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Jennifer Dewees and Sharon Burley

Career Success Month 2026 Keynote Address

The Prince George's County Memorial Library presents a keynote address by Jennifer Dewees, President of MCCEI; Co-Founder and Construction Lead of MAC, and Co-Founder of Baltimore Modular, and guest speaker, Sharon Burley, Assistant Manager of Workforce Development ABC Greater Baltimore to help launch the Maryland State Library Agency’s 2026 Career Success Month.

This webinar introduces attendees to the world of apprenticeship—what it is, how it works, and how to start one in Maryland. The presentation will highlight careers in construction and the skilled trades, emphasizing practical steps participants can take immediately after the session. Attendees will also learn about MCCEI’s statewide workforce development resources and apprenticeship search tools. The program features a guest segment from Sharon Burley of ABC Greater Baltimore, one of Maryland’s leading registered apprenticeship providers.

Click on the YouTube video linked below to stream the program live on January 20 or watch the recording later.

Maryland public libraries are proud to present Career Success Month, set to take place in public libraries throughout the state from January 6-February 28, 2026. ​Library professionals play a significant role in strengthening our community's workforce by tapping into relevant trends and topics, such as: Artificial Intelligence (AI), financial literacy, cybersecurity, emerging adults in the workforce, entrepreneurship, and trades career paths.​

Programs will be offered in library systems statewide, virtually, and in-person, displaying the collaboration across library systems during Career Success Month. The goal of Maryland public libraries this month is to build employment skills and advancement opportunities by strengthening Maryland's workforce, businesses, partnerships and communities.

Career Success Month will have two keynote speakers, both experts in their fields. In January, Prince George's County Memorial Library System will host a keynote address by Jennifer Dewees, president of​ The Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation (MCCEI), one of Baltimore Business Journal’s 2024 "Women Who Mean Business”  honorees.  She will be speaking about the workforce in the trade industry from 6:30  to 7:30 p.m. on January 20. The second keynote speaker will be Crystal Trice, an instructor and founder of Scissors & Glue, LLC, known for providing cutting-edge AI education that is relevant to today’s job market and the future of the workforce. She will deliver a keynote address, hosted by Enoch Pratt Free Library, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on February 3. Both events will be held virtually.

Career Success Month was developed and organized by the Maryland State Library Agency and its ​​Workforce, Career and Business Community of Practice —​ a group of library professionals from across the state who ​meet monthly to share ideas and collaborate on workforce, business and career programs and services in public libraries.

This year's inspiring theme is "Stronger Workforce, Stronger Maryland."

Jennifer Dewees, President of MCCEI; Co-Founder and Construction Lead of MAC, and Co-Founder of Baltimore Modular

Jennifer Dewees is passionately committed to fostering diversity in Built Environment careers and is widely recognized as a disrupter and changemaker with bold, innovative solutions for both the construction industry and workforce development as a whole.

As President of the Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation (MCCEI), she pushes the industry forward by ensuring careers in the Built Environment are appealing, welcoming, and attainable for a diverse population. Under her leadership, MCCEI received the Daily Record Empowering Women Award for advancing equity and opportunity across the construction sector.

Through the Maryland Apprenticeship Connector (MAC), Jenn champions apprenticeships as essential workforce drivers for the construction industry and beyond. Her work bridges the gap between employers and career seekers, future-proofing the workforce while expanding access to high-quality career pathways.

As co-founder of Baltimore Modular (BMod), Jenn is building a first-of-its-kind ecosystem for modular housing and off-site construction in Baltimore City. By uniting developers, architects, manufacturers, community organizations, and government, she is working to disrupt traditional approaches to housing and workforce development with a replicable model for innovation and
neighborhood revitalization.

A recognized expert in workforce inclusion, Jenn advocates for Built Environment careers as a solution to the gender pay gap and a platform for women and underrepresented groups to build
prosperous, sustainable careers. Her work demonstrates how the construction industry — and workforce development more broadly — can be reimagined as drivers of equity and opportunity.

Jenn has spoken at the Baltimore Together Summit, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Annual Conference, the Associated Builders & Contractors Annual Conference, the World of Modular Conference, and the Procore Groundbreak Conference. Her achievements include being a two-time Daily Record Top 100 Women in Maryland winner, recipient of NAWIC’s Powerhouse Award, recognition as one of Construction Dive’s Top 33 Women in Construction, and CREW Baltimore’s Women of Influence. She has also been featured in WBAL-TV, WJZ, WBFF FOX 45, The Afro-American Newspaper, Baltimore Magazine, and Building Baltimore Magazine.

Jenn serves on numerous boards, including NAWIC — where she was previously a director on the national board — the Caroline Center, Loyola University’s Real Estate Board, and the Morgan State Construction Management Advisory Board. She also lends her expertise as chairperson of the Maryland Workforce Alliance and as a member of ABC Greater Baltimore, CREW Baltimore, and the Building Congress & Exchange.

Sharon Burley, Assistant Manager of Workforce Development, ABC Greater Baltimore

Sharon Burley serves as the Assistant Manager of Workforce Development at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Greater Baltimore. With over eight years of experience in the construction industry, Sharon brings a strong background in workforce training and development, having progressed from Apprenticeship Coordinator to Programs Coordinator before stepping into her current leadership role.

In her position, Sharon oversees the operations of the ABC Greater Baltimore Construction Education Academy Trade School, a pivotal program that bridges the gap between education and hands-on apprenticeships in the construction trades. She acts as a key liaison with regional schools, managing day-to-day program functions, coordinating student placement, and cultivating pathways to employment.

Sharon is deeply committed to empowering the next generation of skilled workers. She and her team provide personalized support to students, including career guidance, interview preparation,
and strategic industry connections to ensure long-term success in the construction field. Reflecting on her work, Sharon shares: “I can honestly say that I enjoy nearly every aspect of my job. I get to introduce students to the construction industry, see them take their first steps toward a career, guide them through the process, and create opportunities for them to secure employment that will lead to lifelong success.”