6-30-2020
Over the last few weeks we’ve shared the stories of Parametrix employee-owners who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Savanna Hasegawa was a catalyst in encouraging this series. Thank you, Savanna, for advocating for greater visibility and representation of the LGBTQ+ community at Parametrix.
She says that as someone who came out at 14 years old, she’s very comfortable being “out” at work, but hoped this series might serve as a way to make others feel more confident being fully themself in a work environment.
Savanna was hired at Parametrix in 2015 as an Administrative Assistant in the Puyallup office. She now serves as a Project Coordinator for the Puget Sound Community Building group. In this role she is often working out of client project offices.
Last year, Savanna and her wife, Anika, got married and began their pregnancy journey.
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6-18-2020
June is Pride Month! To celebrate we'll be featuring Parametrix employee-owners who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Today, we would like to introduce you to Tresia Gonzalez. Tresia is a Senior Planner in the Seattle Transportation group. She has been with Parametrix for 18 years and specializes in major corridor studies and traffic modeling.
Tresia participated in our emerging leaders program and now serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She identifies as queer.
I asked Tresia a few questions about her personal life and career. Read her responses below.
What drew you to the transportation industry? What inspires you about your work?
I actually didn’t intend to do the work I do!
Within the civil engineering department, I focused on environmental, taking classes such as hazardous waste and ground water flow. Towards the... (more)
6-17-2020
The class of 2020 didn’t get the traditional graduation ceremony that most of us experience. They do however have the honor of participating in what are probably some of the first ever virtual graduation ceremonies.
The Parametrix leadership team and supervisors recorded a special message for our graduates. Watch that here.
We would like to introduce you to the Parametrix Class of 2020 and congratulate them on this accomplishment. Read more about each below.
Piper Everson | Portland, OR
Oregon State University | BS, Civil Engineering
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6-16-2020
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Pride month traditions. LGBTQ Pride month is held each year in June to honor and commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which served as a turning point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United states. In a landmark decision, just this week the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act barring sex discrimination in the workplace protects LGBTQ employees.
At Parametrix, we believe it’s important to recognize this month and celebrate the progress that has been made while also recognizing the steps we can take in becoming truly inclusive to all.
This month we’ll introduce you to several Parametrix employee-owners who identify as members of the LGBTQ community. They’ll discuss their career, personal life, as well as the challenges they’ve faced. Stay... (more)
5-14-2020
From New York to Oakland, cities across the United States are closing lanes or entire roadways in order to expand bike lanes and pedestrian environments, giving people under stay-at-home orders more space to walk and bike safely in their neighborhoods.
Salt Lake City and the Utah Department of Transportation are no exception. The agencies responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic. Together with Parametrix and other partners, the team reviewed and synthesized traffic and active transportation data to better understand the implications of the pandemic. With this information, they were able to identify roadways most suitable for temporary lane conversion based on essential business proximity, housing density, and other factors.
One of those lanes, 900 South, was opened in April as a result of this partnership. Salt Lake City had initiated other street closures on smaller roadways starting with 500 North, but... (more)
4-30-2020
Manchester Stormwater Park aerial view with Puget Sound in the background.
April is World Landscape Architecture Month. We’re celebrating landscape architects for their role in deepening the connections between people and the environment, citizens and their communities. At Parametrix, our team of landscape architects have had the privilege of working on projects that have a profound effect on the places we live, work, and visit. Read more about those meaningful projects below.
#1 - Northern Quest Resort & Casino Grand Plaza
Airway Heights, WA | Client: Kalispel Tribe of Indians
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4-28-2020
Meet one of the newest employee-owners at Parametrix, Nicole Lipe. Nicole joins our Seattle Construction Management group. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 2018 and comes to Parametrix from Manson Construction where she worked on projects in Alaska, California, and Washington.
We asked Nicole a few questions about herself and her career – get to know her by reading her responses below!
Tell us about yourself – what are your hobbies, interests? Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Seattle, moved to Colorado for boarding school, and then went to college in California. I moved back to Seattle last year and am loving being back in the PNW!
Some of my favorite pastimes are spin classes, crossword puzzles, getting outdoors whether it be walking, going to a park, etc., and spending time with f... (more)
3-30-2020
By Kami Matiatos
I first started working in the A/E/C industry in the mid-eighties when the industry was very much male-dominated. I have been inspired by the women in the industry who are master multi-taskers and have a positive, can-do attitude toward accomplishing anything. My mom was of course my first inspiration; she did it all and kept our family together and running smoothly, often by herself as my dad was a long-haul truck driver. She worked outside the home but still was extremely present for her three daughters. I am continually inspired by many of my female co-workers who can do it all—demanding careers, raising kids, volunteering at school or in the community.
Work-life balance is one of the main challenges that I’ve had to overcome as a woman in the industry. It can be difficult when you’re building your career and raising small children to juggle it all but set your priorities ... (more)
3-27-2020
By Cindy Clark
During a time when it was common for me to be the only woman in a meeting, often mistaken for the secretary, my mom served as my inspiration to succeed. She was a career woman with a master’s degree back in the 1960’s.
When she married at the “old” age of 29 years, she put it all on hold to raise seven children, volunteering at the schools, teaching Sunday school, and playing the drums in a band(!). She showed me that no matter the job you’re given, you give it your all and always strive to be the best person you can.
I’ve seen the A/E/C industry evolve by leaps and bounds over the last 25 years. Now it’s much more common to see a diverse mix of people in our industry.
This was me at co... (more)
3-25-2020
By Holli Moeini
When I began my career as a consultant, wearing a suit and tie allowed me to fit in to what was, at the time, a career largely dominated by men. I was not alone in my fashion-less choice; my female associates wore the same. Was our DNA programed to dress the part, like a man, and work harder than anyone to be noticed? Although there were women in the industry very few “sat at the table” and I often found myself the only woman in the room. It wasn’t until the mid-90’s, when I left consulting to work for a fast-growing client, that I finally had a female colleague join me at the executive table. Interestingly, she and I both wore fancy suits while the men wore khakis. Why did we do that? In order to be listened to and respected for our insights and opinions as our male counterparts were, we felt that we needed our armor.
That was a long time ago and much has changed!... (more)