The Unstoppable Erika Rothenberger
Civil engineer, motivational speaker, podcaster, author, wellness entrepreneur, creator of the Audacious Women’s Summit that debuted in October 2025 and more, Erika Rothenberger is all about the power of connections and inspiring women to reach their goals, dreams and unlimited potential.
Speaking of inspiration, Rothenberger noted that the 2025 summit, held at Hotel West & Main in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, was so successful that she plans to offer it on an annual basis. With a sold-out crowd of 180 women, she said that feedback from the attendees has been phenomenal.
“I truly believe that we have to lift others as we rise,” said Rothenberger, adding that the summit provided an opportunity to create a magical space for women to connect and take their lives to the next level. It also raised funds for Girls on the Run (www.girlsontherun.org). And since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, attendees were asked to wear a splash of pink: a scarf, lipstick, an entire outfit.
“I couldn’t be more humbled and honored that these women trusted me, but also walked out of there with such invigoration, willing to make such drastic changes in their lives,” said Rothenberger. About a month after the event, the women met again on a Zoom call to catch up, reconnect and share stories.
Rothenberger explained that the summit, many of her speaking engagements and her soon-to-be-released (February 22, 2026) book, “Audacious Expansion,” grew out of a deeply traumatic, life-altering experience. In June 2022, as she was getting out of her car in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, she was brutally assaulted by a man, a total stranger. “He punched me in the face, grabbed me by the hair, threw me to the asphalt pavement and proceeded to strangle me,” recalled Rothenberger. Although she survived the attack, it changed the trajectory of her life. She went to court multiple times in hopes of changing what she described as an extremely odd law. “If you are strangled by a stranger in Pennsylvania, it’s considered a (second-degree) misdemeanor, not a felony,” she said. The assailant, she elaborated, had recently been released from prison. He assaulted four women the night before in Philadelphia and escaped law enforcement. Rothenberger has been in trauma therapy for several years and continues to work on healing while striving to share her strength with others.
The 40-something Rothenberger resides in Montgomery County with her husband, Andy, and children, Drew, 12, and Adelyn, 9. A native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, she is the director of performance systems at Henkels & McCoy, a utility contractor. With headquarters in Blue Bell, they specialize in the utility construction space. This encompasses designing, building and maintaining infrastructure for the utility and communications industries.
Rothenberger earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Villanova University, followed by an MBA. She has worked in the construction industry for 22 years and is considered a leader in the field.
As a civil engineer, Rothenberger shared that only about 10 percent of the industry is comprised of women. She knew this going in, but it never deterred her. “I’ve always considered myself an audacious trailblazer in the industry,” said Rothenberger, adding that when she started out, the number of women was far less. She is proud to have established two women’s empowerment groups in the industry, and many of her speaking engagements focus on the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field.
“I always have my hard hat and steel-toe boots in the back of my car,” shared Rothenberger, explaining that these are the boots required when entering a construction site. Interestingly, a pair of stilettos, a stark contrast from the steel-toe boots, is the logo for the Audacious Women’s Summit.
Rothenberger’s keynote topics run the gamut, but she described them all as “inspiring talks that spark change.” She has given TEDx presentations and spoken at a wide range of places, including Merck Pharmaceuticals, PECO, the National Association of Women in Construction and Princeton University, to name a few.
Why civil engineering? Rothenberger’s uncle and grandfather were both mechanical engineers. Even as a child, she was keenly aware that there weren’t many women in the industry. An experience in seventh grade sparked her interest. During a Take Your Daughter to Work Day, she accompanied a female civil engineer to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Boston. Instead of going to work with her mother (a schoolteacher) or father (in business), it was the parent of a student in her mother’s class who brought her to work. “I think that was the seed,” recalled Rothenberger. “I fell in love with the profession.”
Connections and Transforming Trauma into Positivity
“When I think about audacity, I think about being brave and bold,” said Rothenberger, stating her philosophy on setbacks. “Trust the process, lean into the discomfort and know that this moment and your perceived setback is actually a setup for your most audacious becoming yet.”
In revealing what helped her gain strength following the brutal assault, she shared: “It wasn’t the doctors, the nurses or even the therapy. It was the connections that I had and the people who were there for me during some of the darkest, hardest times in my life. I realized that I wanted to create a community for other women because we’ve all had punches, we’ve all had setbacks. Maybe their punch wasn’t a literal, physical punch. It could be that they went through a bitter divorce, their child had a terminal illness, they lost a parent.” According to Rothenberger, we’ve all had them; the challenge is how to use those “punches” or setbacks as a strength to not only build ourselves but to build other women.
The summit, coupled with her book, is the embodiment of her goal to create that supportive community. “The first chapter is ‘Punch or Pivot,’” said Rothenberger, “Will you let it define you or will you let it refine you into someone more audacious, more expansive and more alive than you ever thought possible?”
Grit, Grace & Glitz Podcast
Rothenberger’s weekly podcast began at the height of COVID. “At the time, it was a way to build connections with people,” she remembered. “It reminds us that we have to be gritty in life to go after our goals and dreams, give ourselves and others the grace we need and deserve, but celebrate the glitz.” The glitz to which she refers is not the Louis Vuitton bag or shiny new car, but rather the things we do daily to spark joy and connection for people.
Since the assault in 2022, the podcasts, with universal appeal, have taken on new meaning. Her listeners continue to be both women and men, and she shares real-life stories of those who have overcome obstacles and are now using that as a light for others.
“How are you spreading joy and goodness?” asked Rothenberger, who aims to inspire celebrating small feats on a daily basis. “Sometimes we wait for those monumental things,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s those small things that are pushing us forward.”
Boundless Energy
To call Rothenberger energetic is an understatement. But how does she accomplish so much in her waking hours? There may not be one typical day, but she shared a standard timeline. “I get up between 3:30 and 3:45 a.m.,” she revealed. It’s a time dedicated to mindset work followed by a trip to the gym at 5 a.m. She is passionate about fitness and strength of mind and body. Rothenberger returns home at 6:30 a.m. to wake up her children to get ready for school. Then it’s a full day – 9 to 5 – in the office. After work, it’s not unusual for Rothenberger to host a women’s networking event. On a recent November evening, for example, as a board member of POWER – The Power of Professional Women (www.powerw.org), a leadership development organization founded by women to serve women, she hosted a program entitled Tee Up for Success. Rothenberger also leads the organization’s Women’s Executive Roundtable Group.
What Keeps Her Going?
“My biggest why is always my kids,” said Rothenberger. “Just showing them that the legacy we leave is not the money in our bank account or the material objects, but the life we want them to lead.”
Her husband and children are the motivation that push her forward, even when times are difficult and she feels like throwing in the towel. “They’re the ones that make me want to jump out of bed every day,” she said.
