September Professional Member of the Month

Amy Fetters

McGough Construction

Vice President Project Manager - Iowa

1. What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

Working with our General Manager on strategizing our business plan and being a resource for our employees when they have challenging issues and need someone to bounce an idea off.

2. What was the last interesting podcast you listened to?

Dare to Lead with Brene Brown

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m proud of the projects I have been able to work on.  I will always be proud of Methodist West Hospital.  Most recently I was involved with our MN Team and had the fortune to work on Preconstruction and the start of construction on the Essentia Vision Northland Project in Duluth, MN which is a replacement hospital for St Mary’s.  My focus on that project was building envelope and vertical transportation (elevators).  It was a lot of fun working with our McGough Team but then also working with the owner, and designers for that large project.

4. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Don’t focus so much on a title or position. Work hard to learn as much as you can and show people what you are capable of. Know what you can do and be confident in it. Don’t let others’ lack of knowing who you are and what you are capable of hold you back.

5. We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you? 

I haven’t worked with a lot of female role models, but I did work with an owner Sherry Stewart who was over the Construction at UnityPoint Health, and learned a lot from her on being detailed and diligent, and then Irene Hegedus-Tarzynski who was with NBBJ at the time as the local architect for their office. It was neat to see her as a mother and professional both and how she was good at communicating with the client.