Title: Principal Vice President

Company: Bechtel

Location: Lenoir, Ind.

Doris Heim chose this career path 35 years ago because she had a background in business and in finance. This career essentially entailed the broadening of responsibilities for her coming from acumen of finance, human resources, IT, support services and procurement. Her current company, Bechtel, is among the most respected engineering, procurement, and construction companies in the world. They stand apart for their ability to get the job done right — no matter how big, how complex, or how remote the project. Bechtel operates through five global business units that specialize in civil infrastructure; power generation; communications and transmission; mining and metals; oil, gas and chemicals; and government services.

Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 22,000 projects in 140 countries on all seven continents. Today, our 53,000 employees team with customers, partners and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 50 countries. Ms. Heim’s greatest accomplishment to date is that she successfully helped to shape the reputation of the company in different areas. She feels her ability to maintain and shape the reputation of the company with various customers, having grown in government services in the UK and most recently having been awarded a very large contract are among some of her greatest accomplishments. There have many highlights throughout the duration of her career but what makes her very happy is when someone she has helped or mentored in the past comes back to her after many years and she sees that they have succeeded.

In a large international construction, male domineering, engineering company Ms. Heim has traveled to many places, had a lot of leadership roles and great business expertise, yet dominated by strong inside personalities, she has found one of the biggest challenges for her was adapting quickly to new situations and having to find a way to build credibility and make improvements that only a female would have to prove. Ms. Heim’s greatest strength is her breath of experience and her ability to think outside of the box. She is quick to assess a situation. Doris wants most to be remembered as a person who made a difference. She wants to be known as a mentor who inspired individuals to do more, and that was able to create a turning point for them in their careers.