The Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply event hit Michigan Avenue, recognizing high achievers and future leaders while delivering a "Built-to-Lead" program of speakers.
"We work in an industry that knows how to build," said Amy Grant, associate publisher of HBSDealer, in her opening remarks. "And tonight, we're here to celebrate the people who are helping to build the future."
Some 80 Top Women honorees from all walks of hardware and home improvement crossed the stage to receive Rising Star and Business Excellence awards.
On Tuesday, keynote speaker Kath Koschel, a former Australian professional cricket athlete and founder of the Kindness Factory, shared her journey of recovery from serious physical and personal injuries. Her message included doses of adversity, resilience and the power of human kindness.
“Hope doesn’t require grand gestures,” Koschel shared during her keynote address. “It’s about creating small human moments of connection.”
Ann Chapman, CEO of Woodson Lumber and Top Women Hall of Fame inductee for 2026, spoke about her career and experiences in the industry. For 30 years, she’s been guiding the Texas family business with a steady hand and skillfully navigating a generational succession plan. In Chicago, she shared highlights from her family and career and expanded on the practical case for kindness: When you’re feeling overwhelmed, doing something for someone else is a great way to “interrupt negative thought cycles,” she said.
LMC’s Jenny Brawley, Southeast Regional Manager, also took the stage, drawing on her extensive LBM experience and work with dealers across the region to share her perspective on the importance of relationships and supporting independent businesses. “Being named a Top Woman in Hardware & Building Supply is meaningful because this industry is built on relationships,” Brawley said. “I view this recognition as a reflection of those relationships and the collective effort behind every successful meeting, partnership, and opportunity to help a member grow.”
During the event's "Built to Lead" series of presentations, topics ranged from effective communication to career acceleration.
Roula Amire, content director for Great Place to Work, offered helpful guidance on building better communication in the workplace. On improving personal messaging and earning a better seat at the table, she advises connecting new ideas to specific issues the business needs to solve. “Start with their need, not your idea,” Amire says.
In a presentation on entering the 1 percent, speaker Lisa Tarkington guided attendees to their "zone of genius."
Hanh Pham, Lowe's regional vice president, closed the event with a helpful list of leadership expectations. Among them: "Be present," "have an opinion" and "be courageous."
During the event, HBSDealer editor Ken Clark pointed to efforts around the industry that support the mission of Top Women. He also shared stats showing that 56 women served as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies in 2025. "That's 11.2 percent—a record," he said. "But it's a number that shows there's still work to be done to close the gap."
LMC congratulates the Class of 2026 and proudly celebrates nine LMC women recognized across the following categories:
Business Excellence
- Kristy Beaulieu Compensation & Benefits Compliance Manager, Hancock Lumber
- Sara Belletete VP of Branch Development, Belletetes Inc.
- Jenny Brawley, Southeast Regional Manager, LMC
- Laura Stence, CFO, Builders Warehouse
- Jackie Vick, Accounts Payable Lead, Henson Lumber
- Nellie Villa, Operations Manager, Rise Lumber & Truss
- Ashley Deus-Larkin, Operations Supervisor-Logistics. Arnold Lumber
- Bonnie Glavin, Southern Yellow Pine Trader, LMC
- Elaine Mariner, Project Sales / Product Strategy Manager, Mitchell Lumber Co.
