Portland State University won the 2018 Business Case Leadership award from the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council for its collaboration with Miller Paint. Kate championed the effort at PSU for product transparency and the use of healthy materials around paint.

This is a part of a series of blog posts amplifying community voices. These views reflect the perspective of the Changemaker and do not necessarily represent those of Energy Trust.

Kate Vance has taken a winding path from college to her professional life, starting with an English degree before moving into facilities management in the corporate world and at Portland State University. Today, she holds a key position with Multnomah County as Deputy Director of the Library Bond Project Management Office, where she champions collaborative partnerships and sustainable construction on the eight library-improvement projects she oversees. Following voter approval of a $380 million library bond program in November 2020, Kate was selected to manage the program’s budget and schedule through completion in spring 2026. The program involves the renovation and expansion of eight branch libraries, and the creation of a new library operations center. In her role, Kate oversees the design and construction of these physical spaces, working closely with library staff and local residents to ensure that each library’s upgrades align with the overall project vision and uniquely serve its neighborhood.

Your college degree is in English Literature. How did you get into construction project management?

I graduated from college during the dot com crash, so I kept doing what I had been doing during my summers and breaks:  furniture moves, additions, and changes at Intel. Eventually I landed at PacifiCorp where they soon decided they needed help with their facilities management. By the time I left PacifiCorp, I was managing eight remote facilities across three states and managing construction projects. My next opportunity was at Portland State University, where I worked for 11 years, starting with managing small projects and ending with being the Assistant Director of Large Projects. During my time at PSU, I had the privilege of being the project manager on the Collaborative Life Sciences Building, Peter Stott Center & Viking Pavilion, and the Vanport Building, along with all kinds of roof replacements, mechanical upgrades, and renovations. At PSU I was able to define my values as they relate to the design and construction industry. I developed a strong passion for sustainability and the use of healthy materials.

And now you’re managing a major bond initiative for Multnomah County. Have mentors helped you along the way?

Many people have helped me become who I am today. One of my more influential mentors is Ron Blaj, currently the director of UC San Francisco Real Estate Campus Design and Construction. Ron was a strong example of how to lead, and he provided a lot of opportunities for experience with managing large-scale projects in a fair and collaborative manner.

How do you ensure sustainability in the new and improved Multnomah County libraries? 

The county embraces sustainable and environmental design. For example, our projects adhere to LEED Gold minimum standards for energy conservation, and include specific requirements for electric vehicle charging and bicycle parking; clean air construction standards; a dark sky policy that reduces light pollution; and bird-friendly standards like glass that is coated to keep birds from colliding with it.

What are some specific ways you’re incorporating energy efficiency into the library projects? To ensure we’re reducing carbon emissions we’re of course installing energy efficient systems, and making use of sustainable practices. Some of the ways this is showing up in our library projects are $4.7 million being spent on green-energy technology including fossil-fuel-free mechanical upgrades, 34 EV charging stations with capacity to add 45 more, and solar panels at the Operations Center, Holgate Library, Albina Library, and East County Library. Eight of our projects are on target to achieve LEED Gold, and one will be LEED Silver.

We work closely with Energy Trust of Oregon to identify and maximize our energy efficiency opportunities. One of our most exciting areas of energy efficiency is the Library Operations Center. We’ve added more than 600 photovoltaic panels on the building rooftop. The building is designed to achieve net-zero energy use, so it will generate enough energy on-site to offset its needs.

What do you love about your job?

I work with an amazing group of people and together we get to make our community a better place. We are all aligned in our mission and goals, and we really believe in what we’re doing. That’s not to say that no one has tough weeks, but we do really work hard to make sure people are supported. My team has a high workload and the work they do gets into the media and is publicly scrutinized.

And not only do we create beautiful libraries that are sustainably built and serve the public, we also provide opportunities for historically disadvantaged firms to be part of the work, with strong goals for a diverse workforce, and deep levels of community engagement to assure we’re on the right path.

Library Capital Bond Program (LCBP) Deputy Directors Kate Vance (L) and Katie O’Dell (R) visiting the East County Library construction site (August 2024).

How have you engaged local neighborhoods and residents, to assure the new libraries meet their needs and reflect their values and identities?

Community engagement for the major library projects has been robust, through everything from focus groups to paid engagement programs and setting up tables to provide information at public events. The input from community members has directly helped to guide these library designs. For example, at Midland Library, an interior gathering circle and exterior conversation circle were designed with insights from the Native American Youth and Family Center, and The Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest. These intentional spaces symbolize connection to the world around us and foster conversations with others.

How do you manage so many projects at once?

I have an amazing, high-functioning team. I see my job as removing obstacles so they can focus on the work they do best. I listen to their recommendations and seek their opinions. I work through issues with them, not for them. I try to provide clarity and transparency in all things. My team also knows that they can interrupt me. I may have 15 one-on-ones scheduled, but they are movable if something urgent comes up. And I try to take things off their plates when they’re busy. We have a lot of fun and we lean on each other when things get tough.

Any advice for women who want to take a similar career path?

There are a lot of fantastic ways for women to grow their career in the design and construction industry. My passion is construction project management. If this is a career path you’re interested in, an education in architecture, engineering, or construction management will get you off on the right foot, but as you can see from my wandering path, it’s not the only way. To be successful in this role, you need a good understanding of the basics, be curious, ask lots of questions, be able to hold others accountable, follow through, be detailed oriented, and treat everyone fairly and with respect.

Kate with her family on Miyajima Island, Japan. From left: daughter Charlotte, son Max, Kate, husband James (December 2024).