Meet Construction Intern: Isabella Pentecost

Meet Isabella Pentecost, our 2025 fall intern at our Women Build house! We caught up with her to discuss her experience with our organization!

When did you first begin interning with IVHFH?
"I began interning with IVHFH at the beginning of October 2025"

What is your favorite IVHFH memory?
"I don't have one specific memory, but one of my favorite parts has been getting to meet new people every week. It's been so fun to interact with all of the volunteers and learn a little bit about each of them."

How has working alongside women leaders, such as our Construction Manager, Christy, and our Women Build honorees, Digger and Wai Yin, influenced your experience on the Women Build site?
"I've loved getting to work with all of the amazing women on this build. It's inspiring to see how knowledgeable they are and how confident they lead. They always seem to have an answer to any question I ask. It's really cool to see women so active in this industry, and it has helped me feel like I have a place here too."

If you could offer advice to anyone on the fence about volunteering or interning with us, what would you tell them?
"Do it—you won't regret it. You can learn something from every single task. Don't be afraid to jump in and be part of the work. Try something you've never done before, whether it's using a saw or a nail gun. Everyone is constantly learning, so you're in the same boat as most of the people around you. Don't be afraid to go for it."

How will this experience help with your future endeavors?
"My long-term career goal is to own my own business focused on residential property redevelopment, so everything I'm learning through this internship will be valuable in the future. I'm learning something new every day on site, and I'm very excited to apply all of this knowledge to my career down the road."

Is there any other information you would like people to know?
"Nothing specific. For a little more background about me, I'm from Waverly, Iowa, and graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock High School. I'm currently attending Kirkwood to earn my AAS degree in Interior Design and Interior Architecture, and after that I plan to get my real estate license."

Thank you, Isabella, for all of your hard work and dedication to our organization! We know you are going to do amazing work, and we will always be cheering you on!