BCEA Thrive Summit

The BC Electrical Association Women’s Network hosted its THRIVE Summit after taking a hiatus due to the pandemic. The women’s network was started in 2015 by a small group, impacting and supporting diversity within the electrical industry. Today, the women’s network is expanding with the help of Barbette Igonia, President of the BCEA, helping women thrive and living the BCEA mission statement, “educating the community on diversity in the workforce.”

This year, the summit was held at the Sandman Signature Suites in Langley on Thursday, April 20th, where women from the industry came together to learn and grow from each other. The sessions included:

Advancing Women in Leadership with Lindsay Benard

Participants were able to heighten their awareness of the reality current professional women face. They were also able to define the steps and behaviors to achieve success and identify opportunities to add value, influence, and drive impact. This allowed women to connect, develop relationships, and network.

Lindsay Benard is a senior corporate trainer at Dale Carnegie, with over 30 years of experience.

Industry Journey and Experiences with Renee Lytle and Allison Straghan

Renee and Allison shared their career journeys and experiences. Having been in the industry for over 25 years, Renee and Allison could answer questions about how they did it, who helped pave the way and shared insights. The audience engaged with the speakers, creating a safe environment for meaningful conversations.

Renee Lytle is the Chief Financial Officer at E.B. Horsman & Son with over 25 years of experience. She is a member of the EFC and vice-Chair of the EFC Board.

Allison Straghan is the President and Owner of Code Electrical Products, with more than 30 years of experience in the electrical industry.

50 Ways to Fight Bias with Janine Kamonzeki

In this workshop, participants were given the opportunity to discuss barriers faced today by women through icebreakers and group activities. Then they learned and discussed the different types of unconscious biases and how they affect the workplace. Lastly, the speaker shared ways to combat those biases and bridge to inclusion.

Janine Kamonzeki is the director of LEAN, Communication, and Security Solutions at WESCO.

Skills to Building Resilience with Tara Sadbury

This session allowed participants to be aware of their mental health and how to build resilience during stressful moments at work. They were given tools to identify ways to promote growth after stressors.

Tara Sadbury is the Community and Workplace Education Manager at the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Volunteer & Mentorship with Diamond Isinger

This session discussed the value of mentorship and diverse mentor relationships to empower young women. The participants were encouraged to seek opportunities to volunteer, which develops interchangeable skills that can be used in the workplace.

Diamond Isinger is the provincial commissioner for Girl Guides of Canada.

The evening ended with participants working together to create ribbons for the Girl Guides of Canada.

E.B. Horsman & Son is proud to be a part of the BC Electrical association and supporter of the Women’s Network.