RDK Engineers starts women'ss roundtable series

RDK Engineers has launched a new series of roundtable sessions aimed at leaders in the building design, construction and management industry. The first RDK Roundtable, entitled "Powerful Women in the AEC Industry" will be held on September 24 at 70 Fargo St., and will be led by Geri Denterlein, president of Denterlein Worldwide and author of "The Power Chicks' Guide to Boston."  Among the panelists are  top women leaders in Boston building design and construction, including Lisa Killaby, principal at ADD Inc; Lisa Brothers, chief operating officer for Nitsch Engineering; and Bond Bros. project executive Rose Conti. The participants will share their experiences and insight on what it takes for women to be seen as a powerful force within the traditionally male-dominated building industry, and how they can extend their influence to the broader business community beyond. Attendance will be limited to no more than 20-30. For more information contact Geri LaJoie of RDK at glajoie@rdkengineers.com In a city with no lack of seminars and conferences aimed at the same audience, why the need for this new forum?? RDK's Director of Marketing, Kim Sousa, who has developed many training and networking sessions in the past for SMPS and other trade associations, explains, "In a sense, existing educational programs have been almost too successful at attracting attendees. They are often so crowded that there's little time or opportunity to really talk with the people you'd like to. The speakers are in the front of a huge impersonal ballroom removed from the audience. And many people are too intimidated or have no opportunity to ask the panelists the questions they'd really like to have answers to."     From Sousa's observations came the concept of RDK's hosting a new, more focused and intimate forum for learning and networking where building industry professionals could openly share their experiences, trade solutions and build valuable relationships. Upcoming topics in the Roundtable series will address the business and operational concerns of a variety of industry audiences, such as practical techniques for reducing energy costs at institutional facilities for university, healthcare and biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility managers, to be held in RDK's New Brunswick, NJ office in October.   "We want to make sure to preserve a small but open environment where participants can freely ask questions of invited experts and of each other and really get to know one another," said Sousa. "If there's a lot of interest in a particular topic, we'll hold another session rather than compromise that. It's what makes these roundtables a unique learning and networking opportunity for the attendees."   RDK's Roundtable series begins September 24 at the RDK Boston office at 70 Fargo Street. Additional Roundtables will be held bi-monthly in Boston and at other RDK offices in Massachusetts, New Jersey and North Carolina.