Dr. Mittie Cannon

Dr. Mittie D. Cannon, Founder & CEO, CRL Resources
Founder, Power UP Inc.

Dr. Mittie Cannon is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development and a passionate advocate for diversity in the construction industry. She is the Founder of Power UP Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a stronger, more inclusive construction workforce by empowering young women and underrepresented communities to explore skilled trades.

Mittie’s journey began early in her career while managing a lab near a construction site. Noticing the lack of women on the jobsite, she took it upon herself to learn the trade, becoming a journeyman electrician’s helper and later working as an electrical and instrumentation expeditor. These hands-on roles sparked her commitment to workforce development and gender equity in the skilled trades.

Dr. Cannon made history by recruiting and mentoring the first woman welder to earn top honors in welding at the ABC National Craft Championships. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), recognition as one of Birmingham’s Top Business Women by the Birmingham Business Journal, and induction into Who’s Who in Black Alabama. She was also honored by the Birmingham Women’s Exchange for her leadership and advocacy for women in business.

She has held key leadership roles including past Chair of the Advisory Council for Career and Technical Education at the Alabama Department of Youth Services, the ABC National Workforce Programs and Initiatives Committee, and the NCCER Workforce Development Committee.

Dr. Cannon holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with her dissertation focusing on “Exploring Reasons Women Choose to Pursue Entry-level Construction Trades Employment,” further emphasizing her commitment to breaking barriers in the industry.