Who We Are

Cloudy mountains

Networking. Education. Growth. Mentorship.

The purpose of our organization is to promote the professional development of women in the healthcare industry, to empower one another, support growth and mentorship, and support business through sharing successful techniques, leads, contacts, products and services. Our content is geared towards women in administration, operations and facilities and those who work with them. We provide content that furthers the individuals' knowledge of industry related fields and trends, enhances professional development tools and gives a forum for personal growth.

Mission & Values

Mission:

The purpose of Women in Healthcare is to promote the professional development of women in the healthcare industry through networking, education, and mentorship. Through this community we empower one another, support growth and mentorship, provide education and support business through sharing successful techniques, leads, contacts, products and services.

Values:

Women in Healthcare provides programming needed to grow personally, in your career and in the healthcare community. We focus all the content we provide on the following tracks:

// Mentorship
// Education
// Networking
// Community
// Self

We are committed to providing women in the healthcare industry with the community and tools needed to prosper and to allow them to have a seat at the table they want to be seated.

Who we serve:

Women in healthcare gears their content towards women who are interested in a management or leadership track within the healthcare environment. We are diverse mix of individuals varying in experience from students to c-suite.

National Vision:

For women to have a seat at the table where they want to be seated.

JEDI Commitment:

WIH creates a radically inclusive environment by recognizing the uniqueness of our diverse community and providing a forum where women can bring their whole selves; a place where all women feel seen, heard, valued and empowered.

We build meaningful relationships and develop partnerships and allies across the spectrum of healthcare that aligns with our mission and vision.

 

Want to hear more about Women in Healthcare and our mission?

Hear from our Founder, Ashley Schmidt, as she talks about how WIH started and our mission.

(Courtesy of the Women in Healthcare- Florida Chapter event, 2020)

Board Members

  • Laura Hawley

    President

    Vice President – Business Development, Skanska USA Building Inc.

  • Tabatha Utley

    Secretary

    Business Development, Spartan Surfaces

    With over 15 years of experience in the flooring industry, Tabatha has a unique blend of expertise in both healthcare facilities and clinical settings. She left the flooring industry and became a Registered Nurse in a Level One Trauma Hospital, where she developed a deep understanding of the healthcare environment. Coming back into the flooring industry, she has successfully collaborated with numerous healthcare facilities, ensuring their flooring needs are met with the highest standards.

    Tabatha is an active volunteer, having served on several industry boards including the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the California Society for Healthcare Engineering (CSHE). Her commitment to community service is evident through her involvement with local hospitals and nonprofits.

    Residing in Pleasant Hill, California, Tabatha enjoys life with her two beloved morkies, Oliver and Doug. As a board member of the Women in Healthcare Northern California Chapter, she is dedicated to fostering networking opportunities, bringing innovative ideas, and promoting collaboration within the organization.

  • Jackie Rudd

    Treasurer

    Project Controls Manager, UC Davis Health

    Jackie has over 15 years in healthcare project management and administrative assistant experience. In her current role as Project Controls Manager at UC Davis Health, she focuses on process improvements and optimizing project delivery.

    Jackie brings her experience with project budgeting and cost controls into her role as Treasurer for the Women in Healthcare Northern California Chapter, where she will partner to bring mentorship, education, and networking to women in the healthcare community.

  • Andrea Tobias

    Mentorship Co-Chair

    Enterprise Strategic Director, One Workplace

    Andrea Tobias is a seasoned industry leader with over 20 years of experience in the design and construction industry. At One Workplace, Andrea plays a key role in leading the company’s enterprise strategy for multi-sector expansion and diversified capabilities. She is dedicated to driving growth, building key client relationships, and maintaining a deep understanding of market trends. Andrea excels in developing strategies that bring value to the Women in Healthcare Northern California Chapter.

  • Nadira Akbari

    Membership Co-Chair

    Vice President, Avison Young

    With over 20 years of experience in both residential and commercial real estate, Nadira Akbari has developed a comprehensive understanding of the industry. She has successfully managed corporate real estate portfolios for Fortune 500 companies and co-founded a women-led boutique real estate firm in Silicon Valley, specializing in tenant representation for commercial real estate clients. In 2016, Nadira won the CoreNet Global Northern California Chapter “Young Leader of the Year Award” for her achievements and contributions to the industry. In 2020, she was awarded the “CSUEB Alumni 40 under 40” award from Cal State University East Bay for her dedication, excellence and development in her professional endeavors.

    In her current role as Vice President at Avison Young, Nadira combines her deep expertise in commercial real estate with a strategic, client-focused approach to lease and sale negotiations, transaction management, strategic planning, project management, lease administration, and design. She has a proven track record of delivering tailored solutions for clients across a wide range of industries and sectors, including corporate clients, tech startups, pre- and post-IPO companies, healthcare organizations, and professional services firms.

    Nadira will be Co-leading the Mentorship committee for Women in Healthcare’s, Northern California chapter. With her experience running successful mentorship programs for other organizations, Nadira is excited to bring a robust program to this chapter.

  • Karva Sykes

    Programs Co-Chair

    Principal, Associate Vice President, HGA Architects and Engineers

    Karva Sykes is a Principal and Licensed Architect at HGA in San Francisco, CA, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep passion for healthcare design. She is drawn to the industry for both the humanity and complexity of healthcare architecture and thrives on solving intricate design challenges that enhance patient and provider experiences. Known for her strategic problem-solving and commitment to innovation, she has played a key role in shaping impactful healthcare environments. Outside of work, Karva enjoys life in Piedmont, CA, where she shares her home with her husband, two children, and her 17-year-old puppy.

  • Meredith Meyers

    Program Co-Chair

    Associate Vice President, Business Development, HGA Architects and Engineers

    Meredith Meyers leads Healthcare Business Development for HGA in Northern California.  She enjoys collaborating with industry partners and friends and helping to develop the strengths of her HGA team members. Meredith is a graduate of the University of Southern California and holds a BA in Communication and Social Science with a Minor in Spanish.

    Professional memberships and activities include:

    • DBIA Western Pacific Region Conference Organizing Committee, 2017-Present
    • AIA Los Angeles and Orange County and San Diego Healthcare Programs Committees
    • AIA Los Angeles Healthcare Purposeful Committee
    • Ripple Intent

    Meredith is deeply committed to philanthropic efforts and has volunteered at various events at USC, the Majestic Realty Land of the Free Golf Tournament, Asian American Architects and Engineers Association (AAa/e) Awards Banquets, several DBIA and SMPS events, Mama’s Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and San Diego Food Bank.

    Her experience and outreach are invaluable in helping create programs for our Women in Healthcare Northern California chapter.

  • Jana Aubert

    Sponsorship

    Program Director, Cambridge CM, Inc.

    Jana Aubert is a seasoned Program Director with extensive expertise in project management, particularly in healthcare and higher education construction. She excels in overseeing all aspects of preconstruction, bidding, permitting, estimating, and onsite construction management. Throughout her career, Jana has demonstrated a strong ability to collaborate effectively with owners, consultants, subcontractors, facilities personnel, and state and local agencies, consistently delivering successful projects while cultivating lasting professional relationships.

    In her role as Sponsorship Chair, Jana fosters an environment of trust and collaboration. A passionate advocate for empowering women in the workforce, she is dedicated to helping women excel in their careers and support one another, ensuring that every woman in the healthcare sector can thrive and take on leadership roles.

  • Alicia Nowaczyk

    Sponsorship Co-Chair

    Sr. Project Manager, Cambridge CM, Inc.

    Alicia has over 30 years of experience in construction and project management. In her current role as Sr. Project Manager at UC Davis Health, she is dedicated to the Residential Sound Reduction Program and committed to building livable communities through integrated solutions that enhance quality of life.

    As a motivating team leader, Alicia enhances productivity through positive reinforcement and has successfully guided dedicated teams, peers, suppliers, and clients. As the Past President of the CMAA Northern California Chapter, she will utilize her network and experience in her role as the Sponsorship Co-Chair for the Women in Healthcare Northern California Chapter, where she oversees sponsorship packages and ensures that all sponsor commitments are fulfilled.

  • Vicky Vicente

    Membership

    Western Region Practice Leader, HGA Architects and Engineers

    Vicky has dedicated the majority of her 20-year career to healthcare planning and design, and she has a passion for creating spaces that are functional, comforting, and healing. Vicky has a particular expertise in challenging, complex projects that require creative solutions within project constraints. Her approach to her work is the same no matter what challenges a particular project brings: collaboration and communication are the cornerstones of success and always top of mind. Vicky’s ties to the healthcare industry will help bring a lot of passion to our Women in Healthcare Northern California chapter.

  • Jill Tomczyk

    Communications Co-Chair

    Director of Strategic Programs, UC Davis Health

    Executive Director of Strategic Programs, UC Davis Health, Facilities Design & Construction, LEED BD+C

    A California Licensed Architect with twenty-seven years of experience in architectural design,

    construction, project management in the UC system. Jill was a Senior Project Manager for the UC

    Davis Campus Design and Construction Management department for 20+ years before moving to

    UC Davis Health in 2019.

     

    She has experience with multiple contract delivery methods, and a wide range of project types including high tech, academic, housing and healthcare. Her current role includes delivering multiple strategic expansion projects for the UC Davis Health System including the California Tower, a 1M square foot replacement bed tower project delivered under a Progressive Design Build contract, an outpatient surgery Center and Clinic, an expansion to the Central Utility Plant, renovation and new construction of hospital Operating Rooms, and off-site Medical Office Buildings serving outpatient needs in the surrounding community. She is leading an integrated team of designers and builders using collaborative contract delivery that will add more than 1M gross

    square feet to the health campus over the next decade.  Her dynamic experience working with various teams across the UC Davis system will be a great asset to our Communications position within the Women in Healthcare Northern California chapter.

  • Katie Wilson

    Communications Co-Chair

    Senior Director of Strategy and Business Planning, Skanska USA Building Inc.

    Katie brings nearly 14 years of experience leading marketing efforts for general contractors, transportation consultants, architects and landscape architects/urban planning companies. As marketing director at Skanska, she works closely with business development and operations teams to lead and manage all marketing efforts for the California market to secure new work and meet clients’ needs. She is an active participant in Skanska’s Healthcare Advisory Council. This national team leverages Skanska’s healthcare projects across the country, regardless of size or scope of work. Katie co-leads the healthcare market knowledge expert group to capture healthcare-specific solutions and stories and be a resource for pursuits across the country.

    Katie brings her experience of the built environment and knowledge of the healthcare market, specifically into her role as Communications Co-Chair for the Women in Healthcare Northern California Chapter. In this role, she will help the market and grow the chapter.