2 Bright Jacobs Minds Recognized for Positively Influencing the Future

The world needs innovators and problem solvers who turn challenges into greater opportunities. What if we showed you how our 2019 ASCE New Faces of Civil Engineering leaders, Andrea DuMont and Monica Morales are transforming intangible ideas into intelligent solutions?

At Jacobs, we think differently about the future. We start with “what if” to surface new possibilities and harness deep technical expertise to bring bold solutions to fruition. This Engineers Week, we asked Andrea DuMont and Monica Morales – two bright Jacobs leaders, both named 2019 New Faces of Civil Engineering by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – to share their own stories of how asking “what if” inspired them to make an enduring, positive difference in the world.

Changing the world and enjoying it

More than an eighth of the 7.6 billion (and counting) people living on the planet have at least one thing in common – they all use Instagram. And, of the 1 billion registered users, more than 70 percent of them report buying something they saw on their feeds. But what if it’s not a product to be sold, rather a movement?

Jacobs Project Manager and Water Engineer Andrea DuMont is on a journey to find out.

Like her Millennial peers that make up 60 percent of Instagram’s users, Andrea had an active account, using it to post pictures of her family and friends, her cat and her scrumptious meals. Sometimes, she shared posts about her water resources job at Jacobs, specializing in large hydraulics with dams and groundwater supply systems.

After tons of food pictures and a few too many of her cat (maybe), she noticed something – people actually liked her engineering posts, even more than her cat posts.

And she started thinking what if...what if she could make this a thing and truly inspire people, if she could connect to the world and alter the landscape of traditional engineering by sharing her awesome projects, if she could introduce girls to engineering in the way that she was, through empowerment, role models and activism?

Today, the ASCE New Face of Civil Engineering standout is inspiring the next generation of engineers using her blog – The Watermark – that’s earned an impressive 7,000+ subscribers, an active Instagram following of close to 9,000 and an engaging YouTube channel.

And she’s using the impactful work she’s tackling – such as the new Arbuckle Reservoir, which is increasing the region’s water supply and will be capable of storing 40,000 acre-feet of water at a time – to, she says, “change the world and enjoy doing it.”

Follow Andrea’s journey as a New Face of Civil Engineering on ASCE. And don’t miss her secret to success in this piece.

Driving culture change through programs and initiatives

Inclusion and diversity are crucial for the success of any organization to thrive and grow. Thoughtful and deliberate discussion and action to cultivate an inclusive environment is fundamental in creating a workplace that works for everyone.

Jacobs Water Engineer Monica Morales is doing her part in putting inclusion and diversity into action by building strong connections through employee networks and hosting STEM outreach events to facilitate the business becoming the new standard in advancing workplace equality.

As a high school senior, Monica was excited to be heading to college. She grew up in Reno, Nevada, where her parents worked at casinos. The soon to be first-generation college student loved science and math and has a passion for helping people, but had not decided what to study.

Then opportunity knocked. A civil engineer sat down at the casino table where Monica’s mom was dealing blackjack, and after chatting about his work, Monica’s mom started thinking this would be the perfect career for her daughter. Since learning about her mom’s interaction, Monica went on to study civil engineering, becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Monica then started to think what if…what if she could inspire others of all backgrounds and introduce them to engineering through STEM outreach events, if she could connect to kids and students by sharing what she loves to do?

She joined ASCE’s Los Angeles Younger Member Forum, setting up two hands-on STEM activities for kids attending the IMAX Dream Big film screenings. That turned into a Dream Big event for Angeles Mesa Elementary – a completely free field trip including sponsored buses, IMAX movie, plus museum exhibit visits including the Endeavor Shuttle for more than 400 students. Since then, Monica has been able to share the Dream Big film with thousands of students, and was able to organize a red carpet event for 100 DIY Girls at Los Angeles Metro Headquarters to watch the film in its board room and hear from a panel of women in STEM.

Through Jacobs’ Enlace Network, Women’s Network and Careers Network, she continues to help organize STEM outreach events for coworkers to connect and network, including students in the Greater Los Angeles Area to help support them in pursuing their dreams.

The 2019 New Face of Civil Engineer awardee is also now the LA YMF’s Engineers Week Chair and Secretary.

Follow Monica’s journey as a New Face of Civil Engineering on ASCE.

Today’s challenges of urbanization, resource scarcity, climate change, digital proliferation and security demand innovative approaches to connect more people and places with the means to live better and work smarter. Curious? Jacobs is hiring! Click here to view available career opportunities and join us in delivering the promise of a more connected, sustainable world.