In land development, experience has always been the greatest teacher, but historically, it’s also been the hardest to access. Many women in our industry have been told they need a master’s degree, more experience, or the “right project at the right time” to gain the knowledge required to advance.
Ladies in Land is changing that. Through monthly Lunch & Learns, hands-on site tours, and soon, continuing education accreditation opportunities, we’re creating a national platform that accelerates learning for women at every stage of their development. And the demand is unmistakable- engineers are showing up in numbers, eager for field context they simply can’t access behind a desk.
Nationwide Monthly Education: Built for Today’s Industry
As Ladies in Land expands across the country, our goal is simple: make high-quality, real-world education available to every member, every month.
Participants can now:
- Attend a two-hour Lunch & Learn each month
- Watch recorded sessions anytime in our resource library
- Earn certifications through national partner programs
- Join site tours for firsthand exposure
- Connect with peers across multiple markets
Beginning in 2026, we will add opportunities to earn [JU1] continuing education credits for professional engineers, a major milestone for engineers who must earn ongoing credits to maintain licensure. This is a significant value-add not only for our members but also for the land development industry.
The traditional path, learning through years at one company or relying on rare project exposure, is no longer the only path. By creating consistent, accessible programming nationwide, we’re shortening the learning curve and opening doors for faster career mobility.
A Real-World Example: Petticoat Schmitt’s Jacksonville Site Tour
One of the most impactful recent events was our October site tour in Jacksonville, hosted by Petticoat Schmitt, a respected leader in civil construction and a strong supporter of our local chapter.
The tour, “Jax Beach PH 3C Projects 4 & 5: Enhancing Infrastructure and Community,” led by Project Manager Jenna Cutrone, brought members directly into the field to observe essential infrastructure upgrades. Attendees saw:
- Replacement of water mains and gravity sewer lines
- New curb and gutter installations
- Updated sidewalks, parking, and driveway transitions
- Drainage, lighting, and electrical enhancements
For many participants, engineers, planners, and development professionals, seeing these decisions made in real time provided clarity that classroom learning simply cannot replicate.
Petticoat Schmitt’s philosophy underscores why this matters:
“In site development, the work that happens in the ground sets the performance of everything built above it… By combining disciplined field practices with an understanding of the people who depend on the completed infrastructure, we build groundwork that performs as intended and supports thriving communities.”
Their willingness to open the project to our members reflects their commitment to education, industry leadership, and building resilient, community-focused infrastructure.
Leadership at the Local Level: The Jacksonville Chapter
The Jacksonville Ladies in Land chapter, led by me and Samantha Harvey, CDD Manager at Inframark, has seen tremendous engagement from professionals across engineering, planning, and construction. Our chapter’s success stems from committed partners like Petticoat Schmitt who invest not only in projects, but in people.
Their consistent support, through education, participation, and sponsorship, has helped establish Jacksonville as a standout market for hands-on learning.
Preparing the Next Generation: University Expansion in 2026
Beginning in 2026, Ladies in Land will launch its Ladies in Land Collegiate Network, connecting students directly into the same monthly education pipeline used by mid-career professionals. This ensures that young women entering the field gain exposure earlier, feel supported sooner, and understand the full development ecosystem from day one.
The alignment is intentional: learning shouldn’t depend on age, tenure, or location.
By creating a nationwide, ongoing educational framework, we’re building a consistent learning experience that scales from university students to senior professionals.
The Future of Professional Growth in Land Development
The industry is evolving, and so is the way professionals gain experience. Ladies in Land is creating an accessible, repeatable model for continued education that supports:
- Engineers seeking licensure credits
- Early-career professionals looking for hands-on exposure
- Developers wanting stronger cross-discipline understanding
- Leaders seeking community and collaboration
With site tours, monthly training, recorded content, national certifications, and upcoming PE continuing education credits, the opportunities are limitless.
When women have access to the right information at the right time, they rise faster, contribute deeper, and strengthen the companies and communities they serve.
And that’s the goal, not just for Ladies in Land, but for the entire land development industry.
