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As a project designer, Sam is responsible in helping prepare our structural construction documents in Revit. This includes setting up foundation and framing plans, as well as creating foundation and framing details. She is able to make our details by doing live section cuts in the Revit model and also using detail components in drafting views. She works closely with the project team, collaborating with other Project Designers, Project Engineers, and Project Managers. She has been able to help draft for both of our teams in the Structural Practice Area. Sam has also had the opportunity to work on many different building types ranging from car service stations, residential, commercial additions, and more.
I graduated in the spring of 2021 from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). My original intention was to be an architect, not an engineer. I have always been interested in the design and built environment and my coursework covered the fundamentals of structural and architectural systems. Soon enough, my curiosity eventually steered me towards structural studies. Structural engineering plays such an essential role in the construction process. The challenge of combining in-depth knowledge of the structural form of a building with a unique concept was worth me pursuing.
At MIAD, I did not feel like a minority. In fact, it was very much the opposite since my major incorporated interior design, which is predominately female. My professors did explain, though, that I was entering a very male-dominated industry.
After college I learned exactly what they were talking about. Aside from generally being the youngest, I usually was the only woman. There is a disconnect in the workplace being the only woman without any female mentors to engage with.
What I have found at WT Group is that there is an effort to bring on more women, more diversity. This creates new perspectives and a more dynamic workplace along with it. I look around today and see female interns walking about and it makes me hopeful that the industry is moving in the same direction.
Short-term goals: To vastly expand my knowledge and learn as much as I can from my mentors and colleagues in the field. I see the importance of making connections with people of all experience and across the various engineering disciplines. You need to learn from others that have been in this field longer, and that includes the rewarding experience of fieldwork.
Long-term goals: I hope to make a significant contribution to the field through innovative structural designs. Having my name and work connected to well-known projects is something that I strive for and know it will come in time. To date, I’ve been able to work on O’Hare Airport and the Palm Springs Airport, both exciting and structurally interesting. I would also like to be a mentor to younger women looking to join the industry.
First, I would tell them how important it is to find a support system / find your mentors. I didn’t realize how helpful it could have been for me to have another woman as a source for advice, shared experiences, and someone who could guide me in my career.
Also, stick with it! You are bound to make mistakes and become discouraged. This is an opportunity to learn, and not take it personal. If you are willing to admit you don’t always have the answers, you will grow, and so will your passion for engineering.
