Maryann Phipps
Senior Principal
Degenkolb Engineers
Fields: Structural engineering
Specialty: Evaluation of existing buildings, consulting for health care facilities, seismic anchorage of equipment
Nominated by: Katherine Stillwell
Excerpt from nomination: "Maryann has been a leader in the earthquake engineering community for almost 20 years. Her outstanding structural engineering projects include design and consulting for UC-Davis and UCSF-Stanford medical centers, as well as ongoing consulting and evaluation services for Safeway, Inc. and Hilti, Inc. Maryann has also been actively involved in professional organizations, as a former president of the Structural Engineers Association of California, and a management committee member for Phase 1 of the SAC Joint Venture, which is a research team organized within the structural engineering community to address the significant building damage that occurred during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and prevent such damage in future earthquakes. Most importantly, however, Maryann is deeply committed to sharing her experience and knowledge, both through dedicated training of younger staff engineers, and through attentive client care. Maryann is a role model in the truest sense of the word."
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job after graduate school was as a structural engineer at Degenkolb Engineers, a structural engineering consulting firm. That was nearly 20 years ago and I'm still there! What did I learn? Everything - technical skills, business skills and people skills, the most important being the people skills
What is your favorite book?
One favorite book? You've got to be kidding! A recent favorite was "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom.
What advances in your field do you envision over the next 10 years?
Aside from the breathtaking technological changes that will continue to alter the way we do business, I believe that the biggest advances will come from greater collaboration among those trying to achieve a common goal. In the past, design professionals and the construction industry have operated largely independently, often as adversaries. I expect the barriers to break down, enabling individuals and professions to work more creatively and effectively together.
What do you see as the single most interesting element of your work?
Collaborating with other people - engineers, clients and other consultants. When true team spirit and synergy are present, the group's effectiveness skyrockets. Finding ways to instill the spirit of teamwork is the interesting and challenging part.
What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?
Being happy with what I have. It seems that I have spent most of my professional career looking forward to the next position, promotion, opportunity, etc. While I believe that dreams and aspirations are important, I now recognize that the journey is as important as the destination. It was a major breakthrough for me to slow down enough to enjoy every day, not just major achievements.
What was your greatest challenge and what did you learn from it?
Meeting all of my responsibilities when I was working full-time as a project manager at Degenkolb, serving as President of the Structural Engineers Association of California, being a mother and wife, and trying to grow as an individual. The personal and professional commitments were extreme and the reality was overwhelming from time to time. My children, husband, office and profession all endured those years and I believe each has benefited from the satisfaction I felt from accomplishments made along the way.
What strategies do you use to maintain balance in your life?
Kids! I have two children, ages 7 and 9. They create a natural balance in my life. I am either working hard or playing hard, but the important thing is that I always make time for both.
What advice would you give to young women who want to enter your field?
Engineering is a great field to enter if you are technically focused and have good people skills. If you do - the sky's the limit! Based on my experience, there are really no significant barriers to women in the engineering profession. Engineering is a satisfying and rewarding career - the feeling you receive from being an important part of a team that creates something lasting is unforgettable. It's incredibly rewarding for me to point to a building and say "we designed that!" And if you identify other interests after pursuing an engineering education and gaining practical experience, you have an ideal platform to springboard from and pursue other professions and interests. The rigorous technical training combined with hands on experience is a great foundation for almost anything.
