Three Otakians Honored as DJC Women of Vision!
November, 2023
In an inspiring celebration of achievement and excellence, Saretta Tillmaand, Amanda Owings, and Margaret Steinhilber – three remarkable women from Otak – have been honored with Women of Vision accolades by the Daily Journal of Commerce (DJC) Oregon!
The recognition adds to a growing list over the past several years of Otak people to receive the award:
- 2022 – Millicent Williams
- 2021 – Tanya Boyer, Rachel Laura, Cathy Kraus
- 2020 – Serah Breakstone, Tina Keller, Angela Khosa-Marangwanda
- 2019 – Ashley Cantlon, Amy Scheckla-Cox, Teresa Huntsinger
What is the DJC Women of Vision Program?
Every year, the DJC Oregon honors a select group of nominated women for their contributions to the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction – allowing them to set an example for others in the field and position them leaders in the broader communities we all serve. This year’s 46 Women of Vision honorees were project managers, CEOs, principals, company founders and more – all active in creating opportunities for the future generation of women in our industry.
Who are the Honorees?
Amanda Owings – Business Unit Leader of Transportation
For more than 20 years, Amanda has worked within all facets of transportation, from traffic signal review to accessible ramp designs. She now draws on that experience to design unique transportation solutions that are centered around the impact they have on existing systems and the broader communities her projects aim to service. Amanda sees value in cultivating relationships within her team and has taken opportunities such as treating her team to a local soccer game to facilitate teambuilding and comradery. She takes her role in leadership to heart and understands that building a quality team requires work and dedication beyond the day to day operations.
“I’m honored to have served the institutions I have, and thank you to Otak for believing in me since the beginning, for nominating these other deserving women and inspiring me on my journey.”
– Amanda Owings
Saretta Tillmaand – Senior Project Architect
Saretta is task oriented and skilled Project Architect who enjoys figuring out what tasks need to be done in what order to create the greatest efficiency. She excels at aligning client wants with available space and finding new materials and technology to make construction more efficient and sustainable. An ardent believer in community involvement and uplifting women in the field – she’s described as a trailblazer in the project architect’s group at Otak. She volunteers with Habitat For Humanity and served as a lead advocate for the U.S. Green Building Council’s operations within our firm.
“I’d like to thank my coworkers for seeing and acknowledging the work that I do. I’m often behind the scenes, so this honor is a testament to the importance of visibility.”
– Saretta Tillmaand
Margaret Steinhilber – Senior Project Architect
Margaret is a Senior Project Architect with a calm head and solid communication skills. At Otak, she works with the design team from concept phase through construction documents, coordinating with clients and consultants throughout the process. She continues to be involved through the construction phase, providing observation and coordinating with contractors and owners to ensure projects are in alignment with the construction documents.
Margaret prides herself on creating environments both beautiful and functional. She finds plenty of opportunity to follow her passion at Otak, because Margaret says her colleagues’ dedication to creating innovative, sustainable, and livable buildings makes coming to work something she looks forward to every day.
“Margaret is an example of dedication and is a role model to other women in the architecture group.”
– Matt Neish, Architecture Business Unit Lead
These three have demonstrated unwavering dedication, innovation, and leadership in their fields of architecture and transportation. The DJC’s recognition is a testament to their outstanding work, showcasing how their practices are not only impacting our company but also making a significant and positive mark in the greater AEC world.