About Me
Alma Mater: University of Missouri, Kansas City – Bachelor of Health Science, University of Kansas – Master, Urban Planning with an Emphasis in Transportation Planning
Hobbies: When I’m not working, I love to ride my bike, play pickleball, and play fetch with my newly adopted puppy! I grew up riding my bike all around town and even studied abroad in Amsterdam, known for their superb biking infrastructure.
Career Q&A
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I chose to pursue a career as an Urban Planner because…
I’ve always believed in finding solutions that get at the core of a problem. My whole life I planned on going into the medical field. During my junior year of college, I took an urban health class and first learning about urban planning. It was apparent that the way we set cities up and plan our communities directly predict an individuals’ health outcomes. If we can plan cities better, we can directly improve not just a community members’ physical health, but their social, emotional, and even spiritual health as well. This realization is why I made the change to study urban planning.
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The thing I love most about my job is…
Without a doubt, I love the varied task of my day-to-day. I often have the opportunity to balance multiple projects at a time and it takes the monotony out of corporate life.
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My favorite thing about TranSystems is…
That people really do feel like they come first. Even though we are now over 5,000 strong, my team and division really make work feel personable. During my interview, I met with four members of the team, and they dedicated an hour to chat with me. While we did a few interview style questions, it was really just a conversation. We laughed, we got deep, and we shared about our personal interests. When I came in for my first day, half of it was spent going around and getting introduced to each person in the office. When I went back to school, we worked out a schedule that allowed to be attend classes and work full time. This is why TranSystems stood out to me – we may be this big company, but we prioritize the people side of the business.
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Since joining TranSystems…
TranSystems is my first corporate job and the first job after my graduating with my master’s. School gives you theories, but my job has given me the ability to put these into practice. I have only been with the company for a little over two years now, but I have seen a huge growth in my skills since starting. I feel more confident and capable taking the lead on projects, anticipating problems and identifying solutions, engaging with clients, and trusting my gut and knowing the right kinds of questions to ask.
My Day
7 – 9 AM – Begin the Day
I like to start working between 7:30 – 8 AM. I will open Teams, Outlook, and my Stickies Apps right away. I am very task oriented, so I like to track my tasks for each project that day, or ongoing tasks for the week. I’ve recently swapped to using the Stickies App on my computer rather than handwriting them down, but I’m still trialing this method to see how it goes. Once I identify rollover tasks from the previous day, I check emails and messages to see if I have anything to add. I then prioritize tasks based on importance and deadlines to plan out my day.
9 AM – 12 PM – Work on Current Projects
The biggest projects I am working on at the moment is the Metroplex Freight Study for TxDOT and an ongoing program management project for TxDOT’s Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Program (Section 130).
Both of these projects require regularly internal meetings to identify tasks and progress. The Section 130 project also has regular meetings with TxDOT’s Railroad Division (RRD) and TxDOT District Railroad Coordinators. These meetings allow us to get the current status of the 350 crossing improvements we help manage. It’s also a great opportunity to meet and connect with the client.
12 – 12:30 PM – Lunch Break
12:30 – 2 PM – Check in with Texas Offices
I work with our Texas Offices quite a bit. Blanca Obregon, in Houston, leads the Section 130 project. So, I’ve been exposed to the rail team quite a bit. Blanca is a grant example of putting the client first and troubleshooting issues.
Gary Law, out of Fort Worth, leads the Metroplex Freight Study project and I was able to meet most of the Fort Worth office last week. They were incredibly welcoming! I also work with our Grants Team a lot, as one of my many roles is writing grants.
Lisa Koch leads that team and has done an excellent job building up our program from the ground up. Huge shoutout to Will Burke and Cullen Gress who conduct all the Benefit Cost Analyses for grants – this team is an absolute powerhouse
2 – 3 PM – Check in with Mentors
I also have a regular weekly team meeting led by Deanne Winkelmann. She always finds way to make these engaging through fun activities!
3 – 5 PM – Continue Working on Daily Tasks
My tasks change frequently, but I prepare obligation packets for our Section 130 projects routinely. I create a cover letter, gather the signed plans or statement of work memo, cost estimates, and applicable additional forms into one packet. This packet is then sent off to the TxDOT’s RRD, then the FHWA to approve and fund the project. I’ve been working hard to automate this process and it’s come a long way, but I am identifying other tools to help make this even more efficient.
Other regular tasks include outlining and writing sections for grants or creating public engagement meeting materials
5 PM – Sign off
