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Emily Foote
"As a sophomore in high school, I was a cheerleader with the highest academic ranking in my class. My world was turned upside down after a car accident left me in a coma. I awoke several weeks later unable to read, write, or eat by myself. I escaped the accident as a shadow of my former self. Two years later, against all odds, Purdue's engineering program enabled me to rebuild my pride, unwavering perseverance, and commitment to excellence. Purdue Engineering gave me the courage to aim for greatness and the conviction that Boilermakers are capable of everything."
Emily Foote | Civil Engineering and Building Construction Management
Civil Engineering and Area Construction Manager, Main Fabrication Unit, Bechtel Corporation
In Emily Foote's current role as area construction manager of the main fabrication unit at Bechtel's semiconductor
facility project in New Albany, Ohio, she is focused on one of the biggest challenges facing the global economy —
the semiconductor shortage. She will lead approximately 3,000 workers during peak construction; activities and
subcontracts in her portfolio will total billions of dollars; and she will be responsible for the safe execution of
eight million hours of work.
Throughout her 13-year career with Bechtel, Foote has worked on many of the world's most complex construction projects.
Early in her career, she managed a $100M portfolio of subcontracts for a liquified natural gas (LNG) plant in Gladstone,
Australia — home of the world's first unconventional gas processing plant. She also has worked at the Corpus
Christi LNG project as a piping superintendent and the Uranium Processing Facility Project in Oak Ridge, Tenn., as an
area superintendent.
Often, she has been the only female in the room and has used her position to encourage and mentor women in construction.
In fact, she has made it a personal mission to return to Purdue and present career opportunities to undergraduate
students, and she estimates that she has helped more than 500 students navigate entry into the construction workforce.
In 2023, she was named "Top Young Professional" by Engineering News-Record, and, in recognition of her mentorship of
women, Columbus Business First included her in its "Women of Influence" list.