The Women of APTIM – Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day
This June 23, 2021 marks International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), which celebrates the work and achievements of women engineers and allied professions around the world. Latest figures show that just under 13% of the engineering workforce is female and that women are hugely under-represented in their engineering professions.[1] International Women in Engineering Day plays a vital role in recognizing the achievements of women in engineering and allied professions and focuses on encouraging girls and young women in their pursuit of careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
APTIM is proud to be part of the movement to support women in engineering and inspire future generations of women engineers. This month, we take a moment to celebrate the women engineers at APTIM through a collection of interviews with women throughout the organization.
Tammy DeRamo
Tammy is the Director of Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Services for APTIM. Her primary work is environmental construction and remediation and provides solutions to APTIM’s utility clients’ coal combustion residual needs.
Q: How or why did you choose engineering?
A: I wanted to work outside and not in an office. I preferred math and science over other areas of study. Geological engineering combined a variety of science and math disciplines that I enjoyed and provided a real-world application.
Q: What inspires you about engineering?
A: I love that engineering provides solutions to challenges and questions. I’m a naturally inquisitive person and ask lots of questions! My background and training in engineering and science equipped me to take that information and develop a practical solution to answer other peoples’ questions.
Q: What has been one highlight or rewarding experience in your engineering career?
A: The rewarding part of being a geological engineer is knowing that I’m helping the environment. I love the outdoors and wanted a career where I could preserve the earth, give back, and work for a cause.
Q: Any advice to future engineers?
A: Say yes to everything! Work on as many different projects as you can. Get involved in all aspects of the project: design, technical writing, calculations, modelling, field work, etc. All of these things will help you narrow down your field of interest, set a strong foundation, and help you determine the direction of your career.
Sara Schmieg
Sara is APTIM’s Director of Business Development for Federal Environmental and Decommissioning. She works on developing strategies for Department of Energy (DOE) and nuclear decommissioning projects.
Q: How or why did you choose engineering?
A: I had a true passion for chemistry and environmental issues, which led me to a civil environmental engineering degree. The engineering field is a great fit for those that appreciate the applied sciences.
Q: What inspires you about engineering?
A: I love developing solutions to critical and challenging problems. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing something you worked on come to life.
Q: What has been one highlight or rewarding experience in your engineering career?
A: I presented a one-of-a kind probabilistic flood hazard assessment of the DOE Y-12 site to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board and was commended for my work. It was extremely challenging but very rewarding.
Q: Any advice to future engineers?
A: Be curious and resilient!
Jane Williams
Jane is a Project Engineer in APTIM’s Environmental Assessment and Remediation group.
Q: How or why did you choose engineering?
A: I like taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and designing solutions to solve problems.
Q: What inspires you about engineering?
A: I love coming up with and applying creative solutions to solve difficult problems.
Q: What has been one highlight or rewarding experience in your engineering career?
A: I was responsible for overseeing a remediation system at a client site that presented many challenges. I was able to overcome the challenges and learn from them so that I could apply that knowledge and experience to future projects. Sometimes you learn more from your failures than your successes. Every challenge is a chance to better yourself.
Q: Any advice to future engineers?
A: If something doesn’t work out the way you thought it would, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure or you’re not intelligent. You just may need more knowledge and experience to gain a greater understanding of the problem. With engineering, there isn’t always an obvious answer.
Terrelle Bryant
Terrelle is a Project Manager in APTIM’s Environmental Compliance group, primarily serving retail, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical sector clients.
Q: How or why did you choose engineering?
A: I really enjoyed math and science and wanted a career that would be stable, full of opportunity and challenging. I also had the desire to be part of the movement to get more females involved in industries that were historically predominantly male and to show my family that women can have careers to be proud of!
Q: What inspires you about engineering?
A: I am always inspired by the solutions and inventions that humans are able to create when they set their mind to solving problems.
Q: What has been one highlight or rewarding experience in your engineering career?
A: Training and mentoring new employees have been a passion of mine. Being able to share my experiences, knowledge, and expertise makes my time in the workforce feel “worth it”. It is amazing to watch a colleague develop their skills, gain confidence in their abilities, and begin to navigate their career path toward something they enjoy.
Q: Any advice to future engineers?
A: Do not let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dreams. Engineering is challenging, but fulfilling, and provides one with a solid sense of contribution to society. The opportunities are endless, and there is a lot of room to navigate, try new things, and continue to grow throughout your entire career.
Interested in learning more about APTIM and to join our team, check out the open opportunities on our Careers Page.
[1] The Women’s Engineering Society, 2021: https://www.wes.org.uk/news/announcing-our-theme-and-sponsors-international-women-engineering-day-inwed-23-june-2021
APTIM. In Pursuit of Better.