SNAPSHOTS
REFLECTIONS OF DCI'S WOMEN IN ENGINEERING
In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day, we’re getting a snapshot of what this journey means for some of our female coll eagues.
From childhood interests and inspirational role models to better understanding why it's so important women are in this field, DCI’s Women in Engineering show us that sometimes the best way forward is by taking a look back.
Here’s to all the Women in Engineering — now and in the future!
DANIELLE JACOBS
Seattle | Everett, WA
My dad was a High School math and science teacher and my mom, a brilliant nurse who graduated from UW—when I was one!—advocated for women getting in any career they wanted, not just the teacher or nurse options she had.
My dad ran his own construction company during the summer, so I was exposed to that world a bit as well.
Danielle Jacobs
Danielle Jacobs Future Engineer
Annicka Caprariello Structural Intern
Annicka Caprariello Future Engineer
ANNICKA CAPRARIELLO
Los Angeles, WA
My mother is the sweetest and kindest person I know. She has an incredible ability to make friends wherever she goes, whether she's in an elevator or standing in line at a store, she someho w ends up knowing a person’s whole life story. I've always admire d her natural talent for communication and deep understanding of people. Engineering is often thought of as a technical field, bu t in reality, it requires A LOT of communication. We don’t just desi gn solutions for clients; we create for society as a whole. To be effective, it’s essential to connect with people from all backgrounds, and understand their needs.
My mother isn’t an engineer, yet she carries a quiet confidence and a genuine interest in those around her. These qualities are crucial in any profession. Women, in particular, often possess an intuitive ability to empathize, communicate, and navigate complex situations with emotional intelligence. In engineering, where problem-solving requires clarity, collaboration, and level-headed decision-making, these strengths can make a tremendous impact. This is why we need more women in engineering. Women bring diverse perspectives, foster better communication, and ensure that the solutions we create truly serve and reflect the world around us.
EMILY BRANDRIFF
Hamilton, MT
I was inspired to get into this field by my Dad. When I was a kid, my dad prioritized traveling the west with the family. I was particularly taken with the mountains & would often recreate homes & buildings I saw with my own Lincoln Logs set at home. When I got a little older, this graduated to putting together elaborate homes on the old Sims computer game. It was about the same time period that my Dad told me I should look into civil engineering – that I could actually bring some of these structures to life through a career. By the time freshman year of high school rolled around, I knew with confidence I wanted to study structural engineering, where I wanted to go, and I simply asked my school counselor what I needed to do to get there. The rest is history!
Emily BrandriffProject Engineer
Emily Brandriff Future Engineer
ABBY HAHN
Seattle, WA
Abby Hahn Future Engineer
Abby Hahn Project Engineer
The advice I would give to my younger self is this: Believe in your abilities, even when others doubt you or when you doubt yourself. Speak up, ask questions, and don’t shy away from taking up space, even if you’re the only woman in the room. Finally, don’t feel like you must hide your femininity to fit in- it’s a strength, not a weakness.
Juleen Rogness Senior
Project Manager
JULEEN ROGNESS
Anchorage, AK
I was inspired to be an engineer by my sister. She went into civil engineering and would send me home steel bridge and ASCE magazines from college when I was in high school. She also was able to manage raising a family and working as an engineer and inspired me to do the same. She is a rock star!
Juleen Rogness Future Engineer
Juli Shalkowski Senior BIM Project Manager
JULI SHALKOWSKI
Wayne, PA
As a woman in this field, I’ve learned that representation truly matters—our ideas, perspectives, and voices bring something powerful to the table.
Juli Shalkowski Future BIM Designer
ABI FLYNN
Bozeman, MT
WHY DO WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING?
Because the more the merrier! We all benefit from a diverse group of mindsets and experience
Abi Flynn Senior Project Engineer
Abi Flynn Future Engineer
SANDRA BIDDULPH
San Francisco, CA
When more women are visible in engineering, it helps the next generation see what’s possible. I didn’t come from a family of engineers, but my parents nurtured my curiosity and problem-solving mindset. Their belief in me—and my belief in myself —helped me break stereotypes and build a path in STEM.
Sandra BiddulphPrincipal
Sandra Biddulph Future Engineer
Elyce Pimentel
ELYCE PIMENTEL
New York, NY
Elyce Pimentel Future Engineer
What I’d tell my younger self is that you stepped into a field where women are still underrepresented and you carved out a space for yourself. That took courage and a whole lot of late nights solving tough problems. You learned to speak up, even if you were the only woman in the room, and to push through challenges. That’s something to be proud of.
Stella Bates
Senior Project Engineer
Future Engineer
STELLA BATES
San Francisco, CA
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been curious about building s—and I credit about 95% of that curiosity to my dad. He started his career as a framer with only a high school diploma and, over the years, worked his way up to Superintendent, running job sites for multi-million-dollar homes in some of the most affluent parts of California.
From a very young age, I was brought to job sites—just like in the photo—and got to witness firsthand how buildings were put together. I grew up hearing stories from the field and helping my dad with his endless “projects” ar ound our house. I met people from all over the world who worked alongside him, li stened to them talk shop, and laugh over projects gone sideways. Even on famil y vacations, we skipped most tourist stops. Instead, we visited historical buil dings or places of architectural significance. The first thing my dad always did? Lo ok up at the ceiling and say, “Woah, look at that—how did they do that?”
That sense of wonder and love for building was passed directly from him to me— and it’s the biggest reason I became a structural engineer. Tod ay, he owns a small business doing residential renovations and additions. Eve ry now and then, he calls me up to ask me to explain how some structural detail works, which always feels like a full-circle moment.
As for the other 5% of my curiosity? I think it’s in my genes. My great-grandfather, Richard Engfer, owned and operated Engfer Ir on Works in San Jose, CA, from the mid-1930s through the late 1960s. He helped build much of historic downtown San Jose—where I grew up—as well as many othe r Bay Area landmarks that still stand today.
Nancy Atkins BIM Manager - Structural
NANCY ATKINS
San Diego, CA
Nancy Atkins Future BIM Manager
I have always been interested in imagining how my surroundings could be better. Later in life, when I joined the Navy (Seabees), I was immersed in the world of construction and surrounded by engineers and a few architects who were my officers. My interest grew and I have been here for the past 19 years. So, I give you a picture not of a child, but of me in my first year in the Navy (age 26), which shaped my future for the better.
Katie Bayles
KATIE BAYLES
Denver, CO
My mom was the biggest influence on my path into this field. She grew up being told outright that girls couldn’t do math or science, so she made sure to encourage my love for both from an early age.
Katie Bayles Future Engineer
Growing up in a small town in Wyoming, I didn’t see much impressive architecture day-to-day, but whenever we traveled to visit family in Cleveland, I was mesmerized by the art deco buildings. I fell in love with ‘cool buildings’ and knew I wanted to somehow be part of creating them. I never thought I was creative enough to be an architect, but becoming a structural engineer felt like the perfect fit — it let me combine my passion for math and science with my fascination for beautiful, inspiring buildings.
NOOSHIN GHORBANIAMIRABAD
Wayne, PA
Nooshin Ghorbaniamirabad
Structural Project Designer
Nooshin GhorbaniamirabadFuture Project Designer
For my childhood photo, I'm not sure if I was already thinking about beam deflection… or just practicing the thumb rule!
As for who inspired me? My heroes — my brothers: Amir, Ehsan, a nd Arash. They taught me that life is like a structure: you write the cod e, design the frame, and build it your way!
Fox Associate Principal
Samantha Fox Future Engineer
SAMANTHA FOX
Bozeman,
MT
When I was young, my mom made sure math got as much attention at home as reading did. She gave me the tools and confidence to succeed when math started to get ‘real’ in elementary and middle school. Around that time, I had a few memorable math teachers who celebrated my hard work and helped me see myself as someone who was good at math.
Both of my parents had science backgrounds, so science fair projects were a big deal in our house too. My dad and I would spend hours creating elaborate experiments, and a middle school science teacher encouraged me to take them further and enter in to bigger fairs. That simple recognition helped me see myself as someone who was good at science. If I think back to all my most influential mentors in middle and high school, other than my spo rt coaches, they were all math and science teachers.
Now, as a mom to two girls, I think a lot about how those early experiences shaped me. My hope is to give my kids the same exposure and encouragement, so they have the confidence to see themselves as capable in math and science. Because sometimes, all it takes is one teacher, one parent, or one champion to set someone on their path.
Samantha
Erika LeightyWilmington, DE
ERIKA LEIGHTY | ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
I’ve been working in the construction industry for over 10 year s now and have had the privilege of working alongside some truly amazing women. I’ m so inspired by my colleagues here at DCI, watching them take up space and brin g their unique voices and perspectives to every situation and challenge. It ma kes me feel empowered to be bold, to speak up, and use my own voice.
SHARON SPILLMAN | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
As you can imagine, based on the age of my picture, my generati on had limited opportunities for women in male dominated industries. I enjoy working with smart, interesting, talented women who excel in th eir field and are equally, if not more, qualified than some. It is a joy a nd privilege for me to meet and work with you all and see how far women can outshine and succeed in anything they choose.
Suzanne Clemmer Los Angeles , CA
Sharon
Seattle, WA
SUZANNE CLEMMER | ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
I grew up as an Architecture enthusiast. However, I realized ye ars ago that Engineers were the true magicians, providing the framework for all of the amazing buildings and structures that I loved. Over the past 20 years there have been many changes and developments in the AEC industry. But one of the greatest advan ces is the significant increase in the number of women who pursue Engineering and othe r STEM careers. Just hearing from more diverse voices and perspectives improves our industry and makes us all better. It brings me joy to go to the Career Fairs now and meet so many female students who are passionate about becoming Engineers. Looking a t all of the amazingly talented women (and men) at DCI, I truly have so much hope for the future of our industry!
Spillman
Jessica CongdonSeattle, WA
JESSICA CONGDON | SENIOR MARKETING SPECIALIST
I really enjoy the diversity of backgrounds my colleagues bring to the team. Learning about their interests, experiences, and what inspires them is b oth enriching and motivating. Everyone is incredibly talented, and I find myself l earning something new from them every day. I especially admire how open they are to s haring knowledge— whether it’s a unique technical insight, design tips, or a new perspective on a challenge. That kind of generosity and collaborative approach makes our wo rk stronger and has helped me grow both personally and professionally.
BAILEE PETERSEN | OFFICE MANAGER
My sister, a civil engineer, was the first woman to graduate fro m Whitworth University's engineering program, and she’s been a constant sou rce of inspiration for me. Her journey showed me how much space still needs to be made for women in STEM, and how powerful it is when someone lea ds the way. As a non-technical staff member, I’ve found that working alongsi de women in engineering has helped me recognize the value of my own voice a contributions. My colleagues model how to use our strengths to support one another and create lasting impact. Their leadership continues t o shape my path by teaching me tenacity, bravery, and how to advocate for mysel f and others.
Erin SpauldingSeattle, WA
SPAULDING | ASSOCIATE | COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
There’s power in diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Take it from a right-brained thinker. My own work is better and more dynamic because of the left-brained people I collaborate with every single day. Let’s continue broadening wh o we work with and showing there’s always a seat at this table!
Bailee PetersenSpokane, WA