Board Member Spotlight July/August 2022

As part of our new Board Member Appreciation Program, we are showcasing a board member in our monthly Board Member Spotlight. Our board member spotlight recognizes board members of outstanding contributions to the profession and our local communities. For any questions regarding the program please contact the Past President PastPresident@ymf-oc.org.

For the July/August Spotlight, we would like to introduce...

NATALIE JENSEN, PE

We asked her to state her name, company, and position(s) in ASCE:      

We also asked her a few questions about the following:

PERSONAL LIFE

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Chino Hills, CA.

What made you want to become an engineer?

I have a very typical civil engineer story where I thought I initially wanted to be an architect and then realized that I liked math.

Favorite hobbies, sports, and interests outside of engineering?

I love staying active and being outdoors. Running, hiking, skiing, and walking my dog are some of my favorite outdoor activities. I also teach yoga part-time and love group fitness.

Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me...

... sipping a latte and chilling on my balcony with my dog.

What college(s) did you attend? Can you list your degrees, any honors, and involvement in engineering organizations during school?

I went to UC Irvine and graduated cum laude with a major in civil engineering and minor in management. I was involved in the National Society of Leadership and Success and Engineers Without Borders. I also was captain of the UCI Cheer Team, ZOT ZOT!

WORK & PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Describe your responsibilities and some significant projects.

I consult and collaborates with clients to determine the project’s critical path. I produce the design of highway ramp improvements, freeway widenings and interchanges. I coordinate the development of plan sets, reports and submittals. I manage young engineers and serve on the National Committee of Developing Professionals Network. My main projects right now are the LA Metro I-405 ExpressLanes PAED and RCTC I-15 SB ELP CARM.

What project are you currently working on and what have you accomplished/what are your tasks?

I’m working on the LA Metro I-405 ExpressLanes PAED as a project engineer. I designed the dual lane alternative for the entirety of the corridor. I coordinate the development of project reports and ensure milestones are met.

What is your favorite part about being a Civil Engineer?

My favorite part about being a Civil Engineer is the client interaction and checking off deliverables.

What skills do you find most valuable to focus on in your career?

I think that people skills are the most important thing that you can focus on in any career. People are involved in everything and you can be an amazing PM, but if you don’t have relationships you will have a hard time in this industry.

What drew you to your specific career path? If you could start your career differently, what would you do differently?

I interned throughout college which exposed me to transportation and led me to pursue a career in highway design. If I could start my career differently I would rush less, I think it’s important to reflect on what you are doing periodically especially when you are first starting out.

ASCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

How/Why did you get involved? Why did you choose to stay involved?

I got involved in ASCE because someone convinced me to attend WRYMC and I had a blast. I stayed involved to give back to the industry.

How has ASCE impacted your work and/or what is your favorite benefit of your involvement?

ASCE has exposed me to so many really inspiring people within the industry. It’s really a great networking tool.

Who is someone you admire and why?

I admire my mom because she has been an amazing example of a strong female professional throughout my entire life.

If you have one piece of advice to give to young professionals what would it be?

It can be very overwhelming when you first start out, feeling like there is so much to learn and so much that you don’t know. The confidence will come with time, enjoy the ride of learning something new every day.

Lastly, what would be your personal motto?

Do less, better. 

If you missed the last (June/July 2022) Board Member Spotlight, Matthew Quintanilla, you can click here to read his article.

To view the archive of all past Member Spotlights, click here.