April Professional Member of the Month

Leah Appelgate

DPT Group; Marketing & Business Development

Our line of work is built on the value of relationships and opportunities; what have you found is the best way to communicate in times of conflict?  It’s human nature to go into high stakes conversations unable to listen and process the other person’s point of view because we are so focused on ensuring we don’t get sidelined. But really, the other person only seeks to be heard and understood…just like I do. Situations end well when I set my agenda aside (for the moment) and really dig into what the other person is wanting to communicate…no matter how hard it is to hear. The conflict then turns to a conversation and the other person is ready to hear my concerns. I’m not perfect at this but it’s always encouraging to recognize a bit of ourselves in someone else even if that similarity is both feeling mad!

Sometimes our careers can be demanding; how do you wind down in the evenings to maintain a balanced lifestyle?  I could say something profound, but it wouldn’t be true! I moved into my own “fixer-upper” house last year so it’s been work at work and work at home on repeat. Sometimes winding down means mindless TV and Girl Scout Cookies for dinner. 

In 2017 technology is at our fingertips - what is your favorite app and/or website?  As the marketer for my company I might be a little late to the “social media management” party as I only just invested in Hootsuite. This website lets me schedule LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook/etc. posts months in advance which 1) maximizes my time, 2) keeps me organized and accountable, and 3) makes me look on top of my game!

As professionals, we are versed in community interaction and collaboration; what are you involved in outside of your profession?  A few years ago, I realized something about myself and as I looked around me I found a similar theme in so many of my female friends: we were holding back and not pursuing our dreams. In response, a friend and I started a monthly night out to share good food and inspiring conversation with any women who would rise to the challenge. Since then, our little dinners have grown to a quarterly community event for hundreds of women from all ages and backgrounds called The Fountain. Every woman is unique, but our differences and challenges bring unity and foster community. Self-doubt, identity, and the pursuit of joy are subjects everyone resonates with. We are currently working to become a 501(c)(3). You can check out more on our Facebook or Instagram.

We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you?  It’s probably not surprising but as a millennial, many of the female role models I’ve credited for challenging me or shaping my thinking are through social media. They have blogs. Or books. They are advocates for the underdog. They are community activists. They say the hard things and really believe the sky is the limit. They are outspoken but use their words wisely. And most of them teach me how to love Jesus but not shy away from leadership.

April Student Member of the Month

Taylor Hess

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Where do you attend school and what type of design work would you like to pursue?  I am a fourth-year architecture student at Iowa State University; I am also pursuing a minor in digital media. 

Why did you choose the design/construction field?  I think that design provides the opportunity to think creatively while solving real world problems, taking critical thinking to fully developed ideas. I view it as a way to combine many different fields – fashion, industrial design, interior design, urban planning, and architecture – into a synthesis of new design elements that can impact people.

What motivates you to work towards a career in design/construction?  Architecture creates an opportunity to make a physical change within the built environment, which implements theoretical thinking into real world solutions.

What is the best advice you have received?  The best advice I have received was from my professor Cal Lewis, “to appreciate when people talk about your work because it means they care.” 

How has Iowa Women in Architecture influenced you?  The Iowa Women in Architecture has shown me the opportunities for women in leadership positions, within the architecture field. 

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March Professional Member of the Month

 

Kate Arnest

Arnest Architecture, LLC
Principal and Owner

Our profession is built on the value of relationships and opportunities; how do you prepare for a meeting with a new client?  I do mostly residential architecture so my first meetings are with a builder or a homeowner. I visit the site prior to the meeting so I know the orientation to the sun, views, and other structures. If it is a builder, then I research them and find at least 3 things in common to discuss. If it is a homeowner, then I want to be prepared with examples of the style they are interested in. I have lived and worked in California and Colorado so my portfolio has a wide range of styles. I want them to see something that I have done that they connect with.We often design to improve the health of people and the environment; how do you wind down in the evenings to maintain a balanced lifestyle?  We have twin 8 year-old girls so I spend time with my family and we sit down for dinner together every night. We each tell our rose, bud and thorn from the day. The rose is something good that happened, the thorn something bad and the bud something to look forward to tomorrow. Then I need an hour of ME time before I fall asleep and that’s usually my reading time.

In 2017 technology is at our fingertips - what is your favorite app and/or website?  Houzz is a fabulous tool. My clients just send me the link to their Ideabooks and I make it a reality. The Jeld-Wen Egress calculator is a super quick way to check my window schedules. You just pick the window type and the size and it lets you know if it is compliant or not.

As professionals we are versed in community interaction and collaboration; what are you involved in outside the realm of architecture/design?  Since I started my own firm and have my office at home, I have found a wonderful life/work balance. It has allowed me to have a flexible schedule so I volunteer weekly in each of my kids’ classrooms and I’m the team manager for their soccer team. I’m in two book clubs and I love to bike. I’m part of a RAGBRAI team to raise awareness for my friends’ 9 year-old son who has MPS Hunter’s syndrome.

We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you?  After graduating from Iowa State, I went to the University of Colorado for my Masters in Architecture and also worked for an architect who did some expert witness work. I would go by myself to the destructive testing sites to take photos and record the results. It was fascinating work and I learned so much. However, I was always the only female amongst engineers, contractors and other architects. I was constantly being grilled on my credentials and experience, and it was irritating and slightly humiliating.

But then I took a building materials class and Virginia Grote was my instructor. She was also the project architect for a large condo complex that was under construction and she took us there for many site visits. She was well respected on the jobsite and proudly wore a pink hard hat. She was so knowledgeable about construction and she was a beacon for me. She was smart, tough and confident. My goal from then on was get my license so that nobody would be able to question me again. I did that and now, in honor of Virginia, my hard hat is pink!