Together We Engineer: Celebrating Women in Civil Engineering at Legacy Engineering

Together We Engineer: Legacy Engineering Celebrates Women in Civil Engineering

Today, June 23, we proudly celebrate International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). This year's theme, "Together We Engineer," perfectly captures the spirit and contributions of women in our field. As a woman-owned, civil engineering firm in Virginia, Legacy Engineering is built on the strength of diverse perspectives and the power of teamwork.

Legacy Engineering President Sara Fila, PE, MRED, shared her vision for the firm:  “Since day one, Legacy's mission has been to build a space where men and women launch incredible careers, families are supported, and young professionals grow into leaders. When we engineer together with understanding, our firm - and the industry - moves forward."

To celebrate, we asked some of the talented women across our engineering and design teams to share their insights on mentorship, growth and collaboration. Their responses highlight the supportive and dynamic environment we foster every day.

Learning and Growth: The Power of Experienced Colleagues

Our engineers emphasized how invaluable guidance from seasoned professionals is to their development. Jessica Jones, E.I.T., project engineer, said, "Seeing the way my more experienced colleagues handle design challenges is incredibly important for growth, but seeing how they handle clients and communication within the company is even more important for understanding the full process of how an engineering firm works."

Similarly, Jewelie Gustafson, E.I.T., project engineer, noted how guidance has "positively influenced my professional growth," leading her to learn "a lot about the profession, design practices and the welcoming work environment Legacy provides." Camille Gotera, project engineer, echoed this, finding that "learning through doing has been the easiest way to learn, and being able to work alongside others has made that learning process much more efficient."

For Caroline Dayton, site landscape designer, the transition into civil engineering was significantly aided by colleagues who "gave me the tools and encouragement to be able to successfully transition in learning an entirely new aspect of the AEC industry." This collective knowledge also empowers individuals like Sarah Dare, project engineer, who said that guidance "has allowed me to grow in my own knowledge and given me the confidence to see myself in a more leadership position in the future." Jennifer Hurt, environmental manager, also highlighted this, noting how " While learning Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater, in a situation where there wasn't a lot of time, Jessica Jones helped me under time constraints and at all hours of the day to make sure we got the work completed, that I understood what I was doing and always had a wonderful attitude."

Impactful Advice and Embracing the Journey

Mentorship at Legacy Engineering extends beyond technical skills, offering profound insights for career navigation. Jones's most impactful advice: "Never be afraid to ask questions and reach out to those who may be more knowledgeable. My coworkers are resources to be used!" Gustafson learned to "be open to critiques in order to learn and produce stronger plans in the future."

Gotera gained a crucial perspective: "Civil engineering is a life-long learning process, so it's okay to not know everything." This sentiment is complemented by the advice Leah Mertz, E.I.T., project engineer, received: "always give something your all, and that is all you can do. If everyone is able to ask for help, communicate, and do their best, the team will be most successful." Meanwhile, Dayton highlights the emphasis on quality, recalling her supervisor instilled the importance of "producing quality, inspired design... work that we are proud of."

Dare's insight points to proactive growth: "It’s important to speak up about what areas you are looking to expand your knowledge in and the key to feeling confident in future growth is exposure to those things." Hurt also praised a senior leader, stating, "Bruce Reese has been a wonderful teacher in learning all things Legacy since coming on board. He always makes me feel like part of his family when we have these discussions." This commitment to continuous learning, fostered by supportive leadership, truly defines professional growth at Legacy.

Unwavering Support and A Sense of Community

The "Together We Engineer" theme is deeply rooted in the daily support and camaraderie experienced at Legacy. Gustafson felt supported as a new employee "when I had to take time off to move. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders knowing I had the support of my team and Legacy to handle projects in my absence."

Gotera described stressful times where "it's a collective effort to reach a goal. We all take up tasks and help each other if someone is having a hard time with the workload." Mertz feels true support in "day-to-day conversations," appreciating the "true friendships" that make the company "feel like a community." She also noted the inspiration from "Working alongside other female engineers and specifically having Sara work so closely with our teams."

Jones experienced this firsthand during a challenging project, where "people from different departments offer guidance... It was great to have those opportunities to work with my coworkers in a manner different from our standard interactions." This culture of mutual encouragement extends to professional milestones, with Dayton expressing gratitude for "encouragement from colleagues, supervisors, and company leadership as I embark on taking my Architect licensure exams," and Dare highlighting Legacy's support in her pursuit of a professional license. Hurt added, "In my first year, I experienced several people specifically Jessica Jones, Kaley Lampman and Meredith Stroud that have helped to support my goals and missions. I couldn't do it without them."

Collaborating to Overcome Challenges

Effective communication is the cornerstone of collaborative problem-solving at Legacy Engineering. Jones said she loves to "use the knowledge available through my coworkers," reaching out to those "more familiar with some aspects of plans or with the requirements in different localities." Gustafson relies on "Microsoft Teams chats and calls to overcome project challenges."

Gotera affirmed, "if we have a big issue on a project, we will all get in a call and discuss with each other." Mertz emphasized being "extremely open when it comes to a project status," enabling the team to "support and help team members when needed, and they are always willing to help when the roles are reversed." She specifically praised Gotera as "the definition of an amazing teammate through recent challenging projects." Dare echoed the importance of open communication, especially with remote work, noting her confidence in "reaching out to a fellow team member or colleague to talk through the issue" when unsure. Hurt elaborated on her process: "First step for me is understanding the challenge and then trying to come up with solutions. I talk with others and get their ideas and research. Usually time is of the essence so I try to be thorough yet work to come up with a solution in the time allowed."

Engineering a Future, Together

At Legacy Engineering, "Together We Engineer" is more than just a theme for a day; it's the foundation of our success. We are immensely proud of the intelligent, dedicated and collaborative women who are shaping the built environment and inspiring the next generation of engineers. Their stories underscore our commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive and growth-oriented environment where every talent contributes to our collective achievements.

Join us in celebrating all women in engineering, not just today, but every day, as we continue to engineer a better future, together.