Monday, March 8, 2021

Women in Construction Week: Katie Haberberger

Phenomenal Talent with Unlimited Potential

Katie Haberberger is a rising rockstar in the construction industry. While in high school in St. Louis, Katie had the opportunity to participate in a program called “Project Lead the Way” which affirmed for her a desire to pursue a degree and career in construction.

On a professional level, she has risen quickly during her tenure at EMJ where she presently serves as a Preconstruction Manager. Her responsibilities in this area include planning, leading, and coordinating all activities associated with project budgeting, bidding, and buyouts. She partners with owners, architects, and her construction project teams to clarify project scope, prioritize project goals, and develop cost-saving, value-adding strategies. Her primary goal is to accurately determine the overall project cost while identifying ways to reduce risk and create value for all project stakeholders.

Some of her notable projects include: Pearland Medical Office, Ruby Falls (which was awarded “Sustainable Project of the Year” by the BRIC and was a recipient of the 2019 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards in the “Building Green” category), Collegedale Church of Seventh Day Adventists Expansion, and the Village at Waterside.

Alex Miller, SVP of Preconstruction at EMJ’s Chattanooga office notes, “Katie is a rare and exceptional talent, not only for EMJ and the Preconstruction team, but also for the construction industry as a whole. Her clients, internally and externally, recognize her skills and passion for the industry, as well as her ability to value-add to their projects when she can.”

A graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Katie doesn’t spend all of her time at work. In fact, the earlier experience she had in high school influences her to give back at a high-level as an ACE Mentor in Chattanooga.

Katie has been an integral part of the Chattanooga ACE program since she joined EMJ in 2016, giving students ‘real life experiences’ and introducing them to local industry professionals allowing them to ask questions and expand their knowledge of the various fields associated with construction. In 2019, she was selected as the ACE Mentor of the Year, which is a title and honor given to only one mentor in the area of Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia.

Editor’s note: We would like to recognize all the women who work at EMJ Construction. This week we are highlighting just a few who make EMJ Construction a leader in the industry.