2025 Women in Leadership Symposium

1744390800

days

hours minutes seconds

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April 11, 2025

The symposium will once again be held at the Water Resource Education Center in Vancouver, Washington.

Workshop Speaker

Queta González

Director, Center for Diversity & the Enviornment

Lessons From Mi Abuelita: Staying to to our nature through cultural norms.

Queta González is the Director at Center for Diversity & the Environment and Environmental
Professionals of Color. She has been facilitating and coaching people in Fortune 500 companies,
nonprofit organizations, government, and small businesses for over 30 years. González has
developed and delivered trainings across a myriad of cultures and worked in partnership with a wide
variety of organizations. She is the first woman of color to run a whitewater rafting company in the
Grand Canyon. González serves on the American Rivers Board and served on the Oregon’s
Environmental Equity Committee, Roadmap to the Outdoors steering team, and on the Governor’s
Task Force on the Outdoors. González received the Rosa Parks and Grace Lee Boggs Outstanding
Service Award in recognition of her leadership in educating and promoting action to support
environmental education and environmental justice at the local, state, or global level.

Speakers

Lacey Beaty

Mayor, City of Beaverton

From Relationship-Building to Resilience: Core Lessons for Future Leaders in Governance

Mayor Lacey Beaty is a dynamic leader and the first woman to serve as Mayor of
Beaverton, originally elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. A U.S. Army veteran who
served in the Iraq War, she has dedicated her career to public service and advocating for
equity, affordability, and sustainability. Under her leadership, Beaverton has made
strides in housing affordability, veterans’ services, and creating a more bikeable,
walkable community.
Mayor Beaty’s advocacy extends beyond Beaverton, with key contributions to state and
national policy, including championing Oregon’s HB 2295 to support veteran-owned
businesses. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors,
ensuring Beaverton’s voice is heard in shaping national discussions.
Through her tireless work, Mayor Beaty is building a thriving, inclusive community where
families of all backgrounds can succeed.

Millicent Williams

Director, Portland Bureau of Transportation

Non-Traditional Pathways to Success

Millicent rejoined PBOT in the summer of 2023 after managing PBOT’s Capital Delivery division from 2017 to 2020, then serving as PBOT Deputy Director until May 2021. After her years at PBOT, Millicent served as Otak’s Oregon/SW Washington Regional Director for the Public Sector and as Corporate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Millicent lives in Portland and is the proud mother of a 24-year-old son, Ethan. Ethan was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in early childhood. Since then, Millicent has created solutions to ensure her son—and families struggling with being classified as other-abled—mature into full, independent members of society. Her experience with her son has also influenced the way she manages teams and structures her work.

Barb Anderson

Principal, Convergence Architecture

Quietly “Architecting” a Career

Though far from the loudest in the room, Barb Anderson has proven that quiet leadership can be
successful.
She is currently the managing principal at Convergence Architecture, a 15-person firm in the St.
Johns neighborhood of Portland. While her beginnings started in rural North Dakota, her career
path led her to the big city where she is a registered architect and has worked for over 25 years.
Outside of architecture, Barb stays busy swinging a playing ultimate frisbee with friends, oil
painting, walking as much as possible and partaking in various community events in her
neighborhood. Dark chocolate (the more the better), pumpkin flavored treats and breakfast
burritos are a regular part of her routine.

Elizabeth Edwards

Chief of Staff, Clean Water Services

Staying Curious: Cultivating Curiosity and Embracing the Scenic Route in One’s Career.

Elizabeth joined Clean Water Services as Chief of Staff in 2024. She provides executive
oversight to legislative and government affairs, develops emergency management and natural
hazard mitigation programs, and works with teams to implement the CWS Climate Action
Roadmap. She also serves as a liaison with the CWS Board of Directors and the Clean Water
Services Advisory Commission. She has worked in the private and public sectors, covering
almost every area of policy, including healthcare, transportation, climate, land use, public
safety, and water. Elizabeth was born and raised in Oregon and is a member of the Oregon
State Bar.