This time, we caught up with Jennifer Williams, Vice President, Civil Engineering, Water, in the U.S. West region to discover how she chose the path she’s on today.   

Hi Jennifer. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I’ve been with ArchTam and legacy companies for almost 30 years. I contribute to both business development and project delivery by representing ArchTam on a variety of professional societies, managing client relationships and programs, and serving technical roles on dam inspection, analysis, risk assessments, design and construction projects. After raising two daughters, I enjoy spending time in the outdoors of Colorado.

Tell us about your career journey.

I didn’t know what an engineer was until I was about 16. Back then, we didn’t have STEM classes like students do now. My older sister went to the Colorado School of Mines, an all-engineering school, and that was the first time I really learned what engineering was all about. I was inspired by what she was doing and decided to follow in her footsteps.

I began my career out of college as a staff engineer with legacy company Woodward-Clyde in Omaha, Nebraska, specializing in soft soil characterization and mitigation. Much of my early experience was hands-on — working behind a cone penetration test (CPT) or drill rig logging soils or performing construction oversight on civil earthwork projects. I also supported the senior principal, Steve Saye, on design of embankments on soft soils and research into settlement mitigation techniques. He became an early mentor, and after about three years, when I was ready to return home to Denver, he helped make that move possible.

After transferring to the Denver office (then URS), I worked as a project engineer on a broad range of geotechnical projects, including landslide mitigation, landfill design, mine tailings dams, and deep foundations. I eventually asked to be paired with John France, a senior practitioner specializing in dams, and soon joined my first dam project. From that experience, I was immediately drawn to dam engineering — the multidisciplinary nature of the work, the teamwork required to solve complex problems, and the depth of expertise within the office. I was motivated by the variety and technical challenge of each project, the range of geotechnical analyses involved, and the opportunity to collaborate closely with multiple disciplines.

After about 10 years, I transitioned into project management and business development, preparing proposals, engaging with clients and presenting at technical conferences — while continuing to contribute technically. These experiences improved my connection to clients and the broader industry, paving the way for managing larger and more complex programs.

Today, as a vice president at ArchTam, I enjoy a dynamic balance between technical work, project management and business development. I currently serve as the technical lead and project manager for the design of a new 300-foot-tall embankment dam here in Colorado. Additionally, I’m the program manager for technical engineering services for a large hydroelectric company in the Northwest, contributing to a broad range of dam-related work. Beyond that, I assist state dam safety programs in advancing their use of risk-informed decision making, including Colorado, Hawaii and New Mexico.

I’m also actively engaged with the broader dam safety community through various roles — serving on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Society on Dams, chairing the Technical Advisory Committee for the Association of Dam Safety Officials, and being the U.S. representative on the Embankment Dam Committee for the International Commission on Large Dams.

How has mentorship helped you on your path?

Your career path is often shaped, if not defined, by the strengths of the teams and individuals you work with. I’ve had the great fortune to work with a few very impactful mentors — John France, Dick Davidson, and Steve Saye to name a few — who played crucial roles in my career. Their openness in sharing knowledge and their passion for excellence really inspired me and helped me grow. What stood out most was their direct candor; they gave me honest feedback that accelerated my learning curve. They also trusted me by giving responsibility while always having my back — checking my work and redirecting me when needed. That balance of support and challenge really helped propel my career forward and taught me the value of strong mentorship.

What’s something you wish someone told you years ago?

Something I wish I’d learned earlier in my career is the value of seeking out diverse perspectives and learning from peers and senior practitioners alike. Never hesitate to ask questions or seek advice — no matter your level of experience. Collaboration and curiosity lead to better solutions, and there’s no shame in not having all the answers; in fact, some of the best ideas come from simply asking for input.

What advice do you have for women who want to get into dams or another traditionally male-dominated industry?

My advice to women interested in entering the dam industry, or any traditionally male-dominated field, is to not define yourself by the gender balance around you. Seek out mentors, both male and female, who support your growth and push you to take on challenges. Be confident in your skills, stay curious and keep learning. Earn respect through a strong work ethic, technical excellence, and an open, collaborative attitude. The industry needs diverse voices and approaches, especially in engineering fields where collaboration, innovation and problem solving are essential.

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B?

If I hadn’t pursued engineering, I think I would have explored a career in the medical field. I’ve always been drawn to problem solving and helping people, and medicine offers a unique way to do both in a very direct and meaningful way. Whether it was becoming a nurse, a physical therapist, or working in medical research, the idea of contributing to people’s health and wellbeing really appealed to me.

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This time, we caught up with Katie Scancarello, a senior geotechnical engineer from our Water business in the U.S. East region, to learn how she chose the path she’s on today.

Hi Katie. What do you do for ArchTam?

I am a senior geotechnical engineer in Providence, Rhode Island and have been with ArchTam for 14 years.

Tell us about your journey and how you got here.

I initially went to college for computer engineering but transitioned to civil engineering because it gave me the opportunity to work in the field. During my junior year, I did a co-op at NASA Glenn Research Center where I conducted research on lunar soil simulants and performed experiments in reduced gravity – this experience led to my passion for geotechnical engineering.

After getting my bachelor’s degree, I then pursued my master’s in geotechnical engineering while working part-time at URS in Cleveland, Ohio. I transitioned to full time after graduating and worked there for three years. I was integral in major projects for Tennessee Valley Authority and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

During my second year there, I was placed on a major design build project in Cleveland where I learned how to communicate with non-geotechnical disciplines. It was trial by fire under a tight schedule which gave me the opportunity to expand my technical baseline. I was given significant responsibility which enabled my quick growth in design team management.

In a lateral move, I relocated to Rhode Island to discover a new part of the country. I still reported to the Cleveland URS office, which was acquired by ArchTam during this time. I helped establish an ArchTam geotechnical presence in the Northeast.

I was then promoted to geotechnical engineer. I served as deputy geotechnical lead on the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s largest design build at the time–the Route 6 and Route 10 Interchange Reconstruction project. I supported the geotechnical lead in managing the geotechnical investigation and design for the project.

Currently, I’m a senior geotechnical engineer where I manage the evaluation of underground conditions to provide design recommendations for building and bridge foundations, dams, tunnels, slopes, underground utilities, and retaining walls. Most recently, I was a project geotechnical engineer on the Narragansett Bay Commission Phase IIIA CSO Tunnel (Pawtucket Tunnel) design.

What was a career defining moment for you?

When I was still a junior engineer, my supervisor, who was the geotechnical lead on our large design build project, went on paternity leave. I was put as the point person for the project. When the prime contractor had geotechnical questions, they called me. It was both intimidating and a confidence boost to know that important team members trusted me to make decisions.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Someone once told me that I speak softer when I’m uncertain of the answer I’m giving and that I should speak up to imbue confidence. That advice was hard to hear, but significantly helped me to build confidence in myself.

What advice do you have for women who want to get into tunneling or another traditionally male-dominated industry?

Be yourself and get in there. I heard a lot of negative stories about how men treat women in the construction industry before I joined but I have not experienced the micro and macro aggressions that I was warned against. Don’t listen to the negative messages. Our industry is receptive and supportive of women. Men can be great sponsors/mentors and there are women-focused groups for every field which provide a ton of resources and support.

If not this path, then what would have been your Career plan B?

I would have been an equestrian trainer for hunter/jumpers on a farm in Oregon.

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This time, we caught up with Amanda Foote, project engineer from our Water business in U.S. West region, to learn how she chose the path she’s on today.

Hi Amanda. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I am a project engineer and project manager on several projects and have been with ArchTam for 13 years. I have been happily married for 12 years and have two kids, ages eight and three.

Tell us about your journey and how you got here. 

After graduating college, I started working at ArchTam in Akron, Ohio on the City of Akron’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) program. After about a year, Dave Mast, a vice president in the Water business line, pulled me onto his team to prepare the preliminary engineering report for the City of Akron’s first tunnel – the Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel – which was an amazing experience and my introduction to tunneling. 

Prior to that experience, I did not have a lot of exposure to trenchless construction, so Dave took the time to explain every aspect of what goes into alignment selection, tunnel boring machine selection, and other factors that drive a tunneling project. I used this opportunity to absorb as much information as I could and really enjoyed learning about the tunneling world. 

Following completion of the Akron tunnel project, I was promoted to project engineer and worked on more projects on Dave’s team for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. I did design for large tunnel and smaller trenchless design work, including the Dugway South Relief and Consolidation Sewer project, the Doan Valley Relief and Consolidation Sewer project and the Kingsbury Run Culvert Repair projects.

With each project, I learn more and more about the industry. As my mentor, Dave includes me on meetings with technical staff, not just because I can add to the discussion, but so I can listen and learn. I’m grateful for all the guidance he has provided in the last 12 years.

While my official title is currently project engineer, I’ve performed a range of roles on various projects. I was the project manager for the O’Hare TP-36 Stormwater Tunnel project, providing an alternate design to the contractor per their means and methods. Most recently, I was the design engineer and deputy project manager for the City of Akron Northside Interceptor Tunnel (NSIT) project. Although the NSIT project was a fast-paced and sometimes stressful design, my previous project experience enabled me to make a true impact.

I have come to truly love tunneling work and am eager to continue to learn from all the experts here at ArchTam.

What was a career defining moment that stands out for you?

My involvement on the NSIT project, which was completed in 14 months. In addition to my project contributions, I had a great relationship with the client and was able to add value and develop that relationship even more.

What advice do you have for women who want to get into tunneling or another traditionally male-dominated industry?

Don’t be afraid to get dirty. Ask questions. Ask for what you want. It’s ok to not know everything. If you are not sure, ask! Chances are someone else has the same question. If there is something you want to get involved in or see, ask.

What’s the best part of your job?

Seeing the full evolution of the projects I am working on. I have seen several projects through from design to bidding to construction, and even walked inside a tunnel I helped design to perform the final inspection.

If not this path, then what would have been your Career plan B?

I would probably be doing smaller stormwater or water projects for the Cleveland office.

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This time, we caught up with Kate Mignone, associate vice president, New England water resources market sector lead, to learn how she chose the path she’s on today.

 Hi Kate. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I’ve been with ArchTam for 19 years and currently contribute across a range of roles. I am project manager on combined sewer overflow (CSO) and tunnel projects, project director on stormwater, resiliency and conveyance projects and the market sector lead for water resources in New England. I live in New Hampshire with my husband, two kids, a cat, two fish and eight chickens.

Tell us about your journey and how you got here. 

My first role out of college was staff engineer for VHB on the site development team. However, I aspired to help the environment and communities, not to develop land for office buildings and malls. I then joined Dufresne-Henry and worked for five years as a staff engineer on stormwater and sewer models and CSO programs. 

In 2005, I joined ArchTam via Metcalf and Eddy as a project engineer. At the time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay in engineering. I pursued my master’s degree in business administration in college and always had an interest in the business side of things, but guidance from my mentor in the CSO field and being exposed to many different projects helped me decide to stay in engineering and continue to develop my modelling skills.

In 2012, I was promoted to project manager and asked if I wanted to help on a small project to oversee hydraulics modelling. I said yes and that small tunneling project, the South Hartford tunnel, turned out to be the catalyst for many future tunneling projects. I learned so much about tunnel sizing, surge and other technical considerations for tunnels and consolidation conduits.

After my portion of the South Hartford Tunnel finished in 2014/2015, I continued working on different CSO projects and helped to grow our presence with several projects in Maine. I managed a couple of my own projects for Hartford Metropolitan District (MDC). I continued supporting stormwater projects and designs for Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Rhode Island Department of Transportation and at one point even managed stormwater projects for Water, Transportation and Environment business lines. 

I also got more involved in business development and marketing. I helped with the Hartford MDC one-time on-call proposal and found I enjoyed working on marketing pursuits.

In my current role, I’ve enjoyed using my MBA and focusing on strategic client growth opportunities as well as continuing to manage additional tunnel projects. Looking back, I did not expect one tunnel project in 2012 would lead to these additional opportunities years later. I didn’t go into my career choosing to tunnel, tunnelling found me.

What was a career defining moment for you?

I was relatively shy and reserved until college. During college, I made an effort to be more outgoing.  Now I embrace that I am an ambivert. It is the best of both worlds and really reflects both aspects of my extroverted side as well as my introverted time.

Tell us about any learning opportunities or development programs that helped you grow.

In 2021, I was asked to participate in the LIFT program — an internal ArchTam leadership program, which is now called Elevate — where I attended seminars with other ArchTam leaders and had career coaching. This coaching gave me the confidence to ask to be a market sector lead for water resources. 

What was one of your proudest moments?

I really loved math and science growing up, so as part of one of my high school Girl Scout projects, I helped set up my town’s recycling program. That experience helped me realize I wanted to incorporate my love for the environment into my civil engineering career.

If not this path, then what would have been your Career plan B?
This is a topic we discuss often at my house. My husband is creative and has so many ideas. Me on the other hand, not as much. I could see myself getting into a business combining yoga and baking!

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This time, we connected with Kelly Young, lead bridge engineer based in South Carolina, to learn how she progressed in the technical excellence career path.

Hi Kelly. What do you do for ArchTam? 

As the lead bridge engineer for South Carolina, I’m currently working on exciting innovations in bridge design, including high fidelity 3D bridge models. I have been with ArchTam for 13 years and I live in Greenville, South Carolina, with my husband, two children and our dog.

Tell us about your journey and how you got here. 

I began my career as a bridge inspector for ArchTam in Atlanta after graduating from Georgia Institute of Technology. I spent one year doing bridge inspections, gaining hands-on experience, learning about bridge elements and the different types of failures and deterioration.

My first major milestone was completing my first full bridge design. This project was a key initial step in moving from inspector to engineer. I was the youngest engineer in the group, tasked with designing and planning production for the bridge. The project had a tight deadline, so I had to learn quickly and work efficiently. We submitted the final design and plans on time, and I saw my first bridge design being built just a few months later. That was my first big step to becoming a bridge engineer.

I also found a great mentor in Chris Johnson, my manager in Atlanta. He guided me through my career not only technically, but also with balancing work and home life.

With a growing interest in design, I took on the role of engineer. That’s when my foot stepped on the gas — my technical career took off and has not slowed down since. I focused on bridge repair, working on everything from minor joint replacement and spall repairs to deck replacements, strengthening methods for structural components and developing numerous hydraulic bridge-jacking designs.

Working on a variety of project types greatly expanded my technical knowledge in the bridge design field. I also had the opportunity to manage smaller tasks and test my knowledge by teaching junior staff.

Then, my husband and I relocated to South Carolina, and after 10 years of being in a bridge engineering support role, I became the lead bridge engineer in South Carolina. My role shifted from a singular focus on production to leading tasks and signing and sealing plans. This experience created an opportunity to innovate the bridge design process and push our current capabilities forward.

What was a career defining moment for you?

My career defining moment is currently in the making. I’m working with a team to create a high fidelity 3D bridge model per specific client standards. Once complete, this model will be fully adaptable to any project location based on the most used bridge elements, drastically reducing the time it takes for the layout, detailing and potential rework of the bridge.

Computational design and parametric modelling have the potential to spark a major shift in transportation services. We have the chance to raise the current standard and pave the way for a new era of bridge design.

What’s something you wish someone told you years ago?

Don’t be afraid to ask. Not just about needing help with a problem you can’t solve or where to find resources, but with bigger things as well. If you want to try something new within the scope of ArchTam, ask. You don’t have to do just one type of work. ArchTam offers a whole world of opportunity.

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B?

I would be a softball coach. I still get the opportunity to take my daughter to Georgia Tech softball games and watch my former teammate coach, but if I wasn’t an engineer, I’d be out there too.  Go Jackets!

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This time, we connected with Toby Uppington, senior vice president and global energy/hydrogen markets lead, to discover how he chose the path he’s on today.    

Hi Toby. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I am in my 21st year with ArchTam and currently leading our push into the emerging hydrogen economy. I also look after our client account management relationship with our largest private sector client – Shell. After travelling the world and living on three different continents, I have settled in London where I continue to hone my skills in various international BBQ styles with my wife and children.

Tell us about your journey and how you got here. 

I started my professional career keen to deploy the academic skills I learned as a geographer and hydrologist. This led me to opportunities in groundwater and contaminated land clean-up, and diverse projects including the construction of one of the UK’s largest CCGT Power Stations, Seabank 1, with Golder Associates as a contaminated land hydrogeologist. This gave me a taste for major infrastructure projects. 

After a few years, I took a break from Golder when I was sponsored by Shell to do a master’s program at Imperial College. I moved to Northern Canada where I helped develop innovative remediation technologies and directional drilling techniques. After that, I returned to Golder as a senior environmental scientist and took advantage of their employee development program. I transferred to Melbourne, Australia, where I continued to expand my direct client management skills and invested in adopting a suite of digital technologies to change the way our services were performed. 

After completing the program, I returned to the UK and continued to expand my professional skills with Golder, before joining URS to become the operational leader for the Environment team in Wimbledon and the oil and gas market sector lead in Europe. These roles taught me the complexity of bidding on major projects and managing diverse teams of people. 

I was then asked to join the Strategy and Growth team where my first task was to develop the Corporate Client Account Management Program and work-winning best practices. I also developed URS’ growth strategy for Europe, Africa and India. When URS transitioned into ArchTam, I helped lead the integration of the two diverse delivery teams with a specific focus on assessing market opportunities and functional strategy for all business lines in the region. One of the most interesting initiatives I championed was the development of ArchTam’s advancement into modern methods of construction by setting up a modular housing business in the UK in partnership with a major architect. This role allowed me to fully understand the Buildings + Places business and integration of all our professional design procurement and construction services for a product rather than professional services market.

Following the success of those projects, I was then asked to consider how ArchTam could reposition itself in the energy market in line with our Sustainable Legacies strategy. As the senior vice president and global energy/hydrogen markets lead, I focus on implementing one of the four core initiatives of our growth strategy in the energy sector, specifically in positioning ArchTam for the emerging hydrogen economy that is changing the way many of our clients consider their energy decarbonization options. 

I was also keen to maintain direct connection to external customers and work-winning, so as a dual responsibility, I took on the client account manager role for Shell – a customer I have continuously worked with for most of my career. 

What is the best part of your job? 

I never know what my inbox will bring me in the morning, and I continue to be excited and surprised by the next challenge that awaits – be it reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure or a request to present to school children on what net zero means to them in practice. 

What has been your proudest moment? 

Of all the things I’ve been involved in, developing a modular housing product that tenants now live in that are located across the UK amazes me to this day. It was definitely the hardest thing to bring together! 

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B? 

Forestry – I was offered the chance to live in the Amazon for a couple of years when I was leaving university. Maybe that was something I should have told the younger me: Don’t be afraid! 

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This time, we connected with Lindsey Cavallaro, department manager, environmental planning and permitting, to discover how she chose the path she’s on today.   

Hi Lindsey. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I oversee a team of nearly 170 Cultural and natural resources specialists and environmental planners. I am also the client account manager for California’s second largest utility, Southern California Edison. I sit in the San Diego office and am currently raising my kids in the same house I grew up in!

Tell us about your journey and how you got here. 

My transformative career journey with ArchTam began over 25 years ago when I was a college intern at KEA Environmental, an ArchTam legacy firm in San Diego. This experience ignited my passion for environmental consulting and prompted me to switch my major from pre-med to environmental science.

After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, I worked at a few small environmental firms and then as a planning intern for the City of Ventura while I attended graduate school. Throughout this time, I maintained connections with the team at KEA Environmental, which had since been acquired by EDAW.

After graduating in 2005, with a master’s degree in environmental science and management, with an emphasis on conservation planning, I took an entry-level environmental analyst position at EDAW, which was acquired by ArchTam six months later. From day one, I put my generalist background to use, diving into a diverse array of projects. By saying “yes” to new challenges and collaborating with individuals from various technical backgrounds, I expanded my expertise and was exposed to many different clients and teams. I soaked up as much knowledge as I could, participating in ArchTam-offered trainings, shadowing technical experts in the field, and learning under mentors and supervisors with diverse backgrounds and skillsets.

I progressed quickly from a technical analyst, to a deputy project manager, to a project manager, eventually leading multi-million-dollar, multi-disciplinary projects for key clients throughout Southern California. This period coincided with me starting a family and raising two young children. I am incredibly fortunate to have had supportive managers who recognized my potential and allowed me to chart my path in a way that enabled me to thrive in my career as well as my other full-time job as a mom!

Through managing projects and working with talented and diverse teams, I also discovered my passion for leadership. I became a people manager in 2012 and by 2018, I advanced to become the group manager overseeing a team of around 60 natural resources specialists. In that same year, I was offered the position of client account manager (CAM) for Southern California Edison – a role I hold in addition to my current position. I was initially uncertain about this role because I did not have any official CAM training, but I accepted and jumped in with both feet. I realized quickly that the skills I had acquired as a project manager and group manager equipped me well for the CAM role.

In 2022, I moved into my current position as environmental planning and permitting department manager for Southern California and Hawaii. Despite my initial reservations about being totally ready, I embraced the opportunity. Every step in my journey has prepared me to take on this new challenge. Today, I find immense fulfilment in my role and believe that I’m precisely where I should be. Yet, I’m also eagerly anticipating the next chapter in my journey!

What is the best part of your job?

Definitely the people! I work with an incredibly talented and diverse group of individuals and teams, as well as some fantastic clients. I love seeing my team thrive and grow in their own career journeys, and I relish in forming lasting, positive relationships with our clients. If I’ve learned anything after being in this industry for over 20 years, it’s that relationships are the cornerstone of success.

What advice do you have for people in ArchTam who want to chart their career path within the organization? 

One benefit about a large organization like ArchTam is the boundless opportunities to chart your own career path. You can quite literally transform your career over and over again without ever leaving ArchTam. Whether you stay focused on a single career trajectory or move between multiple paths, there is no limit to what you can achieve if you are motivated and open to new opportunities.

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B? 

Environmental Science was my Plan B! My Plan A was medical school – dermatology, specifically. But after a few years as a pre-med student, I realized it was not the path for me and I fell in love with Environmental Science. The rest is history.

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This time, we connected with Karen Campbell, Vice President, Austin Metro+ Executive in the West region to learn how she progressed in her career path.

Hi Karen. What do you do for ArchTam?

As Vice President, Austin Metro+ Executive, I wear two hats: Austin Metro+ lead and West Region Specialist Pursuit Team Lead. I’ve been at ArchTam for 18 years working in our Denver, CO; Santa Ana, CA; and now Austin, TX office.

Tell us about your career journey and how you got here.

I started as a proposal coordinator in legacy company Woodward-Clyde’s Federal Services proposal center in Denver, Colorado. In this role, I was responsible for supporting senior proposal managers. After nearly two years, I started to lead my own major federal proposals and engaged directly with capture managers, project managers, and client account managers to prepare proposals and presentations. After five years, I applied for an internal open marketing position in Southern California to expand my skills from just federal to include state, municipal and private sector proposals.

After I transferred to our Santa Ana, California office, there was an open position to lead the Southern California proposal center. Even though I had fewer years of experience than suggested, I jumped at the opportunity and approached the office manager to give me a chance. We both took a leap of faith and worked closely together over the next four years to create a winning proposal center.

In 2003, I took another leap of faith and left ArchTam to move to Hawaii and start my own soda company with my husband. As a new business owner, I was running every aspect of our company from accounting, marketing and business development to supply, production, customer and investor relations. Ten years and two kids later, we decided to move back to the mainland (Austin, Texas) to be closer to family and run the business remotely.

Using my network in California, I was introduced to the Process Technologies business leader in Austin who was hiring a business development/marketing lead for URS. I was fortunate that my 12-person interview panel was willing to listen to how someone working in the beverage industry for 10 years could transfer her skills into successful business development in the energy business. I worked for that group for three years. After ArchTam acquired URS, I transitioned from the Process Technologies marketing lead to our new Oil & Gas Business Line marketing lead. After one year in this position, I became the Central Region Marketing Manager.

As the Americas regions evolved, I moved into my current role as Vice President, Austin Metro+ Executive where I have two focus areas. As West Region Specialist Pursuit Team Lead, I work on cross-business line opportunities, primarily for clients in our key cities. My team and I coordinate with Metro+ leads, market sector leads and client account management leads across the West Region to help position ArchTam for strategic capital projects that require cross-business line solutions.

My other focus is Austin Metro+ lead, which I asked my manager to be considered for. In this part of my job I meet clients, partners and navigate the geopolitical scene. I find that my two hats complement one another. I am now involved from the investigative to winning stage for major pursuits in Austin.

What was a career defining moment for you?

My career defining moment was when I started my own soda company with my husband. We left full-time jobs, sold our house and used the proceeds to take on this exciting, scary, and fun adventure in Hawaii. The experience gave me the confidence and skills to approach my marketing position with ArchTam in a much broader manner.

What’s something you wish someone had told you years ago?

Being scared is perhaps the best reason to try something new! I think it is important to challenge ourselves and to do what scares us – otherwise we may never learn our true potential.

What advice do you have for people who want to chart their career path at ArchTam? 

My advice is to understand what really drives you. Figure out which part of your job brings you the most joy and then discover how those specific skills can be applied to other career paths. Talk to people in a career path you’re interested in and ask questions.

Something I’ve noticed about careers at ArchTam is that people can be on the same career path, but their approach and what they do once in their position can vary based on individual strengths. It is as important what we do as how we do it. 

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B?
If living in the most remote island chain in the world wasn’t so difficult with two young children, I probably would’ve stayed in Hawaii to continue running our soda business. I loved the lifestyle, community and culture and am proud of what we created. 

I also would have loved to be a stay-at-home mom. I was raised by a stay-at-home mom for most of my life and I cherished all the time we had together. I’d also dedicate my free time to support non-profit organizations specific to cancer charities and hospice care.

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This time, we caught up with Marco van Winden, technical practice leader, technical lead and lead verifier, to discover how he chose the path he’s on today.   

Hi Marco. What do you do for ArchTam?

I am a technical director in our Water business line. I have two key roles, one being Technical Practice Leader of the water infrastructure practice area in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and the other as technical lead and lead verifier on major water projects. Our water infrastructure practice in ANZ is about designing pipelines, pump stations and treatment plants. I work across the region to help the practice make our project designs as technically excellent as possible.

Tell us about your journey and how you got here.

I graduated from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand with bachelor’s in civil engineering with first class honors. My first six years after graduation were in land development, where I undertook planning and design of many subdivisions in Christchurch.

After moving back to my hometown of Auckland, I spent four years in a consultancy designing civil and sewerage infrastructure before joining legacy ArchTam company Meritec. I became associate director managing a team of 15 environmental engineers. I also managed our Auckland City/Metrowater’s Integrated Catchment Study project.

To gain major project experience, I relocated to our Brisbane office for two years. However, my family and I decided to call Brisbane home. Over the next four years, I became design manager and project manager of the Toowoomba Pipeline Alliance. This role contributed to my promotion to technical director and roles on key projects such as the concept design and business case for the Cedar Grove Connector pipeline and project management of the South-East Queensland Water Grid Disinfection Options Study.

Following that, I spent six years with a small firm starting an engineering business, before returning to ArchTam to focus my career on technical excellence. I returned with an interest in pursuing technical roles and technical leadership of major water projects, which subsequently included Unitywater’s Wamuran Irrigation Scheme and working as a design manager for Sydney Water’s ProMac project. I am proud to have achieved these outcomes and to be supporting technical excellence in ANZ as technical practice leader for water infrastructure.

What was a career defining moment for you?

A career defining moment was early in the Toowoomba Pipeline Project. It became evident that the client and construction partners were deferring to my advice and leadership more so than the design manager who had been brought in from overseas. I realized that experience is not the only quality a professional engineer must have. I didn’t have more experience, but my clear communication style was confident, and the design team had my back.

What would you say is the best part of your job?

Earlier in my career, I got a kick out of seeing my designs constructed (and I still do!). But now, what motivates me are the opportunities where I get to mentor water infrastructure engineers to hone their skills and become technical experts, and to support project managers by nominating experienced professionals from Australia and New Zealand or globally to work in their projects.

What’s something you wish someone had told you years ago?

I wish I had understood a lot earlier the impact that humanity is having on our ecology and climate. I have only really discovered this truth in the last two years. My focus now is to plan for creating social value in projects at their inception for better outcomes – environmentally and socially.

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B?

I could just as easily have followed a project management career path within ArchTam, given my roles as project manager on major ArchTam contracts in Auckland and Brisbane.

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This time, we caught up with Asif Shafi, managing director for civil infrastructure in the Middle East and Africa, to discover how he chose the path he’s on today.   

Hi Asif. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I am currently managing our civil infrastructure business (transportation, water and environment) in the Middle East and Africa region. I am part of a team of very talented people who come up with clever ideas to build roads, railways, homes and airports.  

Tell us about your journey and how you got here. 

I began my career as a structural engineer designing towers, hotels, offices and shopping malls. I made a transition to the infrastructure industry when I joined Parsons and worked on the design of highway and railway bridges and tunnels.  

After a few years, I enrolled in an executive MBA program that introduced me to a completely new world of strategy, finance, marketing and general management. This was a pivotal moment in my career as I began to take on roles in project management, cost controls and proposal management. It eventually led me to a role in business development and strategy, which was a major leap for me because it meant I was stepping away from a technical and project management career path. I began to get involved with major pursuits and became responsible for driving the pricing strategy.  

I enjoyed collaborating with people from different geographies, business lines and even other companies for joint pursuits and relished the opportunity to interact with senior management and lead discussions on risk management. I was fortunate to be part of a winning team and enjoyed contributing to the rapid growth of the organization. We won several mega projects in the region and I was promoted to be the lead for business development. 

I had been with Parsons for 14 years when I got the opportunity to join ArchTam in a similar role in 2014. ArchTam had just completed its acquisition of URS and I was attracted by the scale of its ambition to lead the industry. At ArchTam, I was blown away by the sheer breadth of talent and expertise and the global footprint. I was now working with colleagues from Europe, Africa, Asia and North America in addition to the Middle East.  

The opportunity of a lifetime presented itself with the proposed transformation of Saudi Arabia. I was fortunate to work closely with our senior executives in crafting a strategy to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by Vision 2030. We quickly became the market leader in program management in Saudi Arabia. 

I was then chosen as the lead for the civil infrastructure business in the region with full responsibility for profit and loss. I have been humbled by the opportunity to lead a team of about 1,000 colleagues in the region. We have a great team and are working on some truly remarkable infrastructure programs. I am excited for what the future holds! 

What an incredible journey. What would you say is the best part of your job? 

I really enjoy coming to work because of the wonderful people I am surrounded by. The early morning banter about soccer results, the laughs we share and the concern we have for each other’s well-being make it all worthwhile. I love talking to people across our organization, particularly some of our younger employees who have so much energy and come up with new ideas. 

What advice do you have about people in ArchTam who want to chart their career path within the organization?   

The sky is the limit at ArchTam. You should have the ambition to rise to the top of the organization. You should be open to opportunities to move to different roles in the organization – to a new location, a different business line, a new type of service, a different career path. 

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B? 

I would have loved to be an actor. I am partially fulfilling this fantasy by creating videos using social media platforms!

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