2021 Ones to Watch: Alexis Hair, Structural Designer II, Veitas & Veitas Engineers

What led you to your current profession? I didn’t actually decide on structural engineering until my second year of college. I had built sets for plays in high school, which was very satisfying. I have always been fascinated with marriage of theory and math with architectural artistic expression.

What advice can you offer to someone who is interested in a career in your industry?

The field of structural engineering is vast, and there are many different available positions depending on what aspects of structures you gravitate towards. I would recommend that you choose a college with a co-op program. Co-ops are an excellent way to experience what is actually involved with a certain position, whether it be construction, design, inspection, estimation, etc. I have found that practical experience on the job is more valuable to employers than a perfect GPA.

How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles? I find that when conflicts and obstacles arise, it is easy to lose track of the final goal. Keeping myself and my team focused on what we can do to reach that goal helps to minimize the possibility of the issues derailing our progress. When it is still difficult to move forward, I have learned it helps to break these obstacles down into smaller steps. If the steps are laid out, the problem appears more manageable, and it is easier to stay motivated to keep moving forward.