Aarya is a Project Manager in ARCO/Murray’s Tenant Solutions division in Dallas. She focuses on office and adaptive reuse tenant improvement projects around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Aarya spent her post-graduate career at ARCO/Murray as a project manager after graduating from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering. She is currently working on converting an old At Home furniture store into an indoor amusement park in North Richland Hills. As part of the project, she interacts with the client and works with the onsite teams along with a tenured project manager to deliver the best possible product. She also works on estimates and proposals for prospective projects. In her free time, Aarya enjoys traveling, teaching yoga, and learning different styles of dance!

PRIYANKA (PREE) WAKHARKAR | Senior Manager, Governance, Risk and Compliance Services at Weaver

Pree has over 13 years of public accounting and advisory experience and utilizes her background in audit services as a senior manager in Weaver’s governance, risk and compliance practice. Pree currently focuses on SOX audits in accordance with Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, FDIC audits in accordance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) regulation, internal audits and consulting services in accordance with Standards of Consulting Services issued by the AICPA Management Consulting Services Executive Committee.

In audit services, Pree had extensive experience in the financial services sector, and performed audits for broker-dealers, hedge funds and private equity funds. Pree also conducted statutory audits for public entities in finance, banking, insurance, brokering and 401k benefit plans, and reviewed key audit aspects such as risk assessment, analytics and substantive testing. Pree worked with a diverse range of clients, including manufacturing, technology, investment companies, such as registered investment advisors (RIA) and business development companies (BDC), as well as both banking and non-banking financial institutions. Her expertise includes managing complex engagements ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 hours.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Texas, Pree is a member of the Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA), Texas Wall Street Women (TXWSW), Financial Women in Texas (FWIT), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting from the University of Mumbai, is a designated Chartered Accountant (CA) from India and meets Texas State Board of Accountancy’s requirements for continuing professional education.

PMP, LSSYB, NOMA

Ashli Pettigrew is the Director of Social Equity at HKS. She is a passionate leader focused on advancing social equity that drives diversity, inclusion and belonging. Through a strategic approach, she partners with the firm’s leadership to ensure that equity is embedded in every process, decision and investment across the organization. Ashli works collaboratively to integrate DEI principles into the firm's DNA, fostering a workplace that champions innovation and a sense of belonging for all.

Alexine Tranquada is passionate about improving patients’ lives and addressing health disparities.  She is an award winning pharmaceutical top talent with 25 years in the big pharma.  She has led teams at Schering-Plough and Merck in important global drug development functions including -market research, marketing, and market access- across the spectrum of therapeutic areas, including immunology, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, metabolics.  She evaluated numerous therapeutics for licensing or acquisition and led the market access assessment for the $11B acquisition of Promethius Bio by Merck last year.

Alexine moved to Dallas last summer and since then has taken an Healthcare Business Women’s Association leadership role as the President of Southwest Corporate Relations.  This organization supports the career advancement of women in healthcare and gender parity in leadership.  She has also been an advisor to several local biotech companies including Cancer Diagnostic Research Innovations, and Reinvigoron as well as involvement in non-profit organizations, Gwen Lily Foundation and the Orchid Giving Circle.  In her spare time she likes to travel, spend time with her family (husband Warren, Ella, Calvin and Miles) and compete in triathalons.

Alexine is also participating as a High School STEAM Challenge judge this year.

Ivy Grace Griswold is a Design Engineer at LJA Engineering. She graduated from Texas A&M University in May of 2023. After interning with LJA, she has been working full time with their land development group for 1 year. She designs utility systems and creates construction plans for housing developments in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

Dallas native Jessica Vitela brings more than 28 years of professional experience to her career at the State Fair of Texas. In 2016, Jessica joined the media relations team as an executive admin, but quickly found her true passion and purpose on the community team. After eight years, she was promoted to Director, overseeing all the Fair’s community relations programs, initiatives, and events. Jessica is constantly out in the community, serving as an ambassador for the State Fair to connect individuals and organizations in the South Dallas community. In addition to her work fulfilling the State Fair of Texas mission, Jessica is an active member in other organizations, serving as a board member for both the Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Executive Women International® (EWI.) In 2020, Jessica graduated from SMU’s Corporate Executive Development Program.

Kristina N. “Krisi” Kastl is the founder of Kastl Law, P.C., a plaintiff’s personal injury firm she started with the primary goal of making a difference in the lives of her clients. In particular, Kastl has been noted for her accomplishments in the courtroom, including over 75 trials that have gone to jury verdict, and has been a long-time advocate for other women in the legal profession. In 2022, Krisi Kastl served as the 10th female President of the DBA since its founding in 1873.

Kastl previously served as the President of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association in 2011, the President of the Texas Women Lawyers from 2018-2019, and the Chair of the American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus from 2018-2019. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the DBA. She continues to serve as an advisory board member for the Dallas Women Lawyers Association and the Texas Women Lawyers.

Since graduating from the University of Texas – El Paso in 1995 and Texas Tech University School of Law in 1999, Kastl has been constantly active in Bar groups and associations, including but not limited to the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, the Dallas Women Lawyers Association, as well the DBA, the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, The J.L. Turner Legal Association, and The Dallas Asian American Bar Association.