Her Story
About Heather Love
Heather Love Ihlen is a Senior Business Analyst in the construction and AEC industry, bringing more than 18 years of experience in business analytics, project administration, financial oversight, federal contracting, and construction project support. Her professional background spans engineering, procurement and construction, federal design-build and design-bid-build projects, engineer-procure-construct (EPC) projects, program and project budgeting, financial analysis, GIS, and program management. She currently serves as a Senior Business Analyst at AZCO while also maintaining employee ownership within the parent company Burns & McDonnell Engineering, supporting complex construction and fabrication projects. Throughout her career, Heather has worked across a range of technical and financial project environments, including Department of Defense programs, military construction, solar and gas-heavy industrial (GHI) projects, sustainment and modernization initiatives, federal contracting, and construction operations. Her experience includes budget analysis, progmattic financial execution, resource management, contract analysis, reconciliation, internal audits, project coordination, GIS applications, and business development. She has developed expertise with tools and platforms including Procore, Power BI, Aconex, ArcGIS, and other AI project and data-management systems. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) from South Dakota State University and has performed training throughout AF Space Command as well as engineering assessments for federal defense facilities nationally. Heather attributes her professional success to the relationships and networks she has developed throughout her career, both in the private and federal sectors, and she approaches her work as a goal-oriented strategic thinker. She emphasizes the importance of developing a specialized area of expertise, finding a professional niche, and having a mentor. A strong advocate for women in the AEC industry, she encourages young women to be bold, ask questions, and recognize the many professional opportunities available beyond traditional construction roles. She values integrity, accountability, execution, and surrounding herself with capable professionals. Her continued involvement with the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, New North Construction Alliance, and Women in Construction reflects her commitment to professional leadership and community engagement.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather Love
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the relationships and professional networks I have built throughout my career and everywhere I have lived and worked. I am a goal-oriented strategic thinker, and I believe those relationships, combined with a strategic approach to my work, have played an important role in my professional growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to develop a specific area of expertise and become exceptionally good at it so that I can provide meaningful value to my team. I believe in finding a niche, building specialized knowledge, and always having a mentor who can provide guidance and perspective throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the construction and AEC industry is not to be afraid to ask questions and never allow fear to deter them from pursuing opportunities. I encourage women to be bold and recognize that there are many career paths within the industry beyond physical labor, including finance, legal, tax, business analysis, and other professional disciplines.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe the opportunities in construction and the broader AEC field are virtually endless. The industry is changing rapidly, particularly with the introduction of AI-driven technologies, creating new ways to improve how projects are planned, managed, analyzed, and delivered. I believe this makes the present an especially exciting time to enter and build a career in the AEC industry.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is one of the most important values I bring to both my professional and personal life. If I say I can accomplish something, I believe in following through and doing it to the best of my ability. I also value being surrounded by competent people who take accountability, execute effectively, and contribute to a strong and collaborative team environment.
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