Ingenuity Magazine Summer 2021

As the owner of that firm, I was responsible for all aspects of the business, from the accounting to CAD and everything in between. I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world, because I learned so much at such a young age, but I was still able to do things like bake cookies with my kids. Then I got into politics, which was another learning experience. I’d have to say that engineers don’t always make great politicians because we are taught that there is a definitive way to do things while there’s a lot of gray area in politics. I learned a lot and it was an interesting perspective shift to be on the policy-making side, but ultimately, I found myself missing being an engineer. Then, Tony Parker asked me to join Pond and a new journey began. What advice would you give to your younger self and to other aspiring engineers? You know you’re getting old when you get asked these kind of questions. [laughs] But honestly, I’d say follow your dreams. You spend enough time at work that your job needs to be something you are passionate about and enjoy. What’s concerning to me is the statistic that only 30 percent of people who get an engineering degree end up practicing engineering, which speaks to the disconnect of what people think engineering is and what it actually is. With that information, I think as an industry we need to be more involved early in the collegiate experience, so students understand the multidimensional roles within the engineering field. "The quality of your character and the skills you bring to the table will ultimately play a role in changing minds." "Diversity of thought helps drive innovation, which can only be accomplished by making it a priority." Work-life balance is an important part of Pond’s culture. What do you do outside of work? Right now, I get to spend a lot of time with my four-year-old grandson. We also spend a lot of time in St. Augustine with my kids. Aside from being with my family, I also love to travel. My husband and I enjoy visiting wineries, especially ones in Europe. We can’t wait until we are finally able to resume visiting those places. 14 Pond | www.pondco.com