2025 LIFE TRUSTEE

Anne Edwards-Cotter '73

Anne Edwards-Cotter is an entrepreneur who founded a construction consulting services firm in 1990 and has led the firm for 34 years. She currently serves on the board of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), Cotter Consulting Advisory Board and the Reed Construction Advisory Board.

Anne has been deeply involved in various organizations, including Bradley University, where she served as a trustee and held leadership roles in multiple committees. She was also the first woman president of the Chicago Building Congress and has held significant positions within the Illinois Road & Transportation Builders. Anne was a founding member and chairwoman of Road Builder Charities, reflecting her dedication to community and service.

Anne's dedication to Mother McAuley is particularly noteworthy. She has been a Board of Trustee Member (2009-2011) and Board of Trustee Chair (2011-2014), and was honored as a McAuley Hall Inductee in 2014. She actively contributes to various McAuley committees, which most recently includes serving on the Golf Outing Committee for 2023 and 2024.

As the CEO and President of Cotter Consulting, Anne has grown the firm to $20 million in revenue and over 100 staff members. She leads the company with a focus on quality, responsibility and fostering an environment of collaboration and respect. Under her leadership, the firm provides program, project and construction management, as well as sustainability services to a diverse range of public, nonprofit and institutional clients.

Anne's passion for project management stems from her experiences with a concrete specialty contractor, a construction management firm and two Chicago-based real estate development firms before founding Cotter Consulting. Her broad industry knowledge allows her to manage the complexities of each project while maintaining strong relationships built on trust, integrity and empathy.

Her leadership in the A/E/C industry, both locally and nationally, is driven by a commitment to excellence and fostering partnerships that prioritize both professional success and positive community impact. Anne is a Certified Construction Manager (CCM) by the CMAA and is a member of The Chicago Network, the Economic Club of Chicago, Illinois Road & Transportation Builders and the Construction Management Association of America.