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I'm a highway engineer, responsible for the design of horizontal/vertical
alignment for roadways and highways, as well as preparation of construction
plans, specifications and cost estimates.
Education/Background:
I was graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 1994
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. I went to
work in the consulting industry, first at Wilbur Smith Associates
in Pittsburgh, PA. I'm currently a highway engineer at Parsons Brinckerhoff
Quade & Douglas, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. My primary job is the
design of horizontal/vertical alignments for roadways - I work on
small city street projects to interstate highways. I'm also responsible
for preparing construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
I'm a member of the Society of Women Engineers, American Society
of Civil Engineers, and the Association of State Highway Engineers.
The Most Exciting Part of My Career:
I think the most exciting part of my career is being able to
see something I've designed actually being built. It sometimes takes
a number of years from the beginning of design of a project to starting
construction, depending on the size of the project. It's amazing
to see what to most people may seem like lines on paper turn into
a new street or interstate highway! I also enjoy working with other
engineers (structural, hydraulic, electrical, traffic) to pull a
project together. A big part of my job is coordination with others.
Toughest Barriers:
I can honestly say that I've not had too many barriers in achieving
my current position. I've been fortunate to work with a number of
good engineers whose guidance and support of me as a young engineer
has been invaluable. Maybe the toughest barrier has been a personal
one - I've always been very shy and in the beginning had difficulty
sharing my ideas with others. I've learned over the years to be
more aggressive and "speak up" - that I have as much to
contribute as anyone else. Confidence in yourself goes a long way
toward helping you achieve your goals.
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