MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

Lynette Dreitz

Partner and director of finance and administration

Cawley Architects

Background: Dreitz oversees all accounting and administration operations, and develops and establishes the overall financial requirements of the firm. She performs regular financial analysis to guarantee compliance with laws and regulations, provides leadership to accounting and administrative team members, and manages all human resources requirements of the firm — including payroll and benefit coordination.

Inspiration: “The desire to learn and the willingness to succeed and not give up. I never really had a pathway or career goals set for myself. I only wanted to enjoy what I do, and be happy, which I am. This path I’ve taken myself on has taught me many great things, and some hardship along the way.”

Source of pride: “That’s an easy one — being named a partner at Cawley Architects in 2019. Who would have thought a small-town gal would make it in the big city? I didn’t. It’s humbling, and I am forever grateful for the acknowledgement and opportunity I’ve been given to be a leader of this firm.”

Surprising fact: “I love Minnie Mouse. She’s always been adorable, but when I saw her in person at Disney World, I fell in love with her.”

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Stephanie Handley

Vice president of economic development

Clayco

Background: Handley is a commercial real estate professional with more than 25 years of experience consistently exceeding sales and operational goals. Her focus is on building meaningful relationships built on trust and accountability that increase market share and profitability while retaining top clients.

Source of pride: “I’ve often been told I’m the nicest person in the room. I think as a woman in business and in commercial real estate, in particular, there is a pull to exhibit a posture of strength and firmness. But I think you can be strong and have firm boundaries while still being approachable and kind. I’ve found great reward in being accessible to my peers and colleagues.”

Surprising fact: “I never wanted children. I didn’t think I’d be good at parenting. I was destined to be the best, most fun aunt on the planet. I even convinced my now-husband that to be with me, meant a life without our own children. But I changed my mind about six years into marriage, convinced him to change his, too, and I cannot even imagine my life without my two kids — now 13 and 15. We have the very best time together: learning, growing, laughing, volunteering, adventuring and living our very best lives. Along with my marriage, they are what I am most proud of.”

To do more than build. To create. To innovate. And to do it with a holistic, intelligent balance of art and science that’s unmatched anywhere.

We see our work through the eyes of the people who will use them every day. Through their eyes, we see places of entertainment, education, innovation, technology, healing and research.

The result? Powerful structures with impacts that reach far beyond these walls.