Women Celebrating Women

What drew you to/how did you get involved in the practice that you’re in?
My decision to become an engineer was not planned. I was nearing the end of my second year of college and still didn’t know what I wanted to major in. After discussing different career options and my love for math with my boyfriend—who is now my husband—he suggested I go into engineering. Although my knowledge of the engineering industry was limited, to the point where I didn’t even know there were different branches of engineering, I took my first introductory course for civil engineering and instantly fell in love. At the time, I was enrolled in a local state college but quickly transferred to the University of Utah in 2005, where I continued my education in their civil engineering program. 

As I grew eager for more hands-on experience, I began searching for an internship. Luckily for me, I landed a role with a transportation firm that worked on a variety of roadway projects including heavy highway, roadway widening, and more. Through my internship, I got a real taste of what it is like to be a civil engineer, and I loved it! Although transportation wasn’t a focus I initially felt drawn to, it fell onto my path (or should I say road), and it felt really cool to be a part of improving the infrastructure in my community and helping ensure the safety of the roads I use every day.

How did you come to Kimley-Horn? 
During maternity leave for my third child, Amalia Andrews, a friend of mine who worked for Kimley-Horn, reached out and invited me to coffee with regional leader Scott Colvin. At the time, I was working for a really good firm and wasn’t looking to leave, but by the end of the conversation, I knew Kimley-Horn was where I needed to be. Coming to Kimley-Horn was a big leap of faith as I would be one of about five public–focused people in the Salt Lake City office, but I knew with the firm’s culture of support, I would be successful. Now, I’m going to retire here! 

What are some projects you’ve worked on?
I work on everything from pavement preservation to heavy highway and interchanges, but I’m exceptionally passionate about digital delivery. In 2019, I won a project to help Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) build its digital delivery program while continuing to work with other final design digital delivery projects. Essentially, I partnered with UDOT to develop new technology and test it by applying it to one project, assessing how it functioned, and improving the flaws before applying it to a different project to repeat the process. It was really cool to be part of the development, testing, and revision because I had the opportunity to be a part of each phase of the process. In 2023, I won the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) program and have been working with them to develop their digital program.  

I enjoy helping others understand the benefits of using digital programs, and most of our younger employees appreciate our increased use of technology. If everything else in the world is moving toward the technology era, then engineering should as well.

Can you expand on your experience with working a flexible schedule? Has it ever been challenging?
When I started at Kimley-Horn, all three of my children were under the age of five, so I was juggling being a mom and building a roadway practice from scratch. It was a lot, but Kimley-Horn was extremely supportive of me, allowing me the flexibility to work from home occasionally and work a reduced schedule. I was surrounded by people who wanted to help me be successful. Building a new practice while working a reduced schedule is hard, but with the firm’s LIFT program, lactation and wellness rooms in every office, and supportive partners across the firm, I was able to thrive. For me, it was critical to find a rhythm and schedule with my caregivers and my spouse and rely on my supportive coworkers.

How have you managed working a flexible schedule while on the path to ownership?
I have responsibilities as a mom, a wife, a coworker, and a friend, all of which are important. For me, the easiest way to juggle those separate roles is to set boundaries for myself. When I’m at work, I am fully present and focus on my clients and my teammates. When I’m at home, I am fully present and focus on my family, myself, and my life outside work. 

It’s not easy to maintain balance, especially as a mom, and as a woman in general. I tend to take on a lot of silent management, like scheduling and going to doctor’s appointments, signing up my kids for summer camp and recreational sports, and figuring out how to go to orientations and Back-to-School nights. They are small tasks that have to be slotted into my schedule, and it’s really easy for them to cross over into my work life. Similarly, sometimes I’ll have a submittal for work that has to go home with me, and my boundaries can start to blur. 

Even though it’s not a perfect system, trying to set and stick to those boundaries is really important as you progress on your career path. For me, the key is to stay fully present in whichever role I’m in. When I’m at home, I’m a mom and a wife, and when I’m at work, I’m an employee. Those boundaries help me maintain a healthy balance. 

What do you like to do outside of work? 
My family is extremely active and loves to adventure together. In the summer, we especially enjoy boating at Lake Powell, and in the winter, we really like to snowboard and sled. We also like hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and bike riding. It’s very important to us to spend time together without electronic distractions.

Do you have a motto, phrase, or activity that keeps you motivated? 
I have two. First, Get Stuff Done—sometimes you just need to put your head down and work hard. Second, “a rising tide lifts all ships,” which means that if we help each other and bring everybody along on the journey, we’ll improve our environment together and all benefit. 

What advice do you have for other women in the firm? 
You’re not alone. Everyone has different chapters in their lives. Some are harder than others, but there are many women around you who have been through each of those chapters and understand what you’re experiencing. There is always somebody who can be there to support you and remind you that life does get better, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. 

When I was a mid-level emerging practice builder, I had a very young family and was working part-time while trying to do a full-time job. I was overwhelmed because I wanted to handle everything independently. I had to remember that it was okay to say no or ask for help. It was okay to focus on keeping a balance for myself rather than accepting more projects than I had capacity for.  

It was comforting to know that I was surrounded by other women who understood my experiences. Many of them reminded me that if they did it, so could I. Now, I look back at everything that I’ve accomplished, and I’m able to remind myself that if I did it then, I can do it now too.