The wall and ceiling industry is being transformed—not just by advanced materials or emerging technologies, but by the women who are reshaping what leadership, craftsmanship, and innovation look like on job sites and in boardrooms across North America.  

The seventeen professionals featured in this year's "Women Who Build" initiative represent expertise that spans the full lifecycle of construction: from the precision of drywall finishing to the strategic vision of corporate leadership, from technical mastery of estimating to the community-building power of advocacy and education. 

These women didn't wait for the industry to change before stepping in—they became the change. They founded companies when doors closed. They learned every role from the ground up when credibility was questioned. They created mentorship programs when pathways didn't exist. They modernized associations, commercialized innovations, built social media empires, and turned family legacies into national models of excellence. 

As the industry faces critical workforce shortages and rising technical standards, these leaders bring fresh perspectives to age-old problems, bridge the gap between finance and field operations, and demonstrate that the future of construction depends on expanding who gets to build it. 

Meet the innovators, educators, finishers, executives and advocates who are building not just structures, but a more professional, and dynamic industry for everyone who follows. 

Throughout her career, Carol has earned recognition for her leadership and service. She has served as President of the Foundation of AWCI, co-developed the CARES program providing financial assistance to industry members and their families, and served on the AWCI Board of Directors. Under her guidance, CARES has awarded over $320,000 in grants to those in need. Her contributions have been recognized with the AWCI Distinguished Service Award, accolades from the National Fireproofing Contractors Association, and nominations for the Los Angeles Times “Inspirational Women” Award and the WWCCA “Women in Construction” Award.  

Carol envisions an industry that is increasingly innovative, inclusive and respected, particularly for women. She notes a significant cultural shift in construction: from proving one’s place to actively valuing diverse talent. Over the past decade, the number of women in U.S. construction has grown nearly 45 percent, reflecting a wider acceptance and celebration of leadership and craftsmanship among women. 

Passionate about the lasting impact of her work, Carol says, “I love seeing buildings where our products were used and knowing I played a part in their construction. Being part of this process is meaningful and humbling.” She advises women entering the field to embrace their unique perspective, cultivate deep knowledge, and speak with confidence, principles that have guided her career and mentorship. 

With a legacy built on dedication, innovation, and empowerment, Carol Schary continues to shape the future of the wall and ceiling industry, one project and one leader at a time. 

No stranger to W&C or the industry, Carol Kimmel Schary is a trailblazer, blending decades of hands-on experience with visionary leadership. Her journey began in the family business, where she immersed herself in every aspect of operations: from sales and inventory control to finance and shipping. These early experiences laid the foundation for a deep understanding and respect for the people and processes that drive the industry. 

Following the passing of her father, Carol and her mother continued to lead Nathan Kimmel Company, expanding its product lines while remaining true to the company’s core principles of integrity, innovation, and steady growth. Today, the company is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise, helping contractors meet diversity requirements while demonstrating the power of women-led businesses in a traditionally male-dominated field. 

Carol Schary 
President & Owner 
Nathan Kimmel Company LLC 

Over the decades, her role evolved alongside technology. She modernized the association’s communications, helped establish a web presence, transitioned mailings to email, and supported the growth of NWCB events and education programs. She took pride not in the tools she used, but in the connections she nurtured—ensuring the industry’s members stayed informed, engaged, and inspired through periods of change and economic uncertainty. 

She also witnessed a cultural shift. When she started, women were almost invisible on jobsites and in boardrooms; she was once mistaken for a hotel employee at her first board meeting. Today, more women lead projects and take on field roles, a development she celebrates while recognizing there’s still more work to do.  

What she loves most about the industry is its combination of innovation and craftsmanship. Walls and ceilings shape the spaces where people live, learn, and heal. The work is visible, tangible, and enduring—a reflection of skill and pride. Yet she dreams of a more equitable future: one where diversity thrives, safety is paramount, and workers are valued and respected. 

After decades of service, she remains devoted to NWCB’s mission: connecting people, promoting excellence, and strengthening an industry that quietly shapes the world around us. Her story is not just about career milestones, it’s about bridging gaps, fostering respect, and leaving a lasting mark on a craft that literally builds the foundations of daily life. 

Anyone that has attended the NWCB show each year or as a member knows that Tiina is just that person. She is the “eyes and ears” of the NWCB. And she knows the bureau inside and out.  

In 1995, fresh out of college and armed with experience in corporate communications, she stepped into the world of construction—not with a hard hat, but with a keyboard, a notebook, and a keen eye for detail. Joining the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau as a Communications Coordinator, she quickly became the bridge connecting contractors, manufacturers, and labor partners across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and even into Canada. 

Her early days were hands-on. She organized chapter meetings, coordinated the Annual Northwest Wall and Ceiling Industries Convention and Trade Show, and published the association newsletter. One project, in particular, left a lasting impression: helping Executive Director Bob Drury turn his handwritten notes into the first-ever Stucco Resource Guide. She typed, edited, and laid out the book, absorbing the technical knowledge behind the trades in the process. Later, as she designed the NWCB labor productivity study, terms like “ramp up,” “ramp down,” and “trade stacking” became part of her everyday vocabulary, marking her full immersion into an industry she had only just discovered.  

Tiina Freeman  
CAE | Director of Strategic Communications & Operations 
Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau 

Her key achievements include redesigning reporting systems for earlier project performance insights, implementing disciplined work-in-progress methodologies, strengthening controls and modernizing IT infrastructure for scalability. She has bridged gaps between finance, estimating, and project teams, while contributing to strategic planning, M&A and growth initiatives. 

Sierra launched “Women at Maxan,” focusing on mentorship, visibility, and advancement pathways for women in office and field roles. She also engages in external board governance, applying her expertise to sustainable operations. 

Looking ahead, Sierra envisions a technology-driven, precision-focused industry where top performers excel through accurate estimating, reality capture, and layout tools that minimize rework. She stresses earlier information flow, coordinated leadership, and accountability to widen the gap between average and elite companies. She appreciates the industry’s tangible accountability (work either succeeds or fails visibly) and advocates shifting from “build-then-fix” to “measure-then-build” for efficiency and confidence on-site.  

“The most impressive thing I’ve seen from Sierra is how quickly she can take complex, cross-functional issues and make them clear enough to drive decisions and action,” says Dane Flynn, president and general manager of Maxan Interior Systems. “She can step into situations with incomplete information and competing priorities, identify what matters, and move teams forward. She doesn’t operate at arm’s length. Whether it’s financial risk, operational bottlenecks, technology adoption, or leadership gaps, she gets close to the work, asks the right questions, and builds structure that holds up under pressure.” 

Sierra De Sousa oversees financial strategy, controls, IT and risk management across multiple branches. Her entry into the wall and ceiling industry came through the financial and operational aspects of construction, attracted by its complexity, fast pace and real-world impact. 

Early on, Sierra recognized that true credibility comes from understanding project execution on the ground, not just managing numbers. She deliberately immersed herself in operations, learning workflows, site challenges and how upstream decisions affect field outcomes. This integrated perspective defines her leadership, positioning her at the crossroads of estimating, project management, and operations to deliver better risk visibility and predictable results. 

Sierra De Sousa 
Vice President of Finance 
Maxan Interior Systems  

Over the years, her career has steadily evolved from communications and marketing into elevated sales and business development leadership. In roles, such as sales representative and now senior business development specialist at Performance Contracting Inc., Karina has supported drywall, framing, exterior systems, and interior finishes across commercial and industrial projects. Her work sits at the intersection of operations, estimating, client engagement, and executive leadership; a space where clarity, trust, and strategy matter as much as technical expertise. 

Within her organization, Karina is widely recognized as a go-to partner for high-value pursuits. She has helped shape proposal strategies, refine messaging, and deliver presentations that translate complex wall and ceiling scopes into clear value for owners, developers, architects, and general contractors. Her strength lies in her ability to take operational realities and turn them into client confidence, building trust before a project is even awarded.  

But Karina’s influence extends beyond the pursuit process. One of her most defining achievements has been her leadership in creating high-impact client engagement initiatives that strengthened long-term partnerships across key markets. She launched an annual national client event that has become part of her company’s culture for more than 15 years, a rare accomplishment that reflects not only creativity, but consistency and long-term relationship building.  

She has also helped elevate wall and ceiling work through awards, media recognition, and industry exposure, securing placements in publications, such as Walls & Ceilings, ENR, and regional business journals. In doing so, she has reinforced something the industry has long deserved: visibility for the trade professionals whose work forms the backbone of safe, high-performing buildings. 

Most recently, Karina was selected as a 2026 honoree for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Women of Influence: Construction, Engineering, and Architecture” program (recognition that reflects her leadership, her credibility, and her lasting impact). 

Karina believes the wall and ceiling industry is entering a pivotal period, one shaped by increased project complexity, tighter schedules, and a growing need for early collaboration. She sees specialty contractors becoming more integrated into design and preconstruction, valued not as downstream trades but as strategic partners. She also sees workforce development as both the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity, especially when it comes to building pathways for women and underrepresented groups. 

Throughout her career, Karina has witnessed cultural shifts firsthand: from a more hierarchical, transactional industry to one increasingly focused on collaboration and people development. And she hasn’t just watched those changes happen. She has helped push them forward. 

Those who have worked with her describe her impact in one word: sustained. Through economic downturns, organizational changes, and evolving markets, Karina has remained steady (driving results, elevating teams, and mentoring others without ego). 

For Karina Eshilian, the wall and ceiling industry has never been “just construction.” It’s community. It’s relationships. It’s pride. And it’s proof that the most powerful leaders aren’t always the ones holding the title; sometimes, they’re the ones building the bridge. 

Karina Eshilian didn’t enter the wall and ceiling industry through a traditional route, she entered through storytelling. Early in her career, she stepped into a public relations role that introduced her to the specialty trades, and what she found there wasn’t just an industry. It was a world built on craftsmanship, precision, and the kind of coordination most people never see unless they’ve lived it. 

More than 18 years later, Karina has become one of the industry’s most consistent and influential forces, not by being the loudest voice in the room but by being the person who connects the right people, the right strategy, and the right execution at exactly the right time. 

Karina Eshilian  
Senior Business Development Specialist  
Performance Contracting Inc.

That unexpected entry point became the foundation for everything that followed. In 2003, she moved to Los Angeles and worked as an owner’s representative for a restaurateur, overseeing construction on a 30,000-square-foot home and restaurant projects: Experience she describes as invaluable. In 2007, she returned to New York to be closer to family and joined Curtis Partition as executive assistant to Ajay Narula. Given the autonomy to grow, Eve steadily expanded her responsibilities, eventually entering an in-house Leadership Development Program that allowed her to work across estimating, project management, and safety. 

In 2013, when Curtis Partition decided to bring its risk management program in-house, Ajay entrusted Eve with developing and leading it. She has since helped shape and sustain a safety program rooted in culture, consistency and care, maintaining an excellent EMR even during periods of significant company growth. 

Beyond her organization, Eve has contributed to industry progress by serving on panels focused on risk management and safety culture, and by stepping into leadership roles, such as co-chair of the STA insurance and surety committee and co-chair of the WBC risk management committee. Her recognitions include multiple BTEA awards, the “Women’s Building Council Outstanding Women’s” Award, and a PWC 20 Under 40 Award. 

Eve believes the industry’s future lies in stronger collaboration, smarter integration of technology, and continued investment in safety and workforce development. Her advice to other women climbing the ladder is clear and direct: find your voice and use it. 

Eve Biggers-Lewis didn’t set out to build a career in construction but construction found her, and she never looked back. Today, as director of risk management at Curtis Partition Corporation, she leads a department that touches the most critical parts of the business: safety, insurance, and contract management. Her path into the wall and ceiling industry is marked by grit, curiosity, and a deep commitment to protecting the people who make the work possible.  

In 2001, at just 20 years old, Eve was working retail in the mall beneath 5 World Trade Center, unsure what direction her future would take. She had two job offers on the table: One in finance in Tower 1 and another with a major plumbing supplier. She chose the plumbing role, starting on September 10, 2001. The next day, standing on Sixth Avenue and watching the Towers fall, she experienced a moment of clarity that would shape her career: construction was where she belonged.  

Eve Biggers-Lewis 
Director of Risk Management 
Curtis Partition Corporation 

She sees the wall and ceiling sector continuing to evolve through improved practices and a more educated workforce. Over the past 20 years, she has observed greater acceptance of women in construction, noting that increased participation has helped narrow longstanding gender gaps. Cadena remains focused on affordable housing, with long-term plans to expand access to homeownership through new construction. She advocates for expanded grant funding to support first-time buyers and underserved communities.

Jacquelynn has built a two-decade career in drywall contracting that spans residential housing, hospitality and government work. She launched her company more than 20 years ago performing gypsum board installation in both single-family and commercial assemblies, growing from subcontractor to prime contractor as her project scope expanded.

Cadena’s field experience exposed persistent operational barriers that affect many wall and ceiling contractors. After struggling with the high cost of risk coverage, she invested in the insurance sector to better understand and navigate liability and workers’ compensation challenges that directly affect subcontractor viability. Facing labor shortages and workforce documentation issues, she became involved in helping workers pursue legal status, aiming to stabilize crews and reduce compliance risk on projects. When permitting delays slowed production, she engaged with city planning processes to better understand approval pathways and reduce administrative friction.

JACQUELYNN CADENA 
OWNER | CADENA INC. 

Kelly’s commitment to craftsmanship is evident in her achievements. After completing a rigorous four-year apprenticeship, she earned her Journeyman status, a milestone that reflects both skill and perseverance. Her expertise has been recognized nationally—she was hand-selected by her training center to represent the trade at a National Drywall Expo in North Carolina, where she collaborated with elite finishers to demonstrate professional taping techniques. For Kelly, these accomplishments are more than accolades; they are validation of her dedication and a testament to what focused determination can achieve in a field historically dominated by men. At last year’s BUILD25, Kelly showed everyone on the floor how to use stilts properly and with confidence.   

Looking ahead, Kelly is excited by the evolving landscape of the wall and ceiling industry. She is particularly passionate about innovative architectural designs, advanced tooling that reduces physical strain, and eco-friendly building materials that promote sustainability. She sees the industry becoming increasingly professionalized, with a cultural shift toward pride in workmanship, enhanced by social media and digital workflow tools that streamline job tracking. 

Kelly also takes pride in the growing inclusivity of the trades. The presence of women on job sites not only provides essential representation but inspires the next generation to see the trades as both viable and rewarding careers. Personally, she thrives on the variety of working at different sites, collaborating with new teams, and mastering a craft that demands precision and resilience.  

Her journey is also deeply personal. Before entering the trades, Kelly lived paycheck to paycheck. Today, she is a homeowner, financially stable, and empowered by skills that can sustain her family anywhere in the world. For Kelly, the drywall industry is more than a career, it’s a path to independence, self-confidence, and professional pride. 

Kelly Kertz is not just shaping walls; she’s shaping the future of the trades, one expertly finished joint at a time. 

Kelly Kertz’s journey in the trades began not with a blueprint or a formal plan, but with recognition of her work ethic. In May 2021, while helping on a residential side project, her dedication caught the eye of a master carpenter. Impressed, he offered her a position as a drywall finisher, a role Kelly embraced with enthusiasm, seeing it as an opportunity for professional growth and stability. Since that moment, she has built a versatile career spanning residential homes and large-scale commercial projects, including hotels and apartment complexes, all while proudly representing the union as an IUPAT member.  

Kelly Kertz  
Drywall Finisher | IUPAT 

Today, as senior acoustical estimator and project manager at TP Acoustics, Kim manages multi-million-dollar projects that feature complex specialty installations. Her work spans metal ceilings, wood wall systems, structural grid applications, and PET products. 

Colleagues often note her exceptional skill in tackling challenging projects, from precise estimating to seamless project execution, and her dedication to delivering excellence consistently sets a high standard for the team. 

Kim’s professional accomplishments extend beyond technical expertise. She is a staunch advocate for women in construction, a field historically dominated by men. Throughout her career, she has navigated these challenges with integrity, determination, and leadership, earning respect and inspiring others. Beyond her individual success, Kim prioritizes mentorship, having trained two estimators who now operate independently and contribute meaningfully to TP Acoustics’ ongoing success. 

Reflecting on the industry, Kim has witnessed significant cultural shifts. More women are now in project management and supervisory roles, compared to the office-focused positions available when she started. She sees the importance of continued mentorship, networking, and leadership to further strengthen the industry and make it more accessible for future generations. 

Passionate, persistent, and driven, Kim DeBacco embodies the spirit of leadership and teamwork. Her commitment to excellence, support for her colleagues, and efforts to foster diversity in the field make her a standout professional, admired both for her accomplishments and her dedication to lifting others in the wall and ceiling industry.

Kim DeBacco has built a remarkable career in the acoustical ceilings and walls industry, earning a reputation as one of TP Acoustics’ top-performing professionals. Her journey began in the mid-1980s, working for a local building supplier while attending college, where she started as a receptionist and material sales associate. Over the next two decades, her responsibilities grew steadily, providing her with a wealth of experience in sales, project coordination, and operational management. Kim’s career path eventually led her to specialize in acoustical divisions within Arizona-based and nationally recognized firms, allowing her to help launch and develop new projects while refining her expertise in the field. 

Kim DeBacco 
Senior Acoustical Estimator/Project Manager  
TP Acoustics Inc 

These women exemplify progress in the wall and ceiling industry, fostering innovation and excellence while inspiring the next generation.