News

The roles that make up a successful construction firm range from skilled labor, to the engineers and managers in the field, and less frequently seen, the people behind the scenes in the office that make up accounting, marketing, and other administrative departments.

Laura Heckenberg started with Amoroso in 2008 in certified payroll, but her career in construction started back in 2004 when she took a job in the finance department at a large general contracting company in Arizona.

 "The construction industry is an exciting place for me because of the challenges they bring," said Laura. "When I started with Amoroso, contractors were not as used to women in leadership roles, whether on the jobsite or in the office. Over the past 10 years, I've certainly seen the shift in our industry to be more welcoming of women and embracing diversity."

After moving to Amoroso, she quickly displayed the skills and proactive attitude needed to take on more responsibility, which was the catalyst to her successful future that was to come.

"There is plenty of space at the table for women, we just need to remember to take our seat," said Laura. "There are people who are intimidated by women and there are people who appreciate the perspective, but we need to have the confidence to use our voice no matter who is at the table.

Laura was promoted to Controller in 2010, and then moved into the role of Chief Financial Officer in 2015.

"Over the years, I've seen a significant shift in the mindset of women in construction and the deserved respect they are given," said Laura. "I believe women today are more confident in themselves and can hold their own in this industry. The more emphasis we put on how valuable and strong women are, the more people will understand what we bring to the table."

For other women working in construction, whether on a jobsite or in the office, Laura believes that having confidence and knowing their worth, while also being vulnerable, will position them to succeed no matter their position in the firm.

In addition to serving as CFO of Amoroso, Laura and her husband also manage to wrangle three kids at home.

"At home, I'm also the CFO – 'Chief Fun Officer!'" said Laura. "While it's hard to turn off everything that is waiting for me at the office, the kiddos at home remind me that I work hard during the day so we can enjoy our time at home."