2021 Women in Construction: Mahreana Hopson, Structural Engineer, SLAM Collaborative

What are you most looking forward to post-pandemic? I am looking forward to showing my 4-month-old son a world without masks. Things may never truly return to pre-pandemic conditions, yet I am excited to open his eyes of wonder to museums, the library, the beach, walks in the woods and so many other places and experiences that help to shape young minds.

How have you adapted and changed in the last 12 months? The last 12 months was quite a whirlwind for me – being pregnant and then having a baby in a pandemic required life adjustments I could never have anticipated! There was the ideal version of my pregnancy and birth and then there was the reality I had to accept, which evolved and changed daily. I needed to put aside my constant desire and tendency to organize, plan and control, and learn to go with the flow; not the easiest of tasks for me.

What steps have you taken to ensure the continued success of your firm? As an A/E firm, on a growth curve and requiring more architects, I encouraged SLAM’s structural department to recruit new engineers by attending local career fairs. I proudly represented our company, along with another coworker, at two fairs in 2020. I helped to establish, and remain an ambassador of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. I serve as an engineering technology lead, where I strive to ensure we are using the best design software available to its maximum potential. To this end, I am creating calculation and design aids using advanced software algorithms to establish uniformity in all company designs.