Description

Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council members are invited to join us as we bring together industry leaders for a panel discussion that tackles the questions every professional woman faces when it comes to leadership.

Our panelists will share their insights on what it truly means to lead, from the rewarding highs to the challenging lows of leadership roles. Discover strategies for motivating large teams during challenging times, and hear firsthand accounts of the biggest obstacles our panelists have overcome in their careers.

We'll explore the key attributes that distinguish good leaders from great ones, and our panelists will share examples of exceptional leadership they've observed from their bosses, along with how they've applied those lessons to their own leadership styles.

Whether you're already in a leadership position, aspiring to advance, or simply curious about what effective leadership looks like, this panel offers perspectives and insights you won't want to miss!

Leadership Panel

Nicole McElhinney: Nicole is the Vice President of Customer Care at Landsea Homes Arizona Division, where she leads division-wide customer experience operations with a focus on delivering service excellence, building high-performing teams, and aligning strategic initiatives to enhance homeowner satisfaction. She has over a decade of leadership experience in homebuilding beginning at Pulte Homes, where she held progressive roles in customer care management, served on the National Customer Care Council, and was a graduate of the company’s Division Leadership Development Program.

Recognized as Senior Manager of the Year in 2023, Nicole is known for her ability to mentor teams, drive quality improvement, and foster collaboration across departments and trade partners.

Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Nicole attended Indiana University and began her career in the insurance industry as a workers’ compensation claims analyst before becoming a licensed property and casualty producer. She moved to Arizona in 2008 and eventually transitioned into the homebuilding industry, where she found her passion for customer experience and leadership.

Nicole lives in Cave Creek with her fiancé, Kyle, and their two dogs, Benson and Bailey. She is also the proud mother of an adult son, Carter, and daughter, Audra, who live in Indiana.

Traci Morgan: Traci is the Senior Vice President of Land at Century Communities, where she leads land acquisition and development efforts for one of the nation’s top homebuilders. She brings over two decades of experience in land strategy, including eight years at KB Home as Vice President of Land Acquisition and earlier roles in project management and consulting at Cinnabar Southwest. Before transitioning into land development, Traci spent 18 years in real estate finance, specializing in acquisition and development funding for small homebuilders. A lifelong Arizonan, Traci is deeply connected to the Valley’s real estate and development community.

Bridjette Shelfo: Bridjette is a 3rd generation native Arizonan. She grew up in the east valley, attended NAU on a basketball scholarship. Before joining homebuilding, she worked as a tv news producer for channel 3 and Fox 10. She found her lifelong passion in real estate in 2005, selling homes for nearly a decade for Pulte, joining sales leadership in 2013 and moved her family to Las Vegas while 7 months pregnant with their second child to become the VP of Sales there.  After 4 years in Las Vegas, Bridjette moved to Southeast Florida for the VP of sales opportunity for 3+ years. After nearly 18 years with Pulte, Bridjette switched to Taylor Morrison, and fulfilled a lifetime dream to return to AZ where she is currently the vice president of field operations, overseeing sales, construction, purchasing, architecture and the closing department for TM. She works closely with the division president to lead field operations for 50 communities across the valley, closing +2100 homes per year. Her pride and joy are her supportive husband named Mike and 2 young boys, Leo and Lorenzo!

What is the Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council?

The PWB Council aims to provide networking and mentorship opportunities, professional and career development resources, and—best of all—the chance to get together with women in the industry for a little fun.

You can learn more about joining PWB at www.hbaca.org/pwb/