NEWS RELEASE 

INTERVIEWS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, VIDEOS AND PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

1,338 Attendees:  114  sponsor reps, 1033 high school reps, 100 Eventbrite registrations, 91 college reps

Media Contact: Laura Pennino, Senior PR Consultant for the Women in Industry Conference 2026

713 419 1776 mobile, lp@penninoandpartners.com

Over 1,300 High School Girls and Inspirational Leaders

Attend the Sold-Out Women In Industry 2026 Conference in Galveston

GALVESTON, Texas (March 27, 2026) –  More than 1,300 high school girls, community college administrators, teachers, career advisors, and women leaders working in the engineering, construction, maritime, oil and gas, chemical, and industrial sectors attended the Women in Industry Conference 2026. The sold-out conference was held on March 5 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston.

Keynote speakers Shalini Mudliar and Akilla Hameed  inspired attendees by sharing highlights of their career journey. Mudliar and Hameed also encouraged the girls to boldly pursue their dreams and to embrace the “too much” aspects of themselves to get seen, heard, and respected.

Mudliar, senior vice president of project management with Worley, presented “All About Ownership: What Worked for Me and How It Can Work for You” as the breakfast keynote speaker.  

 

“Know yourself and own yourself. Own your purpose. Own your next move,” Mudliar told the audience. “Your difference is your strength. Believe in yourself and know you can do this. Find mentors and sponsors. Ask questions and seek training. Challenge yourself. Everything is what you make it! Own your future.”

Hameed, director of project management services/project development with Phillips 66, presented “Rock Your Red Skirt: From Self-Doubt to Self-Trust” as the luncheon keynote speaker.

“I want you to imagine something,” said Hameed. “You open your closet and see one item that stands out. It’s bold. Bright. Impossible to ignore. A red skirt. It doesn’t blend in. It doesn’t hide. It stands out. And the question becomes: ‘Do you wear it or do you leave it there because you’re afraid of being seen?’ That red skirt represents your voice. Your courage. Your dreams. Your weirdness is your weapon. You don’t need universal approval.”

High school girls from the following schools and school districts attended: Alief Independent School District (ISD), Alvin ISD, Bay City High School, Brazosport ISD, Channelview ISD, Clear Creek ISD, Cleveland ISD, Columbia High School, Crosby High School, Deer Park ISD, Forest High School, Galveston ISD, Goose Creek Memorial High School,  Houston ISD., Humble ISD, Lee High School, Pasadena ISD, Presidio ISD, Sheldon ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Stuart Career Tech High School, Sweeny High School, Texas City  High School,  and Westfield High School.

This year marks the eighth consecutive year of participation from This One’s for the Gals (TOFTG), a nonprofit advancing career awareness for girls in construction, energy, manufacturing, and maritime industries. Founder and Executive Director Stephanie Hajducek and her team sponsored conference participation for over 100 students. The students came from A.C. Jones High School (Beeville), Boling High School, Deweyville High School, Gregory-Portland High School, Lockhart High School, Pettus Secondary School, Robstown Early College High School, Rockport-Fulton High School, Solomon Coles High School, Taft High School, and Tidehaven High School.

“Due to labor shortages and the high demand for skilled workers, girls and women have extensive opportunities to enter male-dominated industry sectors and to succeed,” said Vera Lewis Jasper, dean of technical and professional education at Galveston College and organizer of the annual Women in Industry Conference. “Seeing and feeling the energy and enthusiasm of our high school girls who attend is rewarding to experience. Based on the survey feedback we received, we know that the girls enjoyed interacting with women welders, pipefitters, control room operators, ship captains, and other role models who show them what is possible for them.”

Galveston College organized the conference with support from eight other members of the Texas Gulf Coast Community College Consortium. In addition to Galveston College, the Texas Gulf Coast Community College Consortium includes Alvin College, Brazosport College, College of the Mainland, Houston City College, Lee College, Lone Star College, San Jacinto College, and Wharton County Junior College.

Representatives from Amarillo College also attended.

Corporate sponsors and community college representatives hosted attendees at their booths throughout the day in the Exhibit Hall. Women leaders welcomed attendees in breakout sessions, contributed valuable insights during panel discussions, and engaged in one-on-one conversations. Community college representatives explained career and technical education programs that can equip job seekers for the workforce in two years or less as well as financial aid services, student services, and career services.

Sponsors of the 2026 conference include Arkema Inc., Bechtel, Chevron Philips Chemical, ExxonMobil Corporation, Freeport LNG Development, INEOS, ONEOK, OXY, PCL Industrial Construction Co, Phillips 66, S&B Engineering and Construction, Shell USA, TechLabs, Turner Industries Group, LLC, and Worley.

“I am especially grateful to our sponsors and community college representatives, and I am thrilled that they felt that this conference either met or exceeded their expectations,” said Lewis-Jasper.

To learn more about the keynote speakers, workshop leaders, exhibitors and community colleges that participated in the conference, please check out the online program via this link.

To watch the Women In Industry Conference video with comments from attendees and presenters, please access this link here.

About Galveston College

Founded in 1967, Galveston College was founded as a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education, and community service programs. For more information, please visit www.gc.edu.