Women of NATE Today Newsletter Volume 8, Issue 6 | June 3, 2026
In this issue: Newsletter Welcome, WON Scholarship Recipient Spotlight, WON in Action, Events, Feature Article, Book Recommendation, and Get Involved.
Welcome
Welcome to the June edition of the Women of NATE Newsletter!
I can’t believe it is already June! How time has flown this year, but I am also asking myself two things: What is causing time to move so fast? And have I used my time to make the most of every day?
I know what is causing my time to feel as if it is flying by: I am constantly on the move. Whether I am heading to the next conference, next meeting, in the office, trying to crush tasks for my role at CSR, or getting the Women's Leadership Summit agenda set up and crafted to be what is envision for that day, I am not sure I have really stopped since January. Is it exhausting? Absolutely. Would I want it any other way? No.
The second question takes a little more reflection, as I have had an interesting year already. At the beginning of 2026, I was putting thought into what good things started in 2025 that I wanted to continue into this year, as well as where I want to take my career. The second part of my reflection was easy. I want to take my career to the next level. But what does that mean? Well, we have been finding that out in 2026. The first part of this reflection is what has really sparked my drive this year to level up. In 2025, I made it a point to build stronger relationships with my fellow members of the Women of NATE (WON) Committee, while also bringing together WON and WWLF. I started asking better questions of my circle, not just what they could do for me, but what I could do for them. In building better relationships, I was even able to figure out what to write about this month, after asking for ideas. This is where collaboration with our fellow women in the industry makes us unstoppable (and inspired).
Erin Smith is the Regional Director at Collective Strategic Resources.
WON Scholarship Recipient Spotlight
Monica Vink
Monica Vink, Director of Marketing & Communications for Ontivity, is a strategic communications and marketing leader with more than a decade of experience supporting the telecommunications infrastructure industry. As a recipient of the Women of NATE scholarship, Monica continues to expand her leadership journey while pursuing her Executive MBA with dual majors in Marketing and Strategic Leadership at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in Bloomington, Indiana.
Click the button below to learn more about Monica!
WON in Action
WON Advisor Program
The Women of NATE Advisor Program is delivered through a structured, six‑month, one‑to‑one advising model designed to foster intentional professional growth and meaningful industry connection.
Emphasizing accountability, trust, and real‑world insight—creating space for both guidance and growth while strengthening engagement across the telecommunications community.
Events
Happy Juneteenth Freedom Day
Juneteenth is recognized on Friday, June 19, 2026! Juneteenth is the day that marks the emancipation of the final group of enslaved African Americans. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger reached a community in Galveston, Texas. Almost 250,000 enslaved people were unaware of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln almost two years earlier in 1863.
Join Us for Free NATE Webinar - New Member Benefit - Engine
NATE has partnered with Engine, a company specializing in travel management solutions to enhance travel experience for professionals in the tower and communications infrastructure sectors. The partnership provides access to exclusive hotel savings and discount rates.
To explore the numerous advantages of this partnership and learn how it can enhance your travel experience we invite you to join our upcoming webinar.
Title: NATE Travel Benefit: Save Time and Money on Every Trip with Engine
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM CT
2026 NATE-EHSCP Summer Symposium Powered by WIN
NATE and EHSCP have teamed up to bring together industry leaders, safety professionals, and committee members for a highly collaborative and impactful event focused on advancing safety, strengthening relationships, and sharing real-world insights.
When: August 11-13, 2026
Where: Bloomington, Minnesota
This event is FREE, but registration is required. Please click the button below for more information.
Women's Leadership Summit 2026
The Women’s Leadership Summit brings together visionary women who turn ambition into action, lead with purpose, and create meaningful change. Hosted by Women of NATE, this powerful event is redefining the rules of leadership—by women, for women, and of women.
✨ Registration is open
✨ Sponsorship opportunities available to spotlight your organization’s commitment to women leaders
✨ Hotel reservations now available at the event rate
✨ Make your plans today! Click the Learn More button to view the Event Agenda.
Be part of an inspiring experience that elevates voices, builds connections, and shapes the future of leadership.
Events NATE Attended in May
Visit our website to see which events our NATE Members and Staff visited this month!
Industry Event Calendar
Discover the upcoming industry and safety events this month. Find events like weekend conferences, networking, trade shows, educational meetings, and more. NATE provides a complete list of every event for you to stay informed. Make the most out of these events!
Feature Article
Money Matters: Navigating Rising Gas Prices
Approaching $5 per gallon…
Gas prices are climbing, and for businesses, this isn’t just a nuisance – it’s a margin issue. And for consumers, it may come down to consumer spending choices and changing behaviors.
As we head into May, according to AAA, the average price of regular unleaded gas across metro Detroit is $4.54 per gallon which is the highest level since 2022.
Prices are being pushed higher by a myriad of factors, including seasonal demand increases as more drivers hit the road during the warmer months, ongoing geopolitical tensions that impact global oil supply, and fluctuations in crude oil prices.
Book Recommendation
Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream
Acclaimed journalist Megan Greenwell’s Bad Company unearths the hidden story of corporate greed and the world of private equity by examining the lives of four American workers that were devastated as private equity upended their employers and communities: a Toys R Us floor supervisor, a rural doctor, a local newspaper journalist, and an affordable housing organizer. Taken together, their individual experiences also pull back the curtain on a much larger project: how the relentless pursuit of shareholder value reshaped the American economy to serve its own interests, creating a new class of billionaires while stripping ordinary people of their livelihoods, their health care, their homes, and their sense of security.
Get Involved
Discover More Ways to Be Involved With Women of NATE
Visit the Women of NATE section of the NATE website to learn how you can be involved with WON conferences, webinars, networking socials, and more.
*Women of NATE Today reserves the right to select, eliminate or edit any article to maintain editorial and member focus.
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
105 28th Street NE
Watertown, SD 57201
605-882-5865
© Copyright 2025, NATE. All Rights Reserved.
