Chicago Women in Trades is pleased to announce leadership transitions for our National Center and policy work. Effective today, Lark Jackson will assume the role of Director of the National Center, Beth Berendsen will lead our national policy work, and Lauren Sugerman will transition to the role of Strategic Advisor.

The National Center will remain in good hands under the leadership of Lark Jackson, who has led critical aspects of the Center’s work for the past 6 years. In her new role, Lark will manage the ongoing technical assistance work of the National Center, including overseeing the execution of new initiatives such as the Tradeswomen Building Infrastructure Initiative (currently operating in six states), the RISE Up respectful worksite program, and the development of tools to support registered apprenticeship programs, contractors, and employers in preventing and addressing harassment. Lark is an experienced technical assistance provider who has supported hundreds of industry stakeholders in building their capacity to recruit and retain women. She has over 9 years of workforce development experience, working with marginalized communities, ensuring that they have access to life-sustaining and life-advancing career pathways.

Beth Berendsen, our Policy Director, has successfully led our state and local policy work since 2021. She has written and passed legislation, built a coalition of workforce development and advocacy organizations, and established a policy committee of tradeswomen. Beth holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration and brings two decades of experience as an organizer, researcher, advocate, and policy analyst, driven by her commitment to social justice.

In her new role as strategic advisor, Lauren Sugerman, founding director of both CWIT and its National Center, will continue to provide technical assistance and training while developing curriculum, toolkits, and other materials to support women in the trades and other nontraditional occupations, drawing on her more than 40 years of experience as a trailblazer in the tradeswomen’s movement.

Please join me in congratulating Lark and Beth! You can direct technical assistance requests to Lark Jackson and policy advocacy matters to Beth Berendsen at their contact information below:

Lark Jackson
National Center Director
Phone: 312-931-8971 Email: ljackson@cwit.org

Beth Berendsen
Policy Director
Phone: 312-766-1974
Email: bberendsen@cwit.org