Donna Orender
Founder & CEO, Orender Unlimited & Generation W. Former President,
The Women's National Basketball Association
Donna Orender learned early on that the games played on the courts and in the fields were vital learning and proving grounds for life’s opportunities. Recognized as a leader of growth and innovation in several high-profile companies, her ability to pivot as a former professional basketball athlete has served her well. Her passionate pursuit of working on behalf of women and girls is the result of her journey as a professional athlete, a corporate executive, a leader of an iconic women’s business—the WNBA, a board member, and the founder of Generation W. She was recognized as one of the top 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports, named one of Newsweek`s 100 most influential people in sports, and is a best-selling author with her 2018 release of WOWsdom! The Girl’s Guide to the Positive and the Possible.
In 2011, Donna launched Generation W (www.genwnow.com), a dynamic platform of education, inspiration, and connection for women and girls, with the goal of building community. It has changed the trajectory of thousands of individuals who have become part of this inclusive and energetic community. Leveraging intergenerational connectivity and mentorship, Generation W and Generation WOW have positively impacted skills and opportunities while broadening perspectives on women’s equality and equity.
Donna served six years as the President of the WNBA, during which time she solidified its base and led double-digit growth in all key business metrics. Prior to the WNBA, Donna spent 17 years at the PGA TOUR serving in the Office of the Commissioner. She developed a global and domestic media business leading global production, programming, distribution, and digital businesses for the TOUR. As the CEO of Orender Unlimited, she works with companies on strategic and growth initiatives.
She currently serves on the board of the SPAC Goal Acquisition Corporation as well as on the privately held World Surf League Board and Cre8tor, an Israeli-based health and wellness manufacturing company.
Her community board work includes the V Foundation for Cancer Research, UJA Sports for Youth Initiative, Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Jacksonville Chamber Executive Committee, and Maccabi USA, and she is a founding member of the board of Women in America. She has also been a Global Ambassador for Vital Voices, a Hall of Fame collegiate and professional athlete, and a recipient of the March of Dimes Sports Leadership Award. She enjoys speaking on leadership, change, and gender equity. She is a mom of twin sons and two stepchildren.
event agenda
VIEW EVENT AGENDA
Inspired & Empowered
WOMEN@LANGAN
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
10TH ANNIVERSARY
REGISTER NOW
Pérez Art Museum Miami
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Excellence, Empowerment, and Engagement: Honoring Our Legacy and Inspiring Our Future
1:30 pm - 2:00 pM
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
2:00 pm - 2:30 pM
keynote speECH
Caroline Fitzgerald
Women's Sports Consultant Founder of GOALS and host of award winning podcast, The Business Case For Women’s Sports
Learn More About Caroline and her upcoming talk
Barbie, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and the Inevitable Prosperity of Women’s Sports
4:00 pm - 4:15 pM
break
5:00 pm - 5:15 pM
closing and presentation of donation
5:15 pm - 7:00pM
happy hour and networking
Food and drink with industry friends
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
panel discussion #1
PANELISTS
Mentorship in Action: Moving from Performative to Transformative Mentorship
Cheri Bomar
Executive VP &
General Counsel
Hardy World
Amy Coles
Partner & Co-Chair, Pittsburgh Office
Blank Rome
Lynn DeLorenzo
Director, Land Advisory Services
Fourth River Development LLC
Stephen Shanley
Director
Allegheny County Department of Public Works
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
panel discussion #2
Reimagining Leadership in the AI Era: Balancing Innovation and Workforce Empowerment
Susan Penfield
Board Member Langan Former CTO of Booz Allen
Jamie Barr
Principal
Langan
Burcu Akinci
Department Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
panel discussion #3
Sandra (Sandy) Cernick
President & CEO Pressure Chemical
Katherine Knickelbein
Senior Counsel
FedEx
Antonio Marinucci
Program Lead, Global Strategic Programs - Front End Planning
Google
Adrienne Miles
Construction and Community Impact Manager
UPMC
Confidence, Imposter Syndrome, and Self-Advocacy: Overcoming Self-doubt, Public Speaking, and Negotiation Tips
4:40 pm - 5:10pm
BREAKOUT SESSION
Resilience Without the Burnout: Sustainable Leadership Models for Those Who Lead — Featuring Tools, Boundary-Setting, and Rest Culture
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Caroline Fitzgerald
Women's Sports Consultant Founder of GOALS and host of award winning podcast, The Business Case For Women’s Sports
Caroline Fitzgerald is a leading expert on the business of women’s sports and gender equity in sports. In 2020, she founded GOALS, a women’s sports media platform, and launched The Business Case for Women’s Sports podcast, which is sponsored by Ally and was named 2024’s Best Women’s Sports Podcast by Hashtag Sports.
Caroline also works as a consultant, advising brands, properties, and organizations on marketing, media, and growth strategies in women’s sports. She was named a 2024 Power Player in Women’s Sports by Sports Business Journal and is a regular contributing writer for Forbes, TOGETHXR, SBJ, and Parity.
Before GOALS, Caroline spent over a decade in marketing and sponsorship sales with Kohl’s, the Heinz History Center, and P3R & the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. She holds a B.S. in Marketing and B.A. in Women's Studies from The Schreyer Honors College at Penn State, and an M.S. in Global Sport from NYU. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA and has done work locally in women's sports with the Pittsburgh Passion, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Pittsburgh Riveters.
The examples of Barbie, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have undeniably proven that when women consumers are prioritized, profits soar. And when it comes to an entertainment product, women’s sports are perfectly positioned to serve an historically underserved female audience. This talk will make "the business case for women's sports" and discuss how women's sports are at a tipping point and poised for incredible growth ahead.
Barbie, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and the Inevitable Prosperity of Women’s Sports
Talk Description:
Talk Title:
Click on each individual below to learn more
Cheri Bomar
Executive VP & General Counsel
Hardy World
Cheri B. Bomar is a seasoned leader with over two decades of expertise in real estate development, corporate counsel, and business management. She has a proven track record of delivering results across diverse industries, including residential, industrial, and mixed-use developments. As Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Hardy World, LLC, Cheri has spearheaded initiatives to create a private real estate development company and family office, overseeing real estate transactions, entitlements, construction, compliance, leasing, and strategic exit strategies.
Previously, Cheri served in key roles at 84 Lumber Company and Nemacolin Woodlands, Inc., where she provided legal and strategic leadership on land use, construction, contract law, and corporate matters. Notably, she led the acquisition and development of over 200 land sites, managed over a half of billion in real estate dispositions, and successfully secured significant economic development incentives such as HUD 108 financing, TIF programs and LERTA tax abatements.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Cheri's commitment to operational excellence is reflected in her expertise in team building, financial management, and risk reduction. Her collaborative approach has led to favorable outcomes in high-stakes negotiations, including property disputes, credit facilities, and sale-leaseback transactions.
Cheri holds a Juris Doctor cum laude from Duquesne University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, cum laude, from Washington & Jefferson College. She is a licensed attorney and real estate broker in Pennsylvania and actively contributes to the industry through her membership in NAIOP and various mentorship programs.
Cheri’s dedication to strategic growth, coupled with her deep understanding of real estate, finance, and legal frameworks, makes her a trusted advisor and key partner for investors and lenders seeking innovative and value-driven solutions.
Amy Coles
Partner & Co-Chair, Pittsburgh Office
Blank Rome
Amy Joseph Coles is a litigator who concentrates her practice primarily in the energy and construction industries. Amy has handled a wide range of disputes for energy companies, construction owners, contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers; she has also represented banks, financial services providers, healthcare corporations, manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies in state and federal cases, as well as in arbitrations all over the United States and abroad.
Amy has been named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” every year since 2013 and as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star” from 2007–2012. In 2015, she was recognized by The Legal Intelligencer as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track.” She is passionate about diversity and inclusion and was named one of Pennsylvania’s “Most Powerful and Influential Women” by the PA Diversity Council. Amy is active in the Allegheny County Bar Association and is past Chair of the Allegheny County Bar’s Construction Law division. She is also the Programming Chair for the National Association of Women Lawyers, and serves as the co-chair of Project Eviive, a non-profit organization that strives to bring clean water to underdeveloped communities around the world.
Lynn DeLorenzo
Director, Land Advisory Services Fourth River Development LLC
With over three decades of experience, Lynn has been at the forefront of transformative projects that have reshaped Pittsburgh’s landscape. Her expertise in land acquisitions, strategic analysis, and repositioning of land has consistently delivered exceptional results. As a past president of NAIOP Pittsburgh and a 2022 inductee into its Hall of Fame, Lynn’s influence and dedication to the industry are well-recognized. Lynn is also involved in ULI (Urban Land Institute), is Vice Chair Emeritus of its Women’s Leadership Initiative; is an appointed member of the Moon Transportation Authority (MTA), and a board member of Mobilify, a transit organization devoted to improving transit and mobility in the region.
Lynn joined Fourth River Development this past April as director of Land Advisory Services where she works with firms seeking to develop ground-up multifamily, senior living and student housing.
Stephen Shanley
Director
Allegheny County Department of Public Works
Stephen started his career with the Allegheny County Department of Public Works in July 2001 as the Assistant Manager of Bridge Engineering. He was promoted to Manager of Bridge Engineering and subsequently to Deputy Director of the Engineering Division. Following a period as Interim Director, he was promoted to Director of Public Works in January 2015. Stephen has over thirty-five years of engineering experience that includes: project development, managing all aspects of funding and design services for bridge rehabilitation, replacement, maintenance, preservation, bridge inspection, along with waterline, sewer and building projects. He also has over eight years of field experience associated with bridge and construction inspection.
Previous employers include: Trumbull Corporation – Resident Engineer and Lead Inspector on the Mon-Fayette Expressway, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority – Project Manager, and the City of Pittsburgh – Project Manager & Bridge Inspector. Stephen obtained his BS from the Pennsylvania State University and is on the Executive committee for the International Bridge Conference, Executive Board and board member of ESWP, board member of ASHE and the Allegheny County Parks Foundation. Stephen also previously served as President of the Association for Bridge Construction & Design (ABCD) and Pennsylvanian Society of Professional Engineer (PSPE).
Burcu Akinci
Department Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Burcu Akinci is the head of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She earned her B.S. in civil engineering (1991) from Middle East Technical University and her M.B.A. (1993) from Bilkent University at Ankara, Turkey. After that, she earned her M.S. (1995) and her Ph.D. (2000) in civil and environmental engineering with a specialization in construction engineering and management from Stanford University.
Her research interests include development of approaches to model and reason about information-rich histories of facilities, to streamline construction and facility management processes. She specifically focuses on investigating utilization and integration of building information models with data capture and tracking technologies, such as 3D imaging, and embedded sensors and radio-frequency identification systems to capture semantically-rich as-built histories of construction projects and facility operations. Akinci has one patent, two patent applications, more than 60 referred journal publications, and 80 refereed conference publications.
Jamie Barr
Principal
Langan
Jamie Barr, LEP, is a geological engineer with more than 20 years of diversified consulting experience throughout North America. He is a Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP) with project experience in over 20 states and three Canadian provinces. Barr also manages Langan’s environmental practices in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Well versed in numerous engineering disciplines, his main areas of focus include brownfield redevelopment, portfolio due diligence, site assessment/remediation, and developing rapid closure strategies.
Barr has been hands-on with generative AI since the early days. A member of Langan’s AI Steering Committee, Barr works to evaluate applications and monitor the risks, advancements, and accuracy of large language models (LLMs). The Committee is focused on developing and implementing AI-enhanced environmental solution delivery, particularly for real estate development, transactional due diligence, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and investigative and remedial activities.
Susan Penfield
Board Member Langan Former CTO of Booz Allen
Susan Penfield is a technology executive, board member, and strategist recognized for her leadership in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and consulting. Over a 30-year career at Booz Allen Hamilton, she rose to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Innovation Officer, leading billion-dollar businesses in Digital and Health while driving firm-wide innovation initiatives.
As CTO, Susan led global technology teams, building partnerships with major technology firms and startups to accelerate AI, data, and cloud adoption across government and commercial clients. She pioneered Booz Allen’s transition from pure consultancy to a technology builder, embedding AI/ML, analytics, and human-centered design into mission solutions. Her leadership established Booz Allen as a trusted partner for innovation in defense, health, and civil markets.
Susan’s P&L; leadership included running Booz Allen’s Digital business — a $1B growth engine delivering cloud migrations, enterprise data strategies, and AI-powered solutions — and the Health business, one of the firm’s fastest-growing sectors, where she advanced public health surveillance, clinical research, and digital patient engagement.
She currently serves on the boards of SPARQ, a digital engineering consultancy, and Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, advising on AI adoption, digital strategy, and enterprise transformation. In the nonprofit sector, she contributes to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and has held senior roles at SEEDSPOT, NVTC, and the NIH Children’s Inn.
Susan has received multiple industry honors, including WashingtonExec’s Top CTOs to Watch (2023, 2024), the WashingtonExec Lifetime Achievement Award (2020), and the Wash100 Award (four-time recipient). She was also recognized on ELLE Magazine’s Power List for Women in Tech.
Holding a B.S. in Technology Management and a certificate from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business, Susan is a lifelong learner and mentor. She is known for championing diversity in technology leadership, cultivating women in STEM, and aligning emerging technologies with boardroom priorities of growth, risk, and talent.
Susan Penfield’s career reflects a rare blend of technology depth, consulting expertise, and business leadership. She continues to shape industries as a board member, advisor, and philanthropist, advancing the responsible adoption of AI and digital transformation.
Sandra (Sandy) Cernick
President & CEO
Pressure Chemical
Sandra (Sandy) Cernick joined Pressure Chemical Company as President & CEO in September 2021. She brings over 35 years of professional experience, having held executive-level positions in both the U.S. and Europe, managing commercial strategy and business development across custom manufacturing and portfolio product businesses.
Sandy has held executive leadership roles at TEVA Corporation, Callery LLC, Siegfried USA LLC, and Lanxess (formerly Bayer Corporation), with a focus on the API, specialty, and fine chemical sectors.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Environmental Science.
Katherine Knickelbein
Senior Counsel
FedEx
Katherine Knickelbein is a Senior Counsel at Federal Express Corporation where she counsels the Surface Real Estate and Facility Project Engineering clients. Prior to joining FedEx, Katherine worked in private practice and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She holds a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College.
Antonio Marinucci
Program Lead, Global Strategic Programs - Front End Planning
Google
Dr. Marinucci is the Program Lead, Global Strategic Programs - Front End Planning for Google’s data center projects, where he is responsible for developing & implementing strategies for derisking and delivering the early works faster and on budget. Dr. Marinucci is active in numerous professional organizations and their technical committees and is an instructor and researcher for the National Highway Institute. Dr. Marinucci is active in many professional organizations and their technical committees and maintains 15 P.E. licenses. He has co-authored more than 55 peer-reviewed technical publications and has delivered 75+ lectures at state/federal trainings, universities, and technical conferences across the globe.
Adrienne Miles
Construction and Community Impact Manager UPMC
Adrienne is a highly accomplished manager at UPMC, where she leads initiatives within the Corporate Construction department. She collaborates with both internal teams and external stakeholders to create transformative opportunities that enhance the health and well-being of the community. With over 20 years of extensive experience in the healthcare sector, Adrienne is dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations. She is keenly aware of the critical need to dismantle barriers that affect diverse and underserved communities. She finds great fulfillment in connecting with the individuals she assists and witnessing their journeys toward success as they overcome significant challenges. Her unwavering commitment to empowering these populations has enabled her to implement inclusive policies and practices that support individuals and diverse businesses through strategic partnerships with UPMC.
Adrienne manages the Small and Diverse Contractor, Community Engagement, and Workforce Engagement programs for the new UPMC Presbyterian Kamin Tower. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide cutting-edge patient rooms that allow world-renowned physicians and scientists to deliver nationally recognized care and pioneering treatments in specialized areas such as transplantation, heart and vascular care, and neurology. The program aims to cultivate workforce initiatives and create opportunities for small and local businesses to secure contracts for UPMC projects, which are essential for their growth and sustainability in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Adrienne is a trained educator who partners with various educational institutions to provide early exposure to careers in critical fields such as trades, allied health services, architectural and engineering design, and more. Her commitment to education is evident in her efforts to inspire future generations to pursue opportunities in these essential sectors. She has been recognized by Globe Street as a 2025 Woman of Influence and named "Woman of the Year" in the Diversity Champion category by Commercial Real Estate News (CRE) & Property Resource. Adrienne embodies the principles of corporate social responsibility, including community engagement, excellent customer service, inclusion, ethics, transparency, sustainability, and volunteerism.
Adrienne holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in High-Performance Learning Health Science from Carlow University. Additionally, she actively participates on various boards and committees throughout the Pittsburgh region, contributing her expertise and leadership to drive positive change in her community.
