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.

The post Career Path Spotlight: Katie Scancarello appeared first on Blog.

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.

The post Career Path Spotlight: Amanda Foote appeared first on Blog.

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!

The post Career Path Spotlight: Kate Mignone appeared first on Blog.

Kate Mignone, Associate Vice President, Water Resources Market Sector Lead for New England in the U.S., has been with ArchTam for 19 years. Kate began her tunneling career as the modeling task lead for the South Hartford tunnel — a 21-foot-wide tunnel in Connecticut — where she was involved in all aspects of the tunnel design, from sizing of the tunnel to draft shaft structures and coordination with the civil and conveyance designers. From there, she went on to manage two other tunnel projects, including the design build for the Pawtucket tunnel — a 30-foot-wide combined sewer overflow tunnel in Rhode Island. Kate also focuses on strategic client growth opportunities.

Katie Scancarello, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Water, in U.S. East, has been with ArchTam for 14 years. As a geotechnical engineer in Rhode Island, Katie manages the evaluation of underground conditions to provide design recommendations for building and bridge foundations, dams, tunnels, slopes, underground utilities, and retaining walls. Most recently, she was the project geotechnical engineer on the Pawtucket tunnel design in Rhode Island where she assisted in field exploration activities, like lab sample selection and testing, as well as data analysis and preparing geotechnical design memos.

Amanda Foote, Project Engineer, Water, in U.S. West, and has been with ArchTam for 13 years. She works on various tunnel projects in Ohio and around the Midwest U.S. and has served as an engineer for the City of Akron Ohio Canal Interceptor tunnel project, project engineer for the Dugway South Relief and Consolidation Sewer project, the Doan Valley Relief and Consolidation Sewer project, and the Kingsbury Run Culvert Repair projects. Most recently, she was design engineer and deputy project manager for the City of Akron Northside Interceptor tunnel project.

The post Meet our Women in Tunneling appeared first on Blog.