2019 Women in Construction: Marie Fitzgerald, Board Member, Senior Vice President, Director of Interior Design at SMMA

Designation: IIDA

How many years have you been in your current field? 25

Who are three women – living or dead – that you would like to have drinks with and why?

1) Patty Smith, the “Godmother of Punk” for her great music and the fact that I loved her books.

2) Gloria Steinem, who said, “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.”

3) Emmeline Pankhurst, who demanded equality for women during the suffrage movement and helped women get the right to vote

4) Frida Kahlo with her powerful art. 

Other special shout outs would have to include any Nobel peace prize winner and, of course, the funny and like-able Ellen DeGeneres!

What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession? My biggest fears included paying back student loans, since competition was huge, and the economy was not the best. I was always worried about a layoff, but I worked harder and longer than anyone else to ensure that it would never happen. Considering all the hours I worked, I was probably very cheap labor!