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Women in A/E/C Roundtable 2026 | Panelists

Donna Connole
Director, Marketing
Ware Malcomb

Donna brings nearly 15 years of AEC marketing experience to the Ware Malcomb team. As Director, Marketing she is responsible for leading the firm’s marketing team across the Americas including staffing and executing marketing initiatives such as pursuits, business development support, national conferences and marketing collateral. Donna is focused on contributing strategy and creative ideas to achieve firmwide objectives, operational efficiencies and win new work.

Kisha Given, Accoc. AIA
President, CEO, and Co-Founder
GDG Healthcare Architects

With more than 30 years of experience in healthcare construction and architecture, Kisha Given's career is a testament to learning the industry from the ground up. Starting as a blueprint runner for her father's healthcare construction firm, she wore many hats along the way—from bookkeeper, marketing coordinator, estimator, and interior designer to hiring manager.

In 2005, Kisha co-founded Given Design Group (GDG) with her husband and business partner, Jesse Given, AIA. As the firm grew, she served as Vice President before stepping into her current role as President and CEO in 2024. Today, Kisha leads the firm, now known as GDG Healthcare Architects, a certified Women-Owned Business specializing exclusively in healthcare architecture. With 15 team members, offices in Orange County and Silicon Valley, and more than 60 active projects, GDG manages a diverse portfolio of healthcare projects, with engineering consultants contracted directly through the firm on approximately 90% of its projects.

Passionate about empowering women in the A/E/C industry, Kisha believes leadership isn't defined by a title or a traditional career path, but by resilience, relationships, adaptability, and the willingness to keep learning and growing.

Sheila Wray Given
Principal, Business Development
PGH Wong Engineering, Inc.

An infrastructure executive, Sheila Wray Given has 30 years of professional experience serving in posts for architecture/engineering/program and construction management (A/E/PM/CM) firms, a zero-emission vehicle and technology company and a public relations group. Her experience includes all facets of the industry from development of annual business plans; recruitment of staff at all levels; operations and project support; oversight and development of major complex transit and infrastructure pursuits; staff training; presentation coaching; development and implementation of project mentor protégé plans and programs; and creation of communications, public/media relations and branding initiatives.

Sheila serves as Principal, Business Development for PGH Wong Engineering, Inc., a leading engineering, project management and construction management company for 40 years. The firm has managed many of the largest infrastructure programs in the United States. PGH Wong’s Southern California projects include its Joint Venture partnership for Construction Management on Los Angeles Metro's $3.5 billion Section 3 of its Purple Line Subway Extension; Prime CM on OCTA's OC Streetcar project; and Metro’s On-Call Transit Operations contract. Sheila is the primary client representative, and operations support for the Los Angeles area team including the Metro Purple Line project and JV team.  She also supports business development efforts throughout Southern California including Orange County and San Diego, and major company pursuits across the United States.  Corporate efforts include recruitment for major positions, business planning and reporting.

With a strong network of clients and teaming partners in California and nationwide, Sheila has been active in transportation-related professional organizations and boards, workforce development and mentoring. She served two terms on the International board for WTS, and has been an active member of the WTS LA board since 1999.

Sara Costin Mockus
Chief Executive Officer and Owner
Costin Public Outreach Group, Inc.

With more than 34 years of experience, Sara Costin Mockus is a recognized leader and trusted advisor in public outreach, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement for some of California’s most complex, high-profile, and politically sensitive infrastructure programs. A passionate advocate for elevating the role of public outreach in infrastructure delivery, Sara believes community engagement deserves a seat at the table from day one, not an invitation when challenges arise. She has made that philosophy a cornerstone of her career, ensuring public outreach is recognized as an essential strategic component of every phase of project development and delivery. 

As Founder, CEO, and Owner of Costin Public Outreach Group, Inc. (CPOG), Sara has built a highly respected and sought-after consulting firm serving public agencies and major engineering and construction firms throughout Southern California. Known for its strategic thinking, creativity, responsiveness, and results, CPOG reflects Sara’s ability to combine innovative communications strategies with a practical understanding of the political, operational, and community dynamics that influence infrastructure delivery.

Sara’s expertise encompasses virtually every facet of transportation and infrastructure, including highways, express lanes and tolling, passenger rail, high-speed rail, bus rapid transit, bridges, grade separations, multimodal transportation, regional planning, and event management. Her experience spans the entire project lifecycle, from planning and environmental review through design, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and operation. She has directed outreach for traditional and alternative delivery methods, including design-build, progressive design-build, construction manager/general contractor, construction manager at risk, and public-private partnerships. Her alternative delivery experience alone represents approximately $20 billion in infrastructure investments, including 10 CMGC contracts.

Throughout her career, Sara has led thousands of community meetings and worked extensively with elected officials, regulatory agencies, business leaders, community organizations, and diverse stakeholders. Her portfolio includes major initiatives for Orange County Transportation Authority, LA Metro, Caltrans, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Metrolink, and the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Her expertise in navigating complex public environments, managing opposition, building consensus, anticipating emerging issues, and translating technical information into meaningful public dialogue has made her a valued strategic advisor to project teams and agency leadership alike.

What distinguishes Sara is her ability to see beyond conventional outreach and recognize the larger political, reputational, and operational implications of infrastructure delivery. Her expertise spans environmental communications and CEQA/NEPA public involvement, crisis communications, government and media relations, construction impact mitigation, community relations, digital engagement, and strategic messaging. She believes meetings held and materials distributed are only part of the role of outreach. For Sara, successful outreach is measured by its ability to build trust, manage risk, influence informed decision-making, call stakeholders to action, and advance projects.

Known for her direct approach, sharp strategic instincts, creativity, and ability to connect with people at every level, Sara has built a company that reflects her professional standards and her unmistakable personality. Her philosophy combines a little #MagicInABottle, an unwavering willingness to tackle #AllTheThings, and the belief that exceptional work and #HavingABlast should go hand in hand. It is that combination of experience, leadership, innovation, and enthusiasm that continues to distinguish Sara and CPOG throughout the infrastructure industry.

Margaret E. Novak
Director of Business Development, Western Region
Michael Baker International

Ms. Novak is a long-time resident of Orange County and has over 25 years of experience working within the infrastructure and community development realm. For the last 18 years, she has worked for Michael Baker International – currently as Director of Business Development for the Western Region and previously as a land use planner leading economic development and neighborhood revitalization projects for the firm’s Urban Design Studio.

Ms. Novak has worked on “all sides of the public counter”– in the private sector for A/E consulting firms and a land developer, and in the public sector for a municipality. She also worked for the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC), analyzing local governments' perspectives about land use and transportation policies that impact housing. Over the last 15 years, Ms. Novak has served on numerous boards and committees in elected, appointed, and volunteer roles. She is currently an elected member of the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) Board of Directors, and previously served in elected positions on the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC) Homeowners’ Association Board and Ladera Ranch Civic Council (LRCC). She also served on the South Orange County Economic Coalition (SOCEC) Political Action Committee (ECONPAC) – one year as ECONPAC Chair. Appointments have included her current service on the American Council of Engineering Companies of Orange County (ACEC-OC) Board and, previously, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Citizens Advisory Committee and Women’s Transportation Seminar of Orange County (WTS-OC) Board – three years as WTS-OC Board President.

Ms. Novak has a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona and has completed coursework towards a Master’s degree in Public Administration from USC. She is passionate about making a meaningful difference in her community.

Sarina Sriboonlue
Principal Engineer
Municipal Water District of Orange County

Sarina Sriboonlue is a Principal Engineer with the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and a water resources professional with more than 20 years of experience serving Southern California communities. Her career spans both the private and public sectors, combining technical expertise, project management, and regional collaboration to address complex water resource and utility management challenges.

Prior to joining MWDOC, Sarina spent 17 years with Malcolm Pirnie and Arcadis, where she provided consulting services to municipalities, water agencies, industrial clients, and agricultural stakeholders throughout Southern California and beyond. At MWDOC, Sarina manages regional programs that provide shared services and technical support to member agencies, including the Orange County Demand Study, Urban Water Management Plans, Consumer Confidence Reports, and Lead and Copper Rule Revision compliance initiatives. She also supports the coordination of regional pipeline and water facility shutdowns between Metropolitan Water District and MWDOC member agencies.

Sarina also serves on the Orange County Water Association Board of Directors and chairs the organization's Women in Water Committee. A passionate mentor, she enjoys helping emerging professionals navigate and grow their careers in the water industry. Beyond work, she finds joy in raising two strong girls, taking nature walks, listening to inspirational podcasts, and finding the perfect matcha latte.

Lan Zhou
Director
Caltrans District 12

Director Lan Zhou is an over 20-year veteran of the California Department of Transportation. She currently serves as the Caltrans District 12 Director. Director Zhou previously served as District 12 Deputy Director of Planning and Local Assistance for eleven years. Before that, Zhou was the District 12 Corridor System Management Program Manager and Regional Planning and Local Development Review Branch Chief. She began her Caltrans career in District 4 in the Bay Area as a lead engineer in Maintenance and Toll Bridge Engineering. Zhou has a long history in strategic planning, organizational excellence, and partnership building, and has a wide breadth of experience including working for universities, a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), local government and multiple State Departments of Transportation (DOTs). As the District 12 Director, Zhou leads nearly 1,000 employees by building a professional, productive and people first district culture, and serves 3.2 million residents in Orange County by providing a safe, reliable, multi-modal transportation system.

2nd Annual Summer Wine Mixer Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2nd Annual Summer Wine Mixer! We had a great time getting meet new members (and future members!), catch up with old friends, sample excellent wines, and enjoy delicious charcuterie. We can't wait to see you all at future events!

Special thank-you to our Wine Mixer's event sponsor, Earth Mechanics, Inc. (EMI). You made this great event possible!

Call for Nominations for the 2027 Term

Make an impact. Grow as a leader.

SMPS Orange County is calling on its members to join our Chapter leadership team! If you're ready to take the next step in your professional development, now is your chance to help guide our Chapter's future as a member of our Board of Directors or on a committee.

Serving on the SMPS OC Board of Directors is an opportunity to connect with industry peers, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the growth of our Chapter. As our Chapter continues to expand its membership and influence, we need dedicated leaders like you to drive our mission forward.

Now accepting nominations for the 2027 term

Volunteers will serve a 12-month term from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027. All positions are a one-year term unless otherwise noted. The new Board of Directors (BOD) will be announced by September 15, 2026.

You may nominate yourself or a Chapter member as a Candidate for one or more position/s (check all that apply). Nominations are due by EOD Saturday, August 15. When making a nomination, please ensure that the nominee:
1.    meets the eligibility requirements for the position
2.    is willing to perform the duties
3.    agrees to the time commitment
4.    has support from their firm

Available Positions

*Executive committee member; attends BOD meetings
**Multiple positions available

Nomination instructions

You can download the nomination form here: Nomination Form

Please email nominations to [email protected]   no later than EOD August 15, 2026.

14th Annual General Contractors Roundtable Recap

Last week, we hosted our 14th Annual Contractors Roundtable Event, bringing together seven outstanding general contractors: HENSEL PHELPS, The KYA Group, Layton Construction, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., PCL Construction, Skyline Construction, and W.E. O'Neil Construction. The energy in the room was high, the conversations flowed, and connections were made and renewed throughout the afternoon.

It was a great opportunity for members and contractor representatives to discuss business opportunities, strengthen relationships, and enjoy meaningful industry engagement. Thank you to our event sponsors, Kantiv and OpenAsset, as well as to everyone who participated and helped make this year’s Roundtable such a success!

You can view the full photo gallery from the event here: https://lnkd.in/gAJZbVN7

Caffeinate & Connect May - Event Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Caffeinate & Connect, our May coffee mixer! We had a great time chatting with our fellow members, meeting new members, and enjoying delicious coffee and pastries. See below for photos from the event!

Special thanks to our venue sponsor, W.E. O'Neil and our coffee sponsor, Adiuvo!