By Erica Day, Westin Homes, 2026 Professional Women in Building Council President
The Professional Women in Building Council installed its 2026 board members on December 8, 2025. We invite you to get to know our leadership, join us at upcoming events, and experience firsthand how PWB brings women together to connect, support, mentor, learn and give back to the industry we love.
Happy New Year! 2025 was a busy year filled with education, mentorship, networking and of course laughter. The GHBA Professional Women in Building Council (PWB) is now in its fifth year and continues to be the voice of women in the building industry. We are dedicated to promoting industry professionalism and supporting our members in the Houston area while also giving our members places to connect in a fun and low-pressure way.
As we look back on a successful 2025, we celebrate some of the huge accomplishments this council made last year, including holding our first Rally Day programming luncheon and then being part of the GHBA’s first all-female lobby team at Rally Day at the Texas Capitol. PWB also hosted an all-female construction manager panel programming luncheon, had a record-breaking 360 attendees at our signature Ladies Who Lead event, held a Dress For Success clothing drive and sponsored a $4,000 GHBA scholarship. The GHBA PWB also won the NAHB PWB Large Council of the Year award which is a huge accomplishment for such a young organization.
As we transition into 2026, I am honored to serve as this year’s PWB president. My goals for the new year include fostering more community engagement and hands-on opportunities with our philanthropy projects, as well as providing a place where younger women in our industry feel welcomed and find value in our programming opportunities. Through education, professional development and networking opportunities, PWB helps members acquire and develop invaluable leadership and business management skills that boost career success. Another key focus for 2026 is increasing member involvement across our committees, including special events, philanthropy, programming, and sponsorships. Committee participation is a great way to build relationships, gain leadership experience and deepen involvement with PWB. Members interested in getting involved are encouraged to email pwbmembership@gmail.com.
To kick off an exciting year of programming, the PWB held a luncheon on January 27 with Harris Co Pct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. Commissioner Briones attended Harvard University, taught public school, and then attended Yale University Law School. After working in both the public and private sector, she entered public service as judge of Harris County Civil Court No. 4 before becoming the first woman to lead Harris County Precinct 4 and the first mother elected to Commissioners Court. In her first term, she delivered real results — securing hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure, investing in public safety and flood mitigation, creating jobs, and expanding health access.
This event was well attended and gave attendees great insight into the inner workings of the most populous county in Texas and the third-largest county in the U.S. Commissioner Briones has dedicated her life to advancing the American Dream because she has lived it herself. A proud Latina and native Texan, she was raised on the U.S.-Mexico border in Laredo by two teachers who instilled in her the values of hard work and service. Attendees especially appreciated her personal stories and reflections on her journey to public service.
The GHBA PWB, already the largest council in the country, aims to continue growing its membership, further solidifying its commitment to empowering women in the home building sector. If you are interested in becoming a member, visit ghba.org/pwb.
The Professional Women in Building Council installed its 2026 board members on December 8, 2025. We invite you to get to know our leadership, join us at upcoming events, and experience firsthand how PWB brings women together to connect, support, mentor, learn and give back to the industry we love.
2026 Executive Board Members
President: Erica Day, Westin Homes
Past President: D’Ann Brown, StrucSure Home Warranty
Vice President: Ericka Hill, Homes by Faircroft
Secretary: Renae’ Turnbaugh, LG Electronics
Treasurer: Heather Gustafson, Brookfield Residential
2026 PWB Board Members
Jo Dunham, Sandcastle Homes
Sara Green, Carrier Corporation
Desiree Guillory, Aspire Fine Homes
Martha Gros, Howard Hughes Corp.
Dominique Perez, Howard Hughes Holdings
Kendall Powell, Broan-NuTone
Katie Pritchard, Sandcastle Homes
Sherry Pruitt, Whodid It Designs | Remodeling
D’Nita Kuhn Stanfield, HomeTeam Pest Defense
Chastity White, Story Built Homes
Laurie Wilson, First American Title – Home Builder Div.
Melissa Wilson, Legends Architectural Stone