Stantec is an engineering and architecture firm with offices and ongoing projects around the globe. As a principal architect and office leader of its Plano hub, especially in a profession where only 17 percent of registered architects are women, Amy Holzle stands out. She studied architecture at Drury University before landing at Stantec in 2007.
“I started out as the intern, and slowly worked my way up through different leadership levels and roles,” Amy said. “Now, I’m a principal which means I’m in charge of projects. Not only am I doing business development to win these projects but when they’re won, I’m interfacing with the client, meeting with them regularly, ensuring the project is going well and working through any issues.”
Amy’s work focuses on higher education projects including The University of Texas at Dallas, University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University. She also acts as the operational leader of the Plano office. “This entails everything from staffing to recruitment to performance reviews to kitchen issues to who gets an office. A lot of my day-to-day – and my favorite part – is mentorship,” Amy said.
With a focus on educational facilities, Amy has been a part of advancing STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, through her work on the interior design of Plano ISD Academy High School. This fall, a new science building featuring updated labs and classrooms will be opening at The University of Texas at Dallas campus in Richardson. Amy played a leading role in the project from start to finish.
Through her love for architecture, and as she grew into leadership roles, Amy found something she is equally passionate about. “I’m a huge proponent of mentorship,” she said. “Whether you’re male or female, it’s important to me that you get the proper mentorship so you can move forward. My mentors are the main reason I’m a principal before age 40.”
She is a part of the ACE Mentor Program that introduces local high school juniors and seniors to career opportunities in architecture, construction and engineering. She also is involved with the American Institute of Architects’ program that cultivates young leaders.
“Amy is an amazing leader in our office and community. Her leadership extends to many volunteer and community outreach programs Stantec participates in, benefiting the entire North Texas region,” supervisor Marty Sims said.
“I hope that I will have mentored and helped a lot of people to achieve even greater than I did,” Amy said. “And that any building I touched, I left it 10 times better than when I found it.”
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