Dr. Irish Horsey is an award-winning construction professional and a leading voice in AEC industry advancement, with over 25 years of experience spanning both industry and academia. As the Director of Industry Advancement for Procore, she is a highly effective senior leader and thought leader, instrumental in scaling business operations and driving industry transformation. Dr. Horsey and her team are dedicated to expanding Procore's reach by advancing the construction industry through education and technology. Her commitment to workforce development is evident in her extensive board service with numerous construction professional and academic organizations, where she champions education, research, and industry transformation. Before joining Procore, Dr. Horsey distinguished herself as an accomplished construction manager, delivering successful projects and programs for leading AEC organizations in both the public and private sectors.
Beyond her industry leadership, Dr. Horsey is a dedicated educator in construction management. Her impactful academic career includes roles as a professor and Interim Department Chair at Kennesaw State University's Department of Construction Management, where she founded and advised the Kennesaw Women in Construction organization. She also served as Program Director of Construction Management at Gwinnett Technical College. Dr. Horsey credits her industry success with enriching her teaching and advising, allowing her to provide invaluable insights to her students.
Dr. Horsey has received numerous awards and recognitions, reflecting her deep passion for industry advancement. She holds the distinction of being the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Building Construction from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she continues to contribute as a part-time professor and serves on the industry advisory board in the School of Building Construction. Engineering Georgia has recognized her as one of the 50 Most Notable Women in Engineering. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, You Can Be Here: A Woman’s Guide to Construction Careers. Dr. Horsey firmly believes that her most significant contributions to the built environment lie in recruiting and educating its future leaders, and in advancing the industry by fostering a more sustainable construction workforce