“ My work on software development is a little like doing a puzzle: there’s a problem, you play around with it, and you solve it. I like putting together something that other people can appreciate and use.”
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Lisa Nikodym Senior Associate, Thornton Tomasetti – Structural Analyst/Software Development and Testing Worked as a structural engineer at a small firm for nine years before joining Weidlinger Applied Science in 1995. • Job description in 22 words: “I do computer simulations of things crashing or exploding and help produce software that helps other people simulate things crashing or exploding.” • Has traveled to more than 35 countries; highlights include Jordan, Tanzania (an incredible wildlife safari), Russia, Patagonia, Norway and Malaysia. • Has always wanted to work in the AEC industry: “When my parents gave me Barbie dolls, I would build houses and road networks for them.”
Vincent Nasri Engineer, Thornton Tomasetti – Petrochemical Engineering The opportunity to combine creativity and practicality drew Vincent to engineering. • He is Armenian-American, born and raised in Brooklyn.• Credits his upbringing in a diverse city with making him better at teamwork. • Lives in Austin, Texas, where he earned a master’s degree in structural engineering. • Passionate about hiking in state and national parks; his favorite is Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. • Why he loves his job? “I work on keeping people safe.”
Ming Xie Senior Project Engineer, Thornton Tomasetti – Graphical User Interface (GUI) Designer Grew up in Beijing, China, and returns often to visit family and friends. • Attended South China University of Technology in Guangzhou – where the engineering curriculum included computer programming – for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. • Earned a Ph.D. in structural engineering from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. • Lives and works in Cupertino, California. • A serious amateur photographer, he loves shooting sunny beaches and wide-open spaces. • Enjoys the creative aspects of GUI design. • A basketball player in school, he now never misses a Warriors game.
– Lisa Nikodym
Thornton Tomasetti 2016/2017 Annual Report
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