It’s no secret that like many other professions, the architecture, engineering and construction industries are predominantly made up of male workers. But more women are stepping into leadership roles in these industries, thanks in part to programs put in place to encourage girls to pursue STEM-related fields and companies making conscious efforts to be more inclusive in the hiring process.
Arkansas Money & Politics is proud to showcase some of the prominent women of AEC in Arkansas. These professionals have used their elevated designing, planning and building skills to shatter the glass ceilings in their respective industries and replace them with a solid foundation for future female leaders.
Bid Coordinator and Contract Specialist
Koontz Electric, Morrilton
Michelle Ashmore joined the project management team at Koontz Electric in October 2018. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, where she earned an Associate of Applied Science in business office technology. She is certified in construction quality management for contractors by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her duties include scheduling, tracking and submitting all bid opportunities, which total more than $120 million annually. Ashmore also executes and bonds all contracts received and keeps all regulatory compliance current.
Architect
Polk Stanley Wilcox, Little Rock
Dian Bartlett was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. She graduated from the University of Indonesia School of Architecture. Prior to moving to the United States, she worked for architectural firms in Jakarta and Singapore. Since joining Polk Stanley Wilcox, she has worked on a variety of building types and sizes, including the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute, the renovation and expansion of the Robinson Center and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, all in Little Rock, as well as the Arkansas Children’s Clinic in Pine Bluff. Most recently, she was involved with the campus expansion of Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale. While she has always had a love of the aesthetics of architecture, she has also developed a strong appreciation for the technical side, as best said by acclaimed designer and architect Charles Eames, “The details are not the details. They make the design.”
Director of Specifications
Cromwell Architects Engineers, Little Rock
Mindy Burton is a seasoned design professional with a career spanning more than 15 years in the fields of interior design and construction specifications. She is a senior associate at Cromwell and holds the position of director of specifications. Burton is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management, as well as the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where she graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in interior design. Burton is an active member of the Construction Specifications Institute and is licensed through the Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers. She holds certifications as a construction documents technologist and with the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.
Controller
Clark Contractors, Little Rock
Christy Clark serves as controller for Clark Contractors, founded in 2009. The firm has grown to include more than 120 employees and more than $250 million in annual revenue and has opened satellite offices in Rogers and Southlake, Texas. Clark is a 1992 graduate of Arkansas State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She is an inactive certified public accountant. Clark’s professional memberships include the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is a founding member of the A-State Women’s Business Leadership Center and a member of the board of directors for Home for Healing in Little Rock and Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches. She also is active with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, the CHI St. Vincent Auxiliary and the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Auxiliary.
Business Development Officer
Nabholz, Jonesboro
Brock Cline joined Nabholz in 2009 as business development officer and has been instrumental in the success of the Jonesboro office due to her understanding every part of the construction process — from grants and millages to procurement guidelines at the local, state and federal levels, as well as post-construction warranties. Cline is also committed to a hands-on approach when supporting her community, especially in the education and health care realms. She has fundraised for the Community Health Education Foundation and serves on the Jonesboro High School Advisory Board, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Leaders Steering Committee and the Lyon College Employer Advisory Council. She was previously a board member for the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, was involved in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Arkansas chapter, is a graduate of Leadership Arkansas and Leadership Jonesboro, chaired the Jonesboro Green Business Committee, and is the former president of the Downtown Jonesboro Alliance and the Rotary Club of Jonesboro.
Michelle is an experienced civil engineer and leads Crafton Tull‘s office in Fort Smith, where she lives with her husband and son. Her expertise includes sanitary sewer assessment and remediation, mainline water extensions, water and wastewater asset mapping and modeling, and roadway and drainage design. She is a member of Leadership Arkansas Class XVI and graduated from Leadership Fort Smith in 2019. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. Michelle is a licensed Professional Engineer in Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
Civil Engineer, VP of Infrastructure
Crafton Tull, Fort Smith
Michelle Dodroe is an experienced civil engineer who leads Crafton Tull‘s office in Fort Smith. Her expertise includes sanitary sewer assessment and remediation, mainline water extensions, water and wastewater asset mapping and modeling, and roadway and drainage design. She is a member of Leadership Arkansas Class XVI and graduated from Leadership Fort Smith in 2019. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Ethel Goodstein-Murphree, Ph.D., Associate AIA, Affiliate ASLA
Associate Dean and Professor of Architecture
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
In a career spanning nearly five decades, Ethel Goodstein-Murphree has made significant contributions to architectural education through teaching, scholarship and academic leadership. As associate dean of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, where she has taught since 1992, Goodstein-Murphree oversees academic affairs and research in a student-centered and multi-disciplinary design environment. Goodstein-Murphree received her Bachelor of Architecture from the City College of New York, her Master of Arts in the history of architecture from Cornell University in New York and her Ph.D. in the history of architecture and American cultural studies from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, she practiced architecture in New York City, served as architectural historian for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and began her career in architectural education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
BIM/VDC Coordinator
CDI Contractors, Fayetteville
Sara Hedge is the building information modeling and virtual design and construction coordinator for CDI Contractors in Fayetteville. A native of the Natural State, she graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in architecture studies. During her decade of BIM/VDC experience, Hedge has completed more than $1.5 billion in design and construction projects. Upon joining CDI in 2021, she received her Certification of Management-BIM accreditation, one of only 11 people so accredited in the state. Hedge is an active member of the National Association of Women in Construction and a committee member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative of Northwest Arkansas.
Jennifer Johnson
Office and Project Assistant Manager
C.R. Crawford Construction, Fayetteville
Jennifer Johnson is office and project assistant manager at C.R. Crawford Construction in Fayetteville. She shares the firm’s passion for excellence and success for clients and their projects. She has served in current role for almost 10 years. Previously, she served as project manager assistant for C.R. Crawford.
Director of Analytics
Lexicon, Little Rock
Emily Keith joined the Lexicon team in April 2022 as a corporate analyst, and in only a year, she was promoted to director of analytics. In this role, she leads and manages a team of analysts dedicated to deriving valuable insights from company data. Historically, the company has relied heavily on paper-based methods for data capture (like much of the construction industry), but by digitizing this information, Lexicon has not only improved the efficiency and accuracy of its data collection but has also enhanced its ability to access and analyze information. A native of Orange City, Iowa, Keith earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to joining Lexicon, Emily spent almost seven years at Vestcom, where she worked her way up from cost accountant to assistant controller. “Lexicon’s unwavering commitment to nurturing its talent and embracing cutting-edge technology makes the work both fascinating and gratifying,” she said.
Contractor Advocate and Project Coordinator
Powers of Arkansas, North Little Rock
April Kesterson is the contractor advocate and project coordinator for the manufacturer rep business-equipment team at Powers of Arkansas. She joined Powers in 2015 as operations manager and, in 2020, moved into her current job, which involves taking equipment projects from submittal approval through booking, order, delivery and startup. She also handles warranty issues and works with contractors on any other issues with which she and her startup team of three can assist. Before joining Powers, she worked for BR McGinty for almost 20 years. She also sits on the board of the Arkansas Construction Education Foundation, an apprenticeship school in Little Rock. Kesterson works as a volunteer fire fighter and EMT for the Lonsdale Fire Department, which serves both Garland and Saline counties. She is also a Search and Rescue Technician II with the search and rescue teams in both Garland and Grant counties.
Founder and Principal
Insight Engineering, Little Rock
As founder and principal at Insight Engineering, Kim Koch is a driving force for progress in her community and the field of engineering. She holds a degree from the University of Arkansas in mechanical engineering, is a registered Professional Engineer and a USGBC LEED Accredited Professional. With more than two decades of experience, Koch specializes in mechanical systems design, project management and leadership within her company. She manages and designs projects across various sectors, including K-12 education, higher education, health care and commercial markets. Her expertise extends to an array of mechanical systems ranging from ground-source heat pumps to intricate district energy systems. She is an active member in the Arkansas chapter of the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers and serves on the boards of studioMAIN, Arkansas HVAC/R and the Arkansas STEM Coalition.
Vice President of Design and Customer Service
The Stitt Group, Rogers
Suzanne Lantz is vice president of design and customer service for the Stitt Group. Lantz has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in architectural studies from the University of Arkansas and is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council Arkansas. Through the National Home Builders Association, she holds designations as a certified active adult specialist in housing and a certified green professional. She joined the Stitt Group in 1980 and has designed hundreds of custom homes in 18 states, specializing in sustainable, energy-efficient and passive solar designs. Her work has been a part of 17 Energy Value in Housing Awards, as well as Builder of the Year and the People’s Choice Awards sponsored by the NAHB Research Center. She is also a Project of the Year award winner in the NAHB National Green Building Awards competition. She was a part of planning and implementation of the Stitt home office addition and remodel in 2009 that achieved one of the first LEED Platinum awards in the state of Arkansas. From 2012 to 2021, Lantz was involved in building three homes that won the Sustainability Award from the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.
Co-owner and Principal
arch + craft design, Fayetteville
Kara McElyea co-owns arch + craft design, a Fayetteville-based commercial architecture firm, where she serves as principal architect. She has more than 14 years of experience in the field of architecture and is licensed in Arkansas as well as several other states in the region. McElyea holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Design Build from Auburn University. Her experience includes working at several firms in northwest Arkansas, northeast Arkansas and Memphis, as well as teaching at the University of Memphis. She specializes in commercial architecture, having completed a wide variety of projects ranging from retail to medical to institutional. Notable projects completed since founding arch + craft design include The Uptown, a 80,000-SF adaptive reuse of the lone remaining anchor store of a demolished mall and NEA Baptist Urgent Care Plus, a 17,000-SF, state-of-the-art medical facility, both located in Jonesboro.
Project Manager
Benchmark Group, Rogers
Tracy Meeks is a project manager at Benchmark Group’s Rogers office, where she oversees mechanical, electrical and plumbing remodel teams. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and holds two associate degrees from NorthWest Arkansas Community College. She is enthusiastic about excellent customer service, clever problem-solving and strong communication skills. As leader of an engineering design team, Meeks manages a group of 25 staff members who handle full commercial remodels, site adapts, fuel projects and hotel remodels. In addition to her duties as project manager, Meeks enjoys attending conferences and career fairs on Benchmark Group’s behalf, as well as events where she networks with others in the industry and community. She volunteers with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and the Children & Family Advocacy Center. She is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women, the CREW Network Scholarship Selection Committee, the Urban Land Institute of Northwest Arkansas and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Project Manager
Benchmark Group, Rogers
As a project manager at Benchmark Group, Lesya Morrison focuses on building long-term relationships with clients. She believes that strong and consistent communication is key, which is reflected in the interactions she has while overseeing a team of architects and designers and coordinating with multiple onsite contractors and engineers. With more than 200 projects to manage, Morrison has extensive project-design experience, including prototype development, shell plans, fuel stations and HVAC projects for large distribution centers. One of her most notable achievements includes managing a disaster project that consisted of a complete remodel. In addition, she handles project scheduling, quality control, budgeting and site visits. She also enjoys building training outlines with multiple disciplines to help streamline the training process for new employees, which has been very successful. She helps raise funds for the Rampy MS Research Foundation and Food 1st Fitness, a group of local athletes that spend time giving back to local charities.
Brittney Peace
Project Manager
HP Engineering, Rogers
Brittney Peace‘s deep-rooted understanding of the construction industry stems from her upbringing, shadowing her father, a seasoned contractor. Despite initially embarking on a nursing career, her trajectory took an unexpected turn when she joined her brother’s engineering firm in its early stages. Initially uncertain about delving into electrical design, she soon found her stride and never looked back. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for ensuring client satisfaction, Peace has established herself as a proficient project manager with a specialized background in electrical systems and lighting design. Her ability to navigate complex projects, oversee team dynamics, and maintain stringent quality control has earned her a reputation for precision and efficiency. Peace’s creative prowess shines through her intricate designs of electrical distribution systems, lighting layouts and controls. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation and takes immense pride in the health projects she has spearheaded in tribal communities, as her work directly contributes to providing vital access to rural and tribal areas that would otherwise be underserved. With her unwavering commitment to infusing indigenous values into her work, she actively champions the development of sustainable and community-centered projects. Her expertise in lighting specification, low voltage and fire alarm device coordination demonstrates her comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of modern infrastructure. Peace has a lighting certification from the American Lighting Association and actively participates in the Illuminating Engineering Society.
Water Quality Practice Leader
Garver, Fayetteville
As engineering firm Garver’s water quality practice leader, Ashley Pifer has dedicated her career to securing a sustainable future for Arkansas and its residents. A renowned expert in the water engineering field, Pifer has published seven peer-reviewed journal articles and is spearheading research that keeps Arkansas’s water clean, safe and reliable. She has led groundbreaking water research projects, including having served as the principal investigator on a project with the University of Arkansas, the city of Houston and Dallas Water Utilities to develop new tools and processes to proactively address water quality concerns — a project that ultimately resulted in a patent. Ashley’s dedication and expertise has put her at the forefront of one of the nation’s most vital industries. The water industry continuously faces new regulations — including the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and upcoming Lead and Copper Rule Improvements — which impact every community water system across the country. As water systems prepare for this monumental change, Ashley has provided guidance and training to water systems from North Carolina to Colorado through workshops and conference presentations to help them prepare for compliance with the complex regulations. She is currently working directly with nearly 20 water systems to help them identify lead service lines within their systems and develop strategies to remove those lines and reduce human exposure to lead in drinking water.
President and CEO
AVCOR Construction, Heber Springs
Amanda Lee Powers, president & CEO of AVCOR Construction, is a licensed attorney and general contractor with more than eight years of experience in the construction industry and nearly two decades of legal experience. Powers received her B.A. in political science from Centenary College of Louisiana in 2001 and her juris doctor from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2004. Powers is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, North Dakota, Mississippi and Arkansas. After several years in private practice, Powers served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Reserve and Arkansas Air National Guard before leaving the military at the rank of major. The unique perspective that Powers brings to AVCOR’s construction projects comes from her diverse legal background, willingness to think outside the box, ability to grasp new technical concepts and knowledge of navigating the government procurement process. AVCOR has been awarded many high-profile federal projects, including contracts with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Park Service and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Under Powers’ leadership, AVCOR has been certified by the Small Business Administration as an 8(a) small business, a woman-owned small business, a historically underutilized business zone and a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.
Interior Designer
WDD Architects, Little Rock
Abbey Redmon is an National Council for Interior Design Qualification-certified registered interior designer with WDD Architects. She has a background as a health care provider prior to graduating from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Interior Design. This experience shapes the framework of Abbey’s passion for design: to create beautiful, sustainable interior design that promotes health and wellness. She has obtained her LEED Green Associate certification and is working toward her WELL accreditation. Redmon is dedicated to designing spaces for people and creating dynamic, thoughtful designs that meet clients’ needs and create memorable experiences. She has diverse interior design experience ranging from award-winning luxury residential design to corporate, health care and educational design. She is always looking forward to the next design opportunity at WDD, where the interior design team is integrated with the architecture studio.
Water Resources Team Leader and Project Manager
Halff, Little Rock
Natalie Rogers wears many hats, and she wears them well. As the water resources team lead and project manager at Halff, she’s the driving force behind a team of professionals who work out of Little Rock and Bentonville offices. Her passion for civil engineering led her to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas State University in 2010 and a Master of Science degree from Mississippi State University in 2013. Natalie’s professional excellence extends far beyond her academic achievements. She holds the title of a registered professional engineer in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and is a certified floodplain manager. As a water resources engineer at Halff, she manages an array of projects, specializing in developing and applying hydrologic and hydraulic models. These models are pivotal in FEMA floodplain studies, dam breach analysis, inundation mapping, emergency action plan development and public outreach. Rogers is more than just an engineer. She’s a community education and outreach champion, proudly serving as the chair of the Arkansas Floodplain Management Association. Through her involvement with AFMA, she promotes flood awareness and effective flood damage abatement by emphasizing education and sustainable mitigation actions.
Director of Energy Services
Cromwell Architects Engineers, Little Rock
Tammy Siler is a distinguished mechanical engineer with a career spanning more than 30 years who serves as director of energy services at Cromwell Architects Engineers. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree. Siler has accrued a wealth of experience in various project types, including health care, higher and secondary education, government facilities, multifamily housing, high-rise office spaces, and restaurants. Her proficiency extends beyond HVAC systems design, encompassing project management, commissioning, retro-commissioning, utility monitoring and energy modeling. Siler has designed and commissioned several sustainability projects, many of which were LEED certified. She has also commissioned multiple U.S. government facilities throughout Europe. Siler is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers and the American Society for Health Care Engineering. She holds professional certifications as a building commissioning professional, a certified energy manager and a construction quality management for contractors from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is a licensed professional engineer. In addition to her professional achievements, Siler dedicates herself to the community by leading Cromwell’s volunteer efforts.
Service Manager
Baldwin & Shell Construction, Little Rock
Bridgette Smith commenced her professional journey in the family-owned livestock industry and residential land development sectors. During this period, she engaged in cattle trading across the southeast United States, managed livestock transportation and actively participated in the livestock sale barn industry. Simultaneously, she served as a partner for a land development enterprise. With a profound passion for the livestock sector and its vibrant community, Smith eventually felt the need for a career transition and secured a position with an electrical contracting firm. Over a span of 15 years, Smith demonstrated her versatility by assuming roles ranging from receptionist to overseeing equipment procurement. Her responsibilities also extended to managing electrical licensing procedures and nationwide permit acquisitions. Eventually, she ascended to the role of service manager, overseeing a dedicated 10-member electrical team that operated 24/7. Then she made the move to join Baldwin & Shell Construction, a leading general contractor in Arkansas. There, she was entrusted with the responsibility of managing the service department. As service manager, Smith handles a wide spectrum of projects ranging from minor repairs for clients to comprehensive $1 million remodels across the state. Her work style reflects a hands-on approach, evident in her active presence both in the field and at the office.
Millwright Foreman
Lexicon, Little Rock
Tania Taylor started her career at Lexicon in 2015 and remains one of the company’s top performers of any gender. She is committed to excellence and safety. As a millwright foreman in the Lexicon Industrial Constructors division, she leads a team of 28, including millwrights and ironworkers, ensuring they have the tools and materials to do their jobs safely and efficiently. Her team is in charge of installing, setting and aligning equipment to very fine tolerances. It is Taylor’s responsibility to make sure safety and quality requirements are followed while conducting this finely skilled work. As a foreman, Taylor takes pride in her team and appreciates the dedication each team member gives to the job. She said while this is traditionally a male-dominated industry, at Lexicon, she has always been treated as an equal and with respect. “I appreciate Lexicon entrusting me with this position,” she said. “It takes all of us as a team, doing our individual jobs, to complete a project. We are a Lexicon family, and we are building America.”
Assistant Project Manager
Nabholz, Rogers
Assistant Project Manager Tela Webb has been with Nabholz for five years. Her background lies in the visual arts, and she transitioned to construction through an internship with Nabholz’ Rogers team. She holds certifications in OSHA 30-hour training and as a construction documents technologist from the Construction Specifications Institute. As a specialist in subcontracting, cost control, scheduling and project closeouts, Webb is dedicated to making her clients’ missions a reality. She also encourages women to explore construction careers, emphasizing the industry’s opportunities. “I want women to excel in construction as a career. It’s a viable choice — every day is different and presents you with challenges and opportunities for growth,” Webb said. A sculptor at heart, Webb now creates art with a new palette of mediums, beginning her career in the field with the construction of the award-winning Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center in Bentonville. She has led numerous regional projects to successful completion, including Railyard Park, Sam’s Club Kids Club and the Sports, Wellness & Academic Center at Fayetteville Public Schools. She graduated with top honors from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in construction engineering technology. A certified mountain biking instructor, she serves with Women of OZ, supporting female mountain bikers of all backgrounds and skill levels. She also mentors for the Little Bellas initiative, which is dedicated to the growth and development of young women.
Vice President of Chapter Development
Associated Builders & Contractors – Arkansas Chapter, Little Rock
Megan (Greenland) Williams was born and raised in Conway. She received her bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor emphasis in graphic design from the University of Central Arkansas in 2012 and her master’s in communications from Queens University of Charlotte, N.C., in 2019. In 2013, she was hired as director of events and communications for the Associated Builders & Contractors of Arkansas (ABC) and was promoted to vice president of chapter development in 2019. ABC is a trade association providing business development, political advocacy, safety training, and education to the commercial construction industry. During her time at ABC, Willians has helped increase the quantity and quality of events ABC offers each year, co-developed the Arkansas Chapter’s Young Professionals Program, implemented new youth programs and in 2017 helped launch ABC’s new apprenticeship program, the Arkansas Construction Trades Academy. She also travels the state providing Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED Training to members in the industry.
Co-owner and Senior Vice President
PDC Construction, Little Rock
Leigh Wood is an owner and senior vice president of PDC Construction. She serves as the qualifier for PDC’s contractor’s license. She has spent 35 years in service to PDC Construction, where she provides precise job-cost accounting from the very first stages of a project through project completion. Wood has played a key role in the growth and success of the company by building and maintaining industry and strategic relationships. PDC’s project history includes apartment complexes, banks, hotels, recovery centers, schools and more, and the firm has worked closely with multiple state and federal funding groups, including the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
READ ALSO: Staying the Course: Lexicon’s Heritage Links Leaves Footprint on Professional Golf
