity to work with some of the best quality individuals in the business today enabling me to develop relationships that have the potential to last a lifetime. The organization has provided a positive and supportive environment that allows each member to develop better leadership and team-building skills as well as public speaking and presentation skills. The sharing of “best practices” has been key to our success as a chapter.
I have learned that what we willingly give of ourselves will come back to us tenfold. I am proud and honored to be associated with the women of NAWIC and will continue my commitment toward the success of the organization.

Past President: Karen Stempski - U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC

Currently working as an executive assistant in the Accounting Department at US Bancorp Fund Services, LLC. My involvement in NAWIC has prepared me for whatever comes my way. Prior to this position, I have worked in the field of construction for over 20 years and my experience ranges from General Contractor, Design Build and the Subcontractor level. I have been a member of NAWIC for 10 years and have held the position of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Professional Education Chair, Ways & Means Chair and Membership Chair. On the regional level, I am currently Region 13's Membership Chair.
Networking with such talented members of the Milwaukee chapter, meeting other women from Region 13 and around the country has helped me professionally, as well as personally. The bonus is the life-long friendships that have occurred. In my spare time, I golf, bowl, volunteer with the SE WI Organ Donor Network and the Arthritis Foundation. I am also a member of the American Sewing Guild.