Biographical Information
I was born and raised in a small town in Louisiana, and I still return to Louisiana every year to visit and go hunting and fishing with my family. I attended Louisiana State University for undergraduate studies and received my engineering degree from Louisiana Tech University. I worked in Louisiana before I moved to Los Angeles 12 years ago.
Why did you want to become a part of the building industry?
While in college, I discovered that I had an aptitude for mathematics and engineering. I found that I loved to use mathematics to find solutions to real-world problems, like investing, planning, and predicting. My father had been an electrical contractor, and both of my older brothers worked in the electrical construction industry. I admired them, and it was a natural step for me to follow them into the building industry.
What excites you creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
I like to travel. I find that traveling to developing countries makes me feel fortunate and thankful for the life I have. I believe that the adage “Spending money on travel can make you richer” can be true.
What do you feel are some of your most important achievements?
Starting my own practice was challenging, but it is one of my most important achievements.
What do you think/hope your occupation will look like in 10 years?
I think engineers will still be doing the same basic things ten years from now, except they will be using advanced software and technology.
What is the importance of AWA+D in your life?
I am excited to be part of an organization that promotes women in the industry. I hope to establish more working relationships with women in architecture.
What are your strategies to cope with the uncertainty and difficult news in our current time?
When something concerns me, I use Google Scholar to find unbiased scientific studies on the subject. I’ve spent hours researching and calculating things such as:
How long do you have to be in the same room with someone with Covid-19 to acquire Covid-19 if you stay 6’ away?
Does briefly walking past someone with Covid-19 put you at higher risk?
Am I more likely to acquire Covid-19 from a housemate or from shopping?
What is the lifetime chance of dying from influenza versus the lifetime chance of dying from Covid-19?
I also downloaded the Robinhood app that lets me track individual stocks. I look for the links between inflammatory news stories and individual stock prices. This helps me understand the motives behind some of the inflammatory new stories. Using data from research studies and mathematics has been very effective at reducing my anxiety.