I am the founding principal of Insight Engineering in Little Rock. I earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas. For 15 years I worked as an engineer, designing mechanical systems for health care and higher education institutions nationwide. In 2019, I founded Insight Engineering to focus on community-enhancing commercial, health care and education projects in Arkansas.
As a female in a male-dominated industry, I’ve found the biggest challenge to be balancing my tone—projecting confidence and strength while also remaining approachable and kind.
The Arkansas STEM Coalition works with industry and educational leaders to promote improved and expanded STEM education in Arkansas.
Believe in yourself as much as you believe in those you have mentored.
Bringing on a business partner to Insight. To me, the fact that someone believed in the vision and wanted to invest was the clearest indication of the firm’s success.
When I realized I could utilize my engineering skills to better my community through thoughtful, energy-efficient design. It is inspiring to see the impact of my work firsthand.
Knowledge from your textbooks is important, but the knowledge you can gain from experienced maintenance staff—the people who operate the systems you design—is invaluable.
Back up and consider the most basic aspects of the problem I am trying to solve.
Public speaking and project interview skills have been critical to my success. Communication courses were not required in my engineering field of study—I had to learn them from experience.
