As the construction industry celebrates Women in Construction Week March 1–7, alongside the kickoff of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 March 3–7 in Las Vegas, attention naturally turns to what happens on the show floor. New equipment. New technology. New ideas.
Less visible is who decides which ideas take center stage and which conversations shape the industry’s next chapter. That responsibility carries real weight in a sector facing rapid change, workforce pressure and rising expectations to adapt faster than ever.
More women now lead teams, guide strategy and help shape discussions that matter.
Leadership That Shapes the Industry
CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director Dana Wuesthoff and Nicole Hallada, the show’s Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Marketing, are among the leaders guiding those decisions. Their work is not simply about producing one of the largest construction trade shows in the world. It is about setting priorities, weighing tradeoffs and helping the industry focus on what matters most.
That leadership requires looking ahead, listening closely and making choices before outcomes are guaranteed. The goal is not to chase every trend, but to help contractors navigate change with clarity and confidence.
Women Driving the Conversation Forward
That leadership is increasingly being led by women.
Today, women represent 1.34 million workers, accounting for 11.2 percent of the construction workforce. Their growing presence is reshaping how decisions are made across the industry, including at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. It shows up in planning conversations, strategic direction and the way the 2026 show is being built from the ground up.
“The energy feels different,” Dana says. “The collaboration feels stronger. The conversations are more candid. We are asking harder questions about what contractors actually need when they leave the show.”
Those questions influence everything from education programming to exhibitor experience, ensuring the show reflects the realities contractors face today while preparing them for what comes next.
Education Grounded in Reality
For Nicole, the industry looks markedly different than when she first began her career with CONEXPO-CON/AGG. More women now lead teams, guide strategy and help shape discussions that matter. That shift has strengthened decision making by bringing broader perspectives into the room and grounding choices in real world workforce and operational realities.
The education program reflects that grounding. Sessions are built around challenges contractors describe every day, from adopting new technology without sacrificing productivity to managing workforce shortages while maintaining safety and efficiency.
Certain themes continue to surface year after year. Workforce. Efficiency. Technology. They persist because the pressures behind them do not ease. CONEXPO-CON/AGG does not simply reflect those challenges. It helps frame how the industry responds to them.
When Leadership Becomes Visible
For attendees, the impact of that leadership becomes visible during show week. Contractors leave with clearer direction. Exhibitors see engagement with ideas they have spent years developing. Conversations that began long before the show come to life on the floor.
For Dana, these moments are when the work feels most meaningful. She hears from exhibitors seeing crowds gather around their booths for the first time. She also hears from young women who realize there is a place for them in this industry and a future they can help shape.
“Those moments cut through the noise,” she says. “They remind me why the work matters.”
Leading with Intention
Innovation continues to accelerate. Expectations are shifting. Workforce pressures remain front and center. In that environment, leadership means more than organizing a successful event. It means helping an industry move forward with intention.
CONEXPO‑CON/AGG plays this role by closely studying where the industry is headed and reflecting that momentum through its programming, exhibits, and show experience—amplifying the realities and priorities shaping construction’s future.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG recognizes the incredible contributions of women shaping the industry every day. Explore our ever-growing library of stories that highlight their impact and the leadership driving construction forward.
Photo Courtesy of CONEXPO-CON/AGG
