National Engineers Week: 3 Inspirational Career Paths

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

If you’re like many adults, your answer to the daunting yet common question was probably influenced by people you knew at the time. From parents and pop culture, to older cousins and overbearing aunts – your surroundings were instrumental in your professional ambitions.

Here’s another question: How often did you see girls lose interest in math and science? The numbers tell the story. Women represent only 13 percent of the U.S. engineering workforce, so it’s little wonder why only eight percent of female freshmen pursued engineering majors in 2014.

If young girls lack familiar examples of who and what they can be in engineering professions, how can we expect them to realistically thrive in such a male-dominated career path? The ability to exercise their potential in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is limited by the absence of someone to identify with.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an increasing demand for engineers over the next 10 years, yet studies show that children’s professional aspirations still have little in common with anticipated workforce demands.

The future of the construction industry depends on the promotion of engineering professions among underrepresented groups, including women. To introduce young girls to engineering role models, we highlight the contributions and career paths of three TDPartners for National Engineers Week.

Brittany, Estimator 

With a degree in mechanical engineering and exceptional communication skills, Brittany plays a pivotal role in developing project estimates for intricate mechanical systems. Time after time, Brittany’s attention to detail and sharp technical skills help TD meet challenging project demands. Some of the state-of-art projects Brittany has contributed to include UT Southwestern Clements Hospital and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brittany will be celebrating six years of service at TDIndustries later this year. 

A true Servant Leader, Brittany listens to understand – not to respond. Regardless of how stressful project demands may be, she holds high expectations for herself and those around her. Her ability to communicate with clarity, accuracy, and transparency allows her to quickly build trusting relationships. 

Brittany is very tech-savvy and has mastered budget optimization. She provides economical pricing, manpower projections, and effective estimating for sustainable projects of all sizes. She’s also a Texas E.I.T (Engineer in Training). Brittany spends her free time traveling, camping, hiking, and being the proud owner of a blue heeler named “Patch.”

Claudia, Project Manager 

Claudia graduated from UT-Pan American with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. Claudia’s career path and contributions at TD include her work as an assistant project manager on the JPMorgan Chase campus in Frisco, and as an estimator for the Nebraska Furniture Mart project and confidential data center projects. Claudia has served TD for almost eight years. 

She seamlessly tackles crucial conversations and makes it look easy – a vivid example of Servant Leadership in action. Claudia is also known for taking the initiative to pull in experts when making difficult decisions. With high ethical standards and a fierce work ethic, Claudia knows how to get jobs done while also having fun. Her dedication to helping projects save money is a result of her discipline and determination. 

In a passionate pursuit of excellence, Claudia has taken construction-related courses to further develop her career. Her ability to speak with honesty and behave with integrity has allowed her to make an impact in all that she does. Claudia enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as watching her husband perform with his band on weekends. She and her husband are also big fans of Comic-Con and collecting comic books. 

Liz, Mechanical Engineer

As a mechanical engineer, Liz has made her mark in many communities throughout the Southwest. She has worked on many high-profile projects including Scottish Rite Hospital Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Texas Oncology, Luminex, St. Rita Catholic Church, and many more. She recently celebrated her five-year anniversary at TDIndustries.

Liz personifies Servant Leadership by teaching, inspiring, and supporting others to be their best. From taking the time to grow and educate new mechanical designers, to delivering projects on time that exceed customers’ expectations, Liz passionately pursues excellence in all that she does. Her ability to harness the strength of collaborative environments helps keep projects within budget, on-schedule, and safe.

Some of her contributions include design-build and design-assist projects, troubleshooting, and pre-bid support. Liz is a well-rounded engineer who practices Lean principles daily. In her free time, Liz enjoys cooking, traveling, and reading science fiction and fantasy stories. 

TD’s commitment to an inclusive environment holds us accountable for encouraging underrepresented groups to exercise their potential in STEM. We strive to provide vast opportunities for students to identify key skills and explore a multitude of career paths at TDIndustries.

Special thanks to TDPartners Brandon, Brian, and Keaton for their contributions to this blog. Subscribe to our blog to keep up with TD culture, industry news, career opportunities, and more.