Hanson Bridgett Hosts California Women in Design + Construction Event
Tariffs, Trade & Tension: How Global Policy Is Hitting CA Construction
As new federal tariffs take effect on everything from steel, copper and aluminum, to lumber, solar components, and electrical components, California’s construction industry is feeling the impact in real time. Escalating costs, shifting procurement strategies, and unpredictable lead times are forcing project teams to react quickly and rethink how they design, buy, and build.
This panel will explore how global trade policy is disrupting the way California builds and how owners, developers, designers, general contractors, and trades are responding on the ground. From delaying plans, revising project scope and specifications, and re-sequencing procurement to negotiating flexible contract terms and reevaluating prefabrication strategies, learn how teams are finding creative ways to maintain project momentum despite deep uncertainty.
Whether you are an owner, designer, general contractor or trade, this panel will offer timely insights and practical strategies for navigating today’s evolving cost and procurement landscape.
Moderator:
Lisa Dal Gallo - Partner, Hanson Bridgett
Lisa Dal Gallo is a partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP. She has almost 40 years of experience, 29 as a lawyer and almost a decade working in project management and engineering for Turner Construction. The primary focus of her practice is advising clients or project teams about selection of project delivery methods (including IPD, P3, Design Build) for public and private works, and then tailoring creative compensation models and collaborative and integrated delivery processes (including Lean and BIM) to maximize efficiency and add project value. She was a recipient of the 2022 LCI Pioneer Award, is a LEED® accredited professional, and formerly served on the ConsensusDocs Industry Advancement Working Group for development of certain ConsensusDocs, the National AIA Center for Integrated Practice, the AIA California Counsel Committee for Integrated Project Delivery. Lisa founded California Women in Design + Construction™ (CWDC).
Panelists:
M. Ferial Asadies - Principal – Health Market Leader, HDR
Ferial is a healthcare futurist passionate about designing environments that promote resiliency, equity, and healing for patients, staff, and families. With 24 years of international experience across the U.S., U.K., and Asia Pacific, she serves as Health Principal at HDR, leading complex projects and expanding HDR’s impact in Southern California. Ferial co-founded the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Pasadena Foothill Chapter, where she champions innovation in healthcare design and advocates for spaces that support mental and physical well-being. She also mentors emerging leaders and recent graduates, helping them refine their portfolios, resumes, and career strategies to achieve their goals.
Christina Gedeon - Senior Project Manager, Southland Industries
Christina Gedeon is a Senior Project Manager at Southland Industries, where she has spent the last 13 years overseeing complex healthcare projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a licensed Professional Engineer with a strong background in Lean construction and is currently leading a major hospital tower project in Oakland, CA, that uses an Integrated Project Delivery Agreement contract structure. Christina's expertise in estimating and budget management on multiple large-scale projects provides a unique perspective on cost control and financial success.
Cindy Quinteros – Project Manager, Bernards
Cindy Quinteros is a seasoned Project Manager with over 10 years of experience in the construction industry. Since 2023, she has been a key contributor to Bernards’s Preconstruction efforts in the Education sector. Prior to joining Bernards, Cindy spent a decade at Amoroso Construction, where she successfully managed a variety of projects, honing her expertise in delivering complex construction initiatives. Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on Environmental Engineering from the University of Southern California, complemented by a minor in Spanish. She is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Genevieve West – Executive Vice President, Howard Building Corporation
Genevieve West is an Executive Vice President at Howard Building Corporation (HBC), a 100% employee-owned general contracting firm that specializes in interior commercial projects. In her role as EVP, Genevieve brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to the forefront of the construction industry. With a career spanning over 25 years in construction management and project development, she is a driving force behind the company’s strategic planning and operational excellence in expanding HBC’s presence across Southern California. She is a strong advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion at HBC, and her efforts have yielded quantifiable results in practices related to hiring, retention, and community outreach. In 2020 Ms. West was nominated by the Orange County Business Journal as one of the top businesswomen in Orange County. The following year, she was nominated by GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum as a Woman of Influence for her work as a Diversity Champion. She is a Board Member of Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) and is Certified by the Center for Sustainability & Excellence as a Sustainability ESG Practitioner.
Program: 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Networking Reception: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
