Honoring the professionals strengthening safety, performance, and community impact during Women in Construction Week 2026
Operational excellence is built by people and community who show up every day, take ownership of their responsibilities, and hold themselves and their teams to a high standard.
During Women in Construction Week 2026, Utility Partners of America (UPA) proudly recognizes the women whose leadership, technical expertise, and steady dedication strengthen our teams nationwide. Their contributions are reflected in safer job sites, stronger project execution, improved processes, and the trust we build with the communities we serve.
The women we honor this week contribute across every level of our organization, from workforce strategy and project leadership to document control and hands-on field operations. Their impact is essential to who we are as a company.
“I’ve always believed that strong companies are built by good people. At UPA, safety and doing the job right matter, and the women we’re recognizing this week live that out every day. They strengthen our workforce, support our communities, and help move this company forward.” – Todd Stone, President and Founder
Congratulations to the Women in Construction 2026 honorees.
Angela H., Senior Director of Human Resources
For more than 15 years, Angela has been a steady and trusted leader within UPA. She ensures employees are supported, developed, and treated with fairness and respect throughout the entire employee lifecycle. Her leadership connects workforce strategy directly to operational performance. She understands that safe and effective field execution begins with strong people systems. Her work reinforces UPA’s people-centered culture and strengthens the foundation that allows teams nationwide to perform at a high level.
Danielle, Cindy, Tabatha, and Hannah, Human Resource Team
Supporting that foundation every day is UPA’s HR team. Danielle, Cindy, Tabatha, and Hannah serve as critical partners to our field teams, guiding onboarding, supporting benefits and compliance, resolving challenges, and ensuring employees have the resources they need to succeed. Their responsiveness, professionalism, and steady support keep operations aligned and moving forward. By strengthening communication, consistency, and employee experience across locations, they play a vital role in operational stability and performance. Their work may not always be visible in the field, but it is felt in every successful project and every supported employee.
Ashli Y., Project Manager
Ashli has emerged as a standout leader managing UPA’s largest customer accounts. She takes full ownership of complex projects, proactively identifying risks and protecting both timelines and profitability. Ashli’s communication and focus on measurable results reflect operational excellence in action. She demonstrates how accountability and preparation drive strong customer outcomes and long-term growth.
Tania R., Project Administrator
With more than a decade of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction experience, Tania brings strategic problem-solving and thoughtful coordination to customer relations, talent acquisition support, and administrative operations. She has streamlined workflows and strengthened internal processes, improving overall team efficiency. Her commitment to expanding her knowledge of the utility industry reflects both professional growth and long-term investment in UPA’s success.
Natalia H. , Project Coordinator Assistant
In just two years, Natalia has become a key contributor at UPA Bakersfield. She plays an important role in the Audits Outbound Process and process improvement initiatives, helping turn operational challenges into opportunities for smarter execution. Natalia’s adaptability, curiosity, and drive contribute directly to stronger systems and improved performance. Her growth reflects the future of construction – leadership, solutions-focused, data-aware, and committed to continuous improvement.
Morgan R., Field Installer
As a field meter technician, Morgan performs essential, hands-on work that directly serves the community. She has embraced opportunities to expand her technical knowledge and demonstrate her capabilities in the field. Her selection to support commercial bypass assignments reflects precision, accountability, and advanced technical expertise. Morgan takes pride in her professional growth and in upholding UPA’s safety standards while representing women across the utilities industry.
Leakana Y., Document Control Specialist
Leakana plays a vital role within UPA Bakersfield’s Document Control Department. In two years in construction, she has expanded her expertise by cross-training in Logistics and Invoicing, demonstrating initiative and versatility. Her attention to detail supports compliance, accurate reporting, and operational consistency. By strengthening documentation and internal controls, she contributes directly to reliable project delivery.
Teonia W., Document Control Specialist
With four years of construction experience, Teonia plays a key role in the Inbound and Receiving process within Document Control. Her dedication to accuracy and efficiency helps ensure materials and documentation move through operations without disruption. Teonia’s reliability and teamwork reinforce the structured systems that allow field and project teams to perform at a high level.
Demetria C., Operations Support
Demetria’s dedication, professionalism, and reliability support daily operations and help maintain UPA’s high standards of safety, accuracy, and service. Her consistent work ethic strengthens team performance and reinforces operational stability across the organization. Her commitment reflects the quiet strength behind successful execution, the kind that ensures work is done right, every time, without recognition being required.
To the women of UPA, your work and leadership matter. Thank you for your commitment to safety and excellence. You strengthen our teams and the communities we serve. We are proud of the standard you set across this organization.
