Top Women in Hardware Honors Rising Leaders

The Chicago event recognized high achievers and future leaders in the building supply industry.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Awards

Empty polished wooden stage with a lectern and clear acrylic award stands, framed by tall Chicago office towers through floor-to-ceiling windows. — Top Women in Hardware honored 80 building supply leaders, including Rising Stars and Business Excellence award recipients, at a Michigan Avenue event in Chicago. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Top Women in Hardware in Building Supply event, held on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, recognized high achievers and future leaders in the industry. Some 80 Top Women honorees received Rising Star and Business Excellence awards.

Why it matters

The awards spotlight women advancing within the building supply sector, drawing attention to leadership development in an industry where recognition programs highlight career progression. The event also featured a Built-to-Lead program of speakers focused on professional growth.

Some 80 honorees received Rising Star and Business Excellence awards at the Chicago event. No comparison to prior years' honoree counts was provided.

The players

Kath Koschel

Kath Koschel is a former Australian professional cricket athlete who served as keynote speaker at the event.

Ann Chapman

Ann Chapman is CEO of Woodson Lumber and a Top Women Hall of Fame inductee for 2026.

Lisa Tarkington

Lisa Tarkington gave a presentation at the event on entering the 1 percent.

The details

Kath Koschel, a former Australian professional cricket athlete, served as keynote speaker. Honorees crossed the stage to receive their awards, and the Built-to-Lead series included presentations on communication and career acceleration.

Early November 2026: Top Women in Hardware event held in Chicago.

Season Trajectory

The Top Women in Hardware program extends its recognition of women leaders in the building supply industry, with the Chicago event adding Rising Star and Business Excellence honors to its existing lineup. The awards continue a pattern of spotlighting emerging talent alongside established executives.

Chicago-area professionals in building supply may find recognition programs like this one useful for tracking emerging leaders and industry networking opportunities. The Built-to-Lead series offers presentations on communication and career advancement for attendees and interested professionals.

The takeaway

Recognition programs that pair awards with leadership training can help professionals in traditionally male-dominated industries build visibility and career momentum.