Leadership

Chapter President

Jennifer Van Dusen

The Construction Exchange

Jenn is the co-chair of the WIC Week planning committee, and chair of the Scholarship committee.  She has served as a member of the scholarship committee since its inception in 2022. For that committee, she provides contacts and connections to the workforce development programs, educational institutions, training programs, and school districts where she fosters relationships so they can be informed of the opportunity and in turn, share it with their students/community. She also promotes the scholarship opportunity whenever applicable. Finally, along with other committee members, they review and critique the applications and then decide which applicants to award funds. 

Jenn is also Vice Chair on the ACE (Architecture, Construction, & Engineering) Mentoring Program Board. As a board member, she is involved in the planning and execution of fundraising events as well as general fundraising efforts. She is also the board liaison for the school-based programming and sits on the Erie 1 BOCES Education Foundation Board.

Vice President

Megan Kreher

RP Oak Hill Building Co., Inc.

Megan has been on the board and a part of the membership committee since the chapter chartered in 2020. Megan has served as almost all positions, starting as a Director, moving to the Treasurer for 2 years, and most recently as the Recording Secretary for the past year. She is looking forward to our next goal of 150 members!

Megan has worked in the construction industry for 10 years. She started as an intern at RP Oak Hill Building Company Inc. while in college, growing her career until she was promoted to Project Manager. In addition to her daily duties, Megan also helps in the estimating department.

Megan is also busy at home with her 4-year-old daughter, Kayley, and 2 dogs, Bessi and Moses! Megan also sits on the Board of Trustees for the Forest Lawn Cemetery Group and is the Secretary for the Northern Erie Sno-Seekers Snowmobile Club. 

Treasurer

Gina Terbot

Advancing Revolutionary Construction, LLC dba ARC

With 30 years of experience in the construction industry—and a seven-year adventure as a Veterinary Hospital Manager—Gina brings a unique blend of construction knowledge, business experience, and a genuine passion for people to everything she does. Throughout her career, Gina has worked in accounting, administration, human resources, and management across a wide range of construction-related industries, including electrical, HVAC, landscaping, roofing, sitework, and geotechnical engineering. She even spent nine years working remotely for a geotechnical engineering firm—long before working from home became the norm! For more than seven years, Gina has been part of the team at Advancing Revolutionary Construction, LLC (ARC), where she serves as a Preconstruction Support Specialist. She supports the preconstruction team with owner agreements, subcontracts, insurance, subcontractor prequalification, front-end documents, drawing and specification audits, scoping, and much more. 

Gina is grateful to work for an organization that values her contributions and actively encourages her involvement with NAWIC. Gina’s commitment to the construction industry extends well beyond her day-to-day work. She is a former Board of Education member for the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District, where she chaired the Capital Improvement Committee for six years. Some of the projects closest to her heart include the construction of the district’s new Sports Complex and classroom technology upgrades. During her time on the Board, she also worked to ensure that the accomplishments of BOCES students received the same recognition and celebration as other academic achievements. Gina is passionate about introducing girls to the many opportunities available in the skilled trades and trade-adjacent careers. She believes that helping the next generation discover these paths is an important part of building a stronger future for the industry. She is also dedicated to developing relationships with MWBE and SDVOB businesses and contractors, helping encourage the growth of small businesses that are so important to our communities.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Gina enjoys life in Wheatfield with her husband, Chuck. Their household includes four cats—Buku Stache, Stubby (aka “Sasshole”), Rugeroo, and Thunder—and two grand-puppies, Loki and Luna. With a career built around construction, community, and connection, Gina is proud to be part of an industry that creates opportunities—and she’s always looking for ways to help make those opportunities more accessible to the next generation.

Corresponding Secretary

Stephanie Pennington

LeChase Construction Services, LLC

Stephanie Pennington is director of DEI & supplier diversity for LeChase Construction Services, an east coast firm that ranks among the nation’s top contractors. An Executive Leadership Team member, she is responsible for leading development and implementation of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy. 

Stephanie has 20+ years of experience in government, education and private industry, starting as a legislative director/special assistant in New York’s 144th Assembly District. She later held positions with Bryant & Stratton College, Erie 1 BOCES and the Social Security Administration. Before joining LeChase in 2018, she spent six years as diversity compliance manager for a Buffalo construction firm.
She earned her J.D. (concentrations in finance and community economic development) from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) School of Law, an M.S. in interdisciplinary social sciences from UB, and a B.S. in sociology and political science from Syracuse University. 

Stephanie has been a speaker and panelist at numerous events, including the 2023 Upstate NY MWBE Summit, 2023 Upstate NY MWBE Conference, 2020 and 2022 ESDC MWBE Regional Forums, Monroe County MWBE Forum, 2022 New York Build Expo, and various PTAC Small Business Forums. She serves on the Buffalo Niagara Partnership Diversity Council, the Rochester Chamber Diversity Council, and the National Federation of Just Communities of Western NY. She is also a member of the American Contract Compliance Association and National Association of Women in Construction. In 2023, Pennington was named a finalist for the Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award in Rochester.

Recording Secretary

Angela Falletta

Brawdy Construction

Angela leads operations and talent development at Brawdy Construction. Her work blends HR, IT, and business systems, but what drives her most is people—building teams, creating structure, and making sure growth is possible for everyone.

She joined the NAWIC Buffalo Niagara Board of Directors because she believes in showing the next generation, especially young women, that construction has a place for them. Early on, Angela was lucky to have a woman mentor who made her feel like she belonged. That kind of support is powerful, and now it’s her turn to pay it forward.

For Angela, NAWIC is about connection—between students and opportunity, between women and wisdom. Because if we can build strong foundations on the job, we can build them for each other, too.

Immediate Past President

Marie Patton

Soteria Occupational Safety and Training LLC

Marie Patton has worked in the Construction Industry for 20+ years both in administrative and field positions. Before opening Soteria Occupational Safety and Training in March 2025, she was the Director of Operations and Safety at Active Workforce, where she still maintains a role as Community Outreach and Safety Director. Marie offers expanded safety training programs and performs corporate and safety compliance work for Soteria OST clients which includes Regulatory, Policy/Procedure Development, Project Management and Program Development, Training, Education and Organizational Management. Marie holds OSHA Construction 10 and 30 Trainer Certification, 40hr HAZWOPER, OSHA10 and 30 in General Industry and Construction, Respiratory Fit Test Qualifier, and Fall Protection Inspection.

Marie currently sits on the Building Trades and Construction Advisory Council for Erie 1 BOCES high school and post graduate programs, and volunteers with Assembly House 150 as well as 716 Ministries, where she performs mock interviews and assists with job placement in the construction sector. 

Marie is a chartering member of NAWIC Buffalo Niagara and has held board positions since 2021, including President (2024-2026) and has served as chair on several committees including WIC Week. She was honored with Member of the Year 2023 for the Northeast Region and was implemental in NAWIC Buffalo Niagara being awarded the Innovator Award 2024 and 2025 at the NAWIC National Conference for their WIC Week events.