This year marks an extraordinary milestone—WSB’s 30th anniversary! On October 3, we celebrate three decades of innovation, growth, and the incredible spirit that defines our team. Since 1995, our journey has been shaped by bold ideas, transformative projects, and, above all, the people whose passion fuels our success.
To honor this landmark year, we’re shining a spotlight on 30 remarkable stories. These stories celebrate the dedication and talent of our staff whose efforts have built WSB’s legacy. Join us as we look back, share memories, and toast to the next 30 years of excellence.
Story 19 out of 30
Project Manager
Minneapolis, MN
What is your first memory of WSB?
I interviewed via video call with the water resources group when I was living in Pennsylvania, pre-pandemic, before video interviews were so common. I remember nervously setting up my interview corner (thankfully I didn’t know until a lot later that my face was projected on a big screen in a conference room!), wondering if this job and company could be a good fit. I was impressed by the variety of work that the group did and grateful they were willing to take a chance on me and see the value in a few years of non-standard experience I had after college (including AmeriCorps and working overseas).
What project(s) are you most proud to have worked on?
I had the huge privilege of developing and running the Opportunity+ Training Program for almost 5 years. I got to take Bret’s vision to create new pathways into our industry and bring it to life. I developed relationships with non-profits that work with job seekers, cities/counties/companies that had similar hiring needs as us, and experts within WSB. Together, we built a program that broke down the barriers for people to enter our industry, provided hands on training, and connected graduates to careers at WSB and with hiring partners. I loved connecting with participants and the program itself was a lot of fun! It was immensely meaningful both personally and professionally.
What do you think WSB does really well that more people should know about?
We tackle problems that directly affect people’s lives by tapping into the combined passion and expertise of our staff. We design terrific intersections and flood mitigations measures for example, because we have people that geek out about roundabouts and hydraulic modeling respectively. Because we’re excited about the work we do and the impact it has, we do it really well!
Even if you are new to WSB, can you share a moment that made you feel like “I belong here”?
When I applied to be a water resources engineer at WSB, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to use my degree and be an engineer or do something else entirely. A couple years later, when I was chosen to lead what became the Opportunity+ Training Program, I got to combine numerous areas that I was passionate about – engineering, teaching/training, and pursuing justice – without ever leaving WSB! That – combined with the amazing people I get to work with every day – are what solidified that WSB is the place for me.
