As conversations about representation in the AEC industry gain traction, Executive Vice President of Healthcare Penny Houchens, IIDA, LEED AP, NCIDQ, Lean joins the Nashville Business Journal’s Women Who Build panel to share her perspective on where the industry is headed.
In this feature, Houchens sits down with Kimberly Sowers, Project Executive at Turner Construction Company, to examine the opportunities and challenges shaping today’s AEC landscape. Their discussion touches on the realities of working in a field long dominated by men and the progress being made as more women step into leadership roles.
Houchens also reflects on the types of projects that will influence Nashville’s growth over the next decade, highlighting where strategic design and construction can have the greatest positive impact on the city and its communities. Both leaders offer insight into why the AEC profession aligns well with the strengths and interests of many women, and how barriers to entry can be reduced through mentorship, visibility, and organizational support.
Their conversation underscores a shared optimism: women will continue to play a defining role in shaping Nashville’s built environment, with integrated and forward‑looking projects already on the horizon. Read the full conversation here.
