Release:
March 6, 2024

Women of NATE Today Newsletter
Volume 6, Issue 3

A 5K run/walk, an educational session on solutions to bird challenges, an amazing keynote by former Navy Seal and NYT best-selling author, Kevin Lacz, a treasure hunt and even a helicopter?!?  Where else can you find all these things except at NATE UNITE 2024! Women of NATE (WON) were extremely active at this year’s event in Memphis, Tennessee from February 19-22. 

Kicked off by a WON Committee meeting, the team then focused on creating an amazing WON Lounge to provide information about WON to all NATE UNITE attendees. The lounge was open throughout the event sharing WON’s mission to foster an exchange of ideas, expertise, and camaraderie among NATE members at all levels. The booth had some great swag too! 

Several WON members lead educational sessions throughout the event. I hope you had the opportunity to attend the Empowering the Workforce: Leveraging Leadership Development for Success educational session. Jessica Cobb and Cylie Price were excellent speakers. Spoiler alert – a mentorship program is very important! Actually, I think I heard that in several different educational sessions at NATE UNITE.  Check out NATE’s new Peer Program. Many thanks to Dominique Valdez for giving an update on ANSI ASSP A10.48, and Kathy Stieler for moderating the NATE-OSHA-FCC Strategic Partnership session.

And how can I not mention the WON 5K Fun Run/Walk along the Mississippi River – what a great sunrise! Thank you for supporting WON! After taking our All Women group photo, WON held a meet and greet which included a Stroke Awareness session. Please remember to act fast if you have Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, and Speech Difficulty, then time to call 911.

Finally, congratulations to Therese O’Brien for receiving the Distinguished Service Award!

WON Profile: Dr. Crystal Camejo

With a dynamic background in business, higher education, government, and community development, Dr. Camejo delivers provocative insights and strategies that positively advance society. Her journey is marked by roles as a business consultant, a higher education consultant and educator, a mental health and holistic wellness advocate, a youth, women, and community development strategist, a humanitarian, and a philanthropist.

Dr. Camejo's academic journey began with a nontraditional track in healthcare, earning degrees in Criminal Justice/Law and an MBA with a focus on Finance and Human Resources. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to a master's degree in forensic psychology and in December 2023, the successful completion of a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration/Strategic Leadership.

For the past decade, Dr. Camejo has dedicated herself to shaping future leaders in higher education, while her commitment to community and youth development spans over 15 years. She has established herself as a well-sought-after consultant on business strategy, academic, personal, professional, and leadership achievement systems, specializing in GenZ and millennial workforce development strategies. Through strategic partnerships with United Nations entities and civil society organizations, she empowers individuals to effect positive change within their communities.

Beyond her professional life, Dr. Camejo's adventurous spirit is reflected in her avid reading and love for travel, enriching her perspective and deepening her appreciation for global diversity. Though residing in New York, her heart remains rooted in her birthplace, Trinidad and Tobago, inspiring her dedication to making the world a better place.

In every endeavor, Dr. Crystal Camejo strives to be a catalyst for positive change, promoting mental health, holistic well-being, and the empowerment of individuals and communities. Her life's journey is a relentless exploration of boundless possibilities through the combination of knowledge, compassion, and a drive to create a better world for all.

Where will you find the Women of NATE?

Take Women of NATE with you!

Are you traveling for work or taking a leisure vacation?

Take a creative photo holding a Women of NATE (WON) logo in front of a landmark that lets us know where you are. 

(Above) The Women of NATE (WON) Committee met in person at the annual NATE UNITE tradeshow in Memphis, Tennessee on February 18. WON held a variety of fun events during the show, including a WON Meet & Greet and the WON 5K Fun Run/Walk.

Upcoming Events

Highlight your company’s name by sponsoring the Women's Leadership Summit. Recognition is given to the companies and people that support Women of NATE (WON), and your company name and/or logo will be included in the various WON social media platforms, websites, and newsletters.

WON is seeking volunteer subject matter experts for moderated panel sessions or standalone presentations on initiatives which impact women and our evolving industry. If you have unique qualifications to present on this subject matter, and are interested in being selected as a speaker for specific topic, please submit your proposal by clicking on the link below.

Click on the link below to consider registering, sponsoring or speaking at the Women's Leadership Summit!

International Women's Day 2024 campaign theme: 'Inspire Inclusion'

To inspire inclusion means to celebrate diversity and empowerment on International Women's Day 2024 and beyond.

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done.

In 2024, the campaign theme Inspire Inclusion emphasizes the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society.

This year's campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities.

One of the key pillars of Inspire Inclusion is the promotion of diversity in leadership and decision-making positions. Women, especially those belonging to underrepresented groups, continue to face barriers when seeking leadership roles. By championing inclusion, organizations and communities can harness the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation.

Education and awareness play vital roles in fostering inclusion and empowering women. Through initiatives such as mentorship programs, educational workshops, and advocacy campaigns, individuals and organizations can create opportunities for women to thrive. By providing support and resources, women can be empowered to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.

As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024 and reflect on the theme of Inspire Inclusion, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where all women are empowered, valued, and included. By working together to break down barriers and foster diversity, we can build a more equitable and inclusive society for generations to come.

Recent Event Highlights

Women of NATE Announces 2024 Education Scholarship Recipients

(Watertown, South Dakota). Women of NATE (WON) is pleased to announce two outstanding recipients have been selected to receive the 2024 WON Education Scholarship. The scholarship was designed to encourage and inspire more women to enter the tower and communications infrastructure, construction, service, and maintenance industries. Scholarship recipients will receive $1,000 each, which will go directly to the college/educational institution to be utilized as tuition assistance.

WON Chairwoman Andy Page Lee of Lee Antenna & Line Service, Inc. stated, "Women of NATE is proud to offer women a platform to help further their educational goals.  We hope this scholarship opportunity will inspire applicant candidates on their journey."

Please join WON in congratulating the 2024 scholarship recipients. We wish them educational, professional, and personal success. 

(Above) The Women of NATE (WON) Committee hosts a Women of NATE group photo every year at NATE UNITE. It's fun to see how many women are involved in this industry!

(Above) WON also hosts a 5K Fun Run/Walk at NATE UNITE every year. Congratulations to this year's winners: 

1st Place Male – Tysen VanDraska of Viking Maintenance
2nd Place Male – Nick Vandam of Midwest CATV
3rd Place Male – Nicolas Doare of MVG

1st Place Female – Megan Reiffenberger of NATE
2nd Place Female – Melanie Bejarano of Midland Tower Construction
3rd Place Female – Cristina Cossio of SPX Aids to Navigation

(Above) WON Committee Member Monica Vink of Ontivity joins the rest of the Ontivity squad to tackle the Women of NATE 5K Fun Run/Walk during NATE UNITE. Others pictured above are Dale Shumaker, Cameron Swanson, David Robinson, and Brian Bicknese. 

(Above) The Women of NATE held a Meet & Greet during the annual NATE UNITE conference sponsored by Bright Lighting and Nokia, where Women could come network with each other and learn about Stroke Awareness. A memorial in honor of Nicole Deas who passed away last year due to a stroke was also held at the Meet & Greet. 

(Above) Women of NATE (WON) Committee Member Diane Mueller of CITCA LLC is also an active member of the Tower Family Foundation Golf Committee. The tournament is held each year in conjunction with the NATE UNITE Tradeshow. This year, the event raised over $130,000 for the Tower Family Foundation! Other committee members include Pete Hagstrom of Viking Maintenance, Stephanie Brewer of USA Telecom Insurance Services/Insurance Office of America, Tim Tanner of VIKOR, Sheri O'Dell-Deuer of Deuer Development, Ben Bowman of Safety LMS, Reggie Redwine of Branch Communications, Megan Reiffenberger and Paula Nurnberg of NATE, and Chairman Tommy Lewis of Hayden Tower Service, Inc. 
Not pictured are committee members Randy Scott of Texoma Contracting, Inc., Mitch Bateman of SPX Aids To Navigation (AtoN), and Mico Rodriguez Jr. of Capps Van & Truck Rental. 

Women Lead Differently ... And That Is A Good Thing

If we are to achieve an increasing number of women in leadership positions, we need to acknowledge that men and women lead differently, and that it is a good thing. 

The leadership style of women is collaborative, inclusive, and consultative. They focus on nurturing a strong team environment where ethical behavior, quality and concern for each other is important. They use their gift of language to solicit commitment to achieving the common goals and value the results that come from a highly engaged team.

Men in a leadership role are more competitive and are focused on achievement of power and success through demonstration of results.

Over recent years, advancements in neuroscience has produced increasing evidence that men and women are, on average, innately different, leading to different natural characteristics, tendencies and talents.

In a nutshell… we think, act and lead differently. 

And these differences appear to stem from our primitive beginnings. As early cave men and women, we had different jobs and tasks that required different skills. With centuries of natural selection, we have ended up with differences in our hormones and the architecture of our brains.

So let’s take a look the natural leadership skills common to women. 

1.  Web-like Thinking:

Research has shown that women tend to integrate vast amounts of data faster, consider more options and see more possible solutions to a problem. We tend to think in “webs” of information rather than take a straight line or linear approach to thinking. This is likely to be related to the fact that the female brain has more connections between the left and right hemispheres.

Men, on the other hand, are more likely to focus their attention on one thing at a time. The higher levels of testosterone drive them to focus on one specific outcome … clearly developed back in the day when they were hunting the wilder beast for dinner.

2.  Mental Flexibility

With our brain wired for “web-like thinking,” we are naturally gifted with mental flexibility … an essential ingredient needed in the dynamic, ever-shifting, fast paced modern business environment. Women have developed a gift for generating new ideas, creativity, ingenuity and imagination.

3.  Gifted with the power of language

Women are born to talk and have developed the skill over many lifetimes to use the power of language. We use it to influence and persuade action, comfort those in need, educate and inform, bring people together to collaborate and sway minds and hearts.

This power over language emerges early in childhood with girls learning to speak sooner than boys. Research has also shown that our aptitude with language is linked to our higher levels of estrogen.

4.  General Social Skills

It may seem at times that women have an uncanny ability to read minds! It is because, to some degree, they do. Throughout the history of civilization, the general role of women has been to create and nurture the extended family unit. The gift of this role is a highly developed innate ability to pick up and interpret the minute social and emotional cues that we give off.

5.  Networking and Collaboration

You only need to attend a women’s networking event to see the power of women coming together to network and collaborate.  Women enjoy working together for the greater good and see the power and the results that come from working cohesively together through a network of supportive connections.

Men, on the other hand, tend to focus on achieving power through rising to the top and value their rank and status. Men tend to be more competitive and focus on “winning,” while women tend to be more inclusive and supportive.

These traits have again been linked to hormones but also hark back to our history of different roles within our family unit.

So what is the impact of all this?    

It is clear that men and women on average have different innate leadership styles. This is not to say that one is better than the other or that men don’t display a lot of the characteristics and talents that have been discussed, because they do.

This is more to look at and to celebrate the differences. It has been said that men and women are like two feet… they need each other to get ahead. Imagine if more women were to have a greater impact at the decision making table.

Imagine how the work environment – and the world for that matter – would be if women with their natural talents for web-like thinking, their ability to generate fresh ideas, their powerful language and their preference for achieving results through collaboration, were more prominent and represented more equally.  

Many work environments continue to operate under a masculine paradigm, top heavy with men in positions of power. I believe it is time to embrace that men and women lead differently and to allow women to be true to their own skills and aptitudes.

While we continue to measure leadership success from a masculine point of view, we will miss out on the gifts, talents and the results that can be gained from embracing a well-rounded leadership team.

This article was previously published on janebenston.com.

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