Q&A
Dec 16, 2024
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Transportation infrastructure is the backbone of society, enabling efficient movement of people and goods, fostering economic growth, and enhancing quality of life by connecting communities and supporting sustainable development.
Whether by air, sea or land, we create equitable, sustainable solutions for smart, integrated transportation infrastructure that connects people and communities around the world and stimulates economic development. From aviation, rail & transit, highways & bridges, to ports & maritime, we keep future generations moving forward.
In this Q&A, we connect with Galina Leiphart, our new market growth director for transportation in the U.S. West Central geography, to talk about the trends, technologies and solutions driving a more connected, sustainable transportation future.
Tell us a bit about your role and what a day in the life as our new Transportation Market Growth Director for the U.S. West Central is like.
In this role I focus on developing and executing a transportation market growth and diversification strategy across the ten states of the West Central geography: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. This requires strong collaboration with our operations teammates to identify and win new projects as well as developing relationships with our clients to identify trends and new opportunities. I see this role as an opportunity to help develop our path for the future, making sure that Jacobs is on the leading edge of serving our clients. Equally as important, this role is a connector across geographies and markets to fully leverage all that Jacobs has to offer.
What are the biggest transportation challenges in the U.S. West Central geography?
There are several:
- Aging infrastructure & investment – Our roads, bridges, railways, terminals and ports are all deteriorating. There’s a focus on maintenance & asset management, and rehabilitation & renovation to extend the current life of infrastructure as inflation and construction cost escalation impacts the scope of projects. Increased investment, innovative repair technologies and project prioritization are needed as infrastructure continues to age.
- Workforce shortages – A significant portion of experienced transportation engineers are nearing retirement, creating a need for new talent. There is increased investment in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education and apprenticeships to encourage young professionals to enter the transportation market. Shortages of skilled workers causes delays, increases costs and hampers industry growth.
- Traffic congestion – Growing populations are straining existing systems, leading to increased congestion and increase demand for efficient transportation. Alternative modes of transportation and traffic management technologies are being considered but also financially strain transportation providers and increases consumer costs.
Several states in your geography ranked in the top ten for best transportation infrastructure, but there are always opportunities to grow and improve. Where do you see the industry heading from here?
The transportation industry will continue to innovate as the need to do more with less continues to grow. Technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations will shape where the industry is headed, including:
- Ease of transitions between different modes of transportation (e.g., rail to road to air).
- Accessibility for all, including underserved and rural populations.
- Increasing use of autonomous technologies to improve efficiency and lower costs.
- Investments in high-speed rail, autonomous buses and modernized transit systems to reduce congestion and emissions.
- Digital twins and virtual simulations of transportation systems to improve planning, operations and asset management.
Is there a project in Jacobs’ portfolio that impresses you?
It’s not just one project that I’m impressed with, but the full scope of the entire portfolio. From redevelopment of the National Western Center in my hometown of Denver, Colorado, to a reconfigured interchange in Ireland, a water management plan in Greater Manchester and restoring habitats to mitigate flood risk and respond to climate change – it’s all impressive!
What excited you most about joining #OurJacobs team?
Our people and our projects.
The tenure and expertise of our engineers, architects, planners and subject matter experts is so impressive and having all of that knowledge in one-stop with Jacobs demonstrates the strength we bring to our clients. The opportunity to work with a vast array of people with different backgrounds and expertise excites me. It provides us the opportunity to think differently and outside the normal confines to continue innovating for our clients.
The size of projects and locations across the U.S. and around the world is remarkable. Whether large or small, each project has a story of how it supports the community.
About the interviewee
Galina Leiphart has joined Jacobs as the new Market Growth Director for Transportation in the U.S. West Central.
Galina is a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry with a focus on leadership, fostering strategic growth, cross-sector expansion and project delivery. Some of her key accomplishments include managing large multidiscipline projects as a successful seller/doer, office leadership and growth and significant experience in driving capture planning and market strategies. She has served in numerous community and Industry leadership roles and is currently a Board Member for Destination Imagination Colorado, a non-profit that encourages youth (ages five to 21) across the State of Colorado to participate in STEAM problem-solving challenges. Finally, Galina is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, small business growth and mentoring future leaders in the transportation industry.
Galina holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and a master’s from University of Colorado – Denver, both with an emphasis in structures and transportation. She is a professional engineer registered in Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Outside of work, Galina likes to bake, go to the beach, play golf, go to Denver Broncos football games and spend time with her family.