Celebrating the Unstoppable: Empowering Women 2025 Award Winners

What an unforgettable week in Chicago! Our 7th annual Empowering Women in Industry Conference & Awards Gala was filled with powerful stories, inspiring connections, and a whole lot of unstoppable energy. From the moment the doors opened, the excitement was undeniable. Over two incredible days, we laughed, learned, shared, and celebrated the women who are redefining what leadership looks like in our industry.

This year’s theme - “Unstoppable” - came to life in every session, every conversation, and every celebration. From the thought-provoking panels to the fashion showcase highlighting functional, inclusive workwear, the event was a reminder of the strength that comes from showing up as your authentic self and lifting others along the way.

Of course, one of the most inspiring moments of the event was our Empowering Women Awards Gala, where we honored trailblazers who are leading with impact, courage, and heart.

Congratulations to our 2025 Empowering Women Award Winners:

Tradeswoman of the Year: Rebecca Heustess

Meet Rebecca Heustess.

With 18 years in the trades, Rebecca didn’t just find her footing—she laid it, grouted it, and sealed it. Starting as a helper, she worked her way up to Journeyman Setter and now is a Foreman. In 2020 was named Tile Setter of the Year at Grazzini Brothers, where she’s spent 13 proud years. Today, she and her husband lead operations across the Midwest while she also serves as founder and president of NAWIC Dakota Prairies #394. Off the job, Rebecca is all about good vibes—traveling, hosting unforgettable parties, and enjoying family time with her two dogs.

Innovator of the Year: Tiffany A Lucas

Tiffany is the Senior Materials Development Engineer in Research and Development at Prolec GE - Waukesha.  Tiffany leads the initiatives for materials testing from conductor, to core steel, to switch boards, epoxies and even coatings and corrosion prevention.  She puts in the hard work in her lab to make sure the electricity in the USA electric grid keeps flowing to keep society powered up and keep the lights on.  

She has had a career in new product development and laboratory testing that spans from electrical applications to motorcycles and kitchen faucets and everything in between. All that and the kitchen sink, literally! She has been a college professor, she  taught electron microscopy for microelectronic applications.   From small to large, she has tested huge electrical switches up to a million volts with a massive tesla coil in a 5 story tall faraday cage.

She is an engineer, a professor, a wife and a mother and when she's not busy in her lab she is volunteering to write and edit standards for IEEE, she has been involved in writing over 2 dozen and sat on the executive board for standards development.  She also spends her free time coaching kids robotics teams or bringing fun STEM lab activities to local elementary, middle and high schools to teach practical hands on science and engineering. Kids love when she shows up with a tank of liquid nitrogen in their classroom to make dippin dots, or some marshmallows and a microwave to calculate the speed of an electron. Math is more fun when it's taught with marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.

Industry Advocacy: Daryl Anne Estill

Daryl is an experienced Project Manager and Leader in the commercial MEP construction industry; spanning semiconductor, pharmaceutical, offices, CNG stations, and multifamily markets, both in traditional and design-build deliveries. 

In addition to her direct role as a PM, she is integral to strategic planning, training and development, process improvements, and mentorship for her organization. 

As a public speaker, mentor, and industry leader, her advocacy work focuses on Women in Construction/Industry, Gender Equity and Equity in general, Mental Health, and Servant Leadership. Daryl is recognized as Empowering Women in Industry’s 2024 Mentor of the Year, with previous nominations for Industry Advocacy and Leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

She also currently serves as:

• Chair of TDIndustries Women’s Employee Resource Group

• Lead Committee Member & Mentor for the TDIndustries/Wilmer Hutchins High School mentorship program

• Advisory Board Member for Empowering Women in Industry

• Member of the National Association of Women in Construction (N.A.W.I.C.)

• Committee Chair for Institute for Leadership in Capital Project’s Women’s Forum

Mentor of the Year: Alexa Cogburn

Alexa Cogburn is the Marketing and Events Manager at MOBIUS CONNECT, where she brings energy, creativity, and precision to every campaign and conference. Whether she's building international event experiences or crafting standout promotional content, Alexa blends strategic thinking with a personal touch that resonates with engineers and industry leaders alike. Known for her collaborative mindset and eye for detail, she’s the go-to for bringing big ideas to life. When she’s not juggling event logistics or brand strategy, she’s spending time with her husband Zack and their dog Coach, recharging with coffee and laughter before diving back into the next big idea.

Engineer of the Year: Getsemani Vazquez

Getsemani Vazquez, Mexican American, born in Texas, raised in Mexico for 12 years, then moved to Texas to continue my education. Graduated from UTRGV with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2011. Prior to graduation, I did an internship at TDIndustries one summer and fell in love with the industry, team and company culture. TDIndustries has been my home since the beginning. I've been part of the engineering team my whole career and have grown into an Engineering Project Manager which means being a point of contact for internal and external customers when it comes to design build projects. 

I personally enjoy the diversity of projects we are part of. I also enjoy engaging with High School students that want to learn about the construction industry and mechanical engineering. As an example I am one of several mentors for a DISD High School TDIndustries has been supporting for the past several years.  I am the proud pet-mom of 4 spoiled cats and 1 dog. I enjoy dancing, podcasts, audiobooks, concerts, and travelling.

Marketer of the Year: Alyssa Burk

Alyssa Burk is an accomplished Marketing Leader with over a decade of experience driving results through strategic marketing initiatives. At Grundfos, where she’s thrived for 8 years, she earned the 2022 MVP Solutions & Marketing award for Americas Commercial Buildings and was nominated 2024 Marketer of the Year by Empowering Women in Industry. Alyssa excels in digital marketing, event and budget management, and executing integrated campaigns that boost visibility and sales. Her expertise also spans internal communications and media strategy. Passionate and detail-oriented, she lives in Maryland with her husband, their dog, and cat.

Leadership in STEM / STEAM: Lindsey Busch

Lindsey has been in the wastewater industry for over 20 years. She is a Professional Engineer with degrees from UW-Madison and KU and is a Vice President with Carollo Engineers. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and fostering rescue dogs.

Saleswoman of the Year: Rachel M. Lee

Rachel is an Outside Sales Representative with LAI, Ltd. in Madison, Wisconsin. She has a diverse background having prior roles in technical sales for nutrient recovery and wastewater consulting. Rachel uses her extensive engineering experience in facilities planning, design, and construction involving numerous treatment processes for utilities large and small to provide right fit equipment solutions. She represents over 45 brands of water and wastewater equipment in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In the 5.5 years she has worked with LAI, she has shown consistent growth expanding relationships with new end users, consulting engineers, and contractors. The expanded Wisconsin presence has also facilitated new manufacturer agreements increasing LAI’s market presence.  She is a registered professional engineer in Wisconsin and has been involved with CSWEA in numerous roles over the past 19 years. Rachel is mom to three boys and enjoys growing flowers and traveling with her family.

Leadership in Reliability & Operations: Mary Kimani

As the Advanced Quality Engineer for the Integrated Supply Chain Unitary Business at Trane Technologies, I lead advanced product quality planning and execution for new products. With over 18 years of diverse manufacturing experience, my career has progressed from assembly line associate to roles in advanced quality planning, product relocation, assembly line setup, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement. Key accomplishments include successfully leading cross-state product relocations and production line setups and receiving several prestigious awards: the 2025 International Women’s Award for Economic Development by Columbia (SC) Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Q1 2025 Trane Technologies President’s Award for Environmental Sustainability, the 2024 Manufacturing Maven Award by SC Manufacturing and EXPO, and the Q4 2021 Trane Technologies President’s Award. As a proud University of Kentucky alumna, I empower future women leaders in manufacturing through my roles as co-chair of the Women in Manufacturing SC chapter and member of Trane's WiM Steering Committee, while also volunteering with local STEM programs and food drives to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Leadership in Manufacturing: Neela Bhargavi Ganduri

Neela Bhargavi Ganduri is a proven leader in manufacturing and STEM with over 12 years of experience following her advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has delivered more than $100 million in cost savings across the medical device and automotive industries through innovative problem-solving and operational excellence. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt with additional credentials in Lean, Shainin Red X, Kepner-Tregoe, TRIZ, and PMP, Neela currently serves as Director of Supplier Quality and Development at GE HealthCare. She leads Supplier Quality for Patient Care Solutions across the U.S. and Canada and globally for Anesthesia and Respiratory Care, overseeing more than 700 suppliers and 30 million components annually. Her leadership ensures the reliability of critical medical devices supporting a $3.13 billion business.

Previously, she held roles as Director of Optimization, Lean Six Sigma Lead, and Manufacturing Engineer, driving major improvements in quality, productivity, and efficiency. Beyond her technical expertise, Neela is a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—training over 1,500 employees, coaching 350+ engineers, co-leading global mentorship programs, and inspiring girls in STEM through GE Girls Milwaukee. She has judged SWE Awards, spoken at the Women in Manufacturing Summit, and received the 2025 Women Leadership Award for Excellence in Manufacturing. Neela’s leadership, innovation, and dedication to empowering others make her a standout nominee for the Empowering Women in Industry Awards in Leadership in STEM and Manufacturing.

Emerging Leader of the Year: Jordan Davenport

Jordan Davenport is the Business Development Manager for the Multifamily division at TDIndustries, serving Texas and Colorado. In just one year, she advanced from an administrative assistant to a strategic leadership role, a rare leap fueled by her initiative, relationship building instincts, and drive for results. The role she now holds didn’t previously exist within her division. Jordan recognized the need, stepped into the gap, and began carving her own path. While still in her administrative role, she spearheaded client outreach efforts that led to new project leads in her markets, proving her ability to think beyond her traditional responsibilities and act with purpose. Now, in her current role, she continues to open doors, build meaningful partnerships, and bring fresh energy to the construction industry. Her nomination for Emerging Leader of the Year by Empowering Women in Industry honors her progression from supporting a division to actively shaping it through her vision, impact, and commitment to creating space for others to lead.

Empowering Woman of the Year: Stephanie Hajducek

Stephanie Hajducek is a Project Specialist for Enbridge - Project YaREN. Project YaREN is a proposed lowcarbon blue ammonia production facility to be built within the Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center (EIEC) in Ingleside, Texas. She spends her days building relationships, sharing information, and ensuring the community stays informed, heard, and involved as the project continues to develop. 

Stephanie has also held positions with other industry leading companies such as Bechtel, ChevronPhillips, Citgo, Steel Dynamics, The Chemours Company and Samson Controls USA. 

In January 2022, Stephanie started a 501c3 nonprofit organization called This One’s for the Gals that helps girls with career exploration and workforce development. Focusing their efforts on the construction, energy, manufacturing and maritime industries, TOFTG likes to say that they talk to girls about career pathways that not very many people talk to girls about from STEM to Skilled Trades and everything in between. 

After almost 20 years out of high school, and with the support of her husband and three children, Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from The University of Southern Mississippi while working full-time. 

She hopes that by sharing her experiences and lessons learned she can help girls step out of their comfort zone and step into a world of endless possibilities in industry!

We Are Unstoppable

As the night came to a close, one thing was clear — unstoppable isn’t just a theme, it’s who we are. These women are proof that when we support each other, share our stories, and celebrate every step of the journey, we all rise together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and virtually to make this year’s event truly special. We can’t wait to see what this community of unstoppable women will do next! 

We hope to see all our favorite unstoppable women next year at #EmpoweringWomen2026 in New Orleans, September 30 – October 1!

Check out all of our award nominees: https://www.empoweringwomeninindustry.com/2025-award-nominees