Since joining the firm in 2011, Catherine has grown into an accomplished structural engineer, trusted project leader, dedicated mentor, and valued Associate. Throughout her career, she has helped deliver structural solutions across an extensive range of commercial, residential, mixed-use, hospitality, education, renovation, and specialized projects.
For Catherine, challenges are an important part of what makes structural engineering so rewarding. As she puts it, “It’s challenging and never boring. Every project is a different puzzle to solve.” She especially enjoys collaborating with architects and developers to work through those puzzles and bring a shared vision to life.
Over the past 15 years, Catherine has contributed to many notable and award-winning projects, including:
- Tysons Central Office Building A in Tysons, Virginia
- The Adaire at Spring Hill Station in Tysons, Virginia
- The International Spy Museum at L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C.
- West Half Street in Washington, D.C.
- The Stacks, Building C, in Washington, D.C.
- The Ascent Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Fallyn Apartments and Hotel Fraye in Nashville, Tennessee
- The Avec Apartments at 901 H Street, NE, in Washington, D.C.
Catherine’s impact extends well beyond her project work. Her approachability and willingness to support others have made her a trusted mentor to colleagues and aspiring engineers alike. She has encouraged a culture in which team members feel comfortable asking questions, seeking help, and learning from one another.
Her commitment to the profession and the broader community earned her the SEA-MW Rising Star Award in 2023. Catherine has also supported the SEA-MW Outreach Committee and participated in numerous STEM education initiatives, including the DACkids Summer Camp, the Phelps ACE Academy, Elizabeth Seton High School’s Learning Engineering and Design program, and programs hosted by the Washington Architectural Foundation.
A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Catherine earned her Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Stanford University and her Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University. While at Vanderbilt, she competed on the varsity women’s tennis team, participated in the steel bridge team, received the Arthur J. Dyer Jr. Memorial Prize for her work involving structural steel, and was named a national winner of the Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship.
Catherine continues to bring that same energy and determination to everything she does. Outside the office, she enjoys running, biking, swimming, tennis, soccer, hiking, and nearly anything outdoors, especially when she can share those activities with her husband, Devin, and their three children, Jake, Lily, and Luke. Although her professional accomplishments are many, Catherine considers parenting her three children her greatest achievement.
Catherine, thank you for 15 years of outstanding leadership, dedication, mentorship, and service. Your technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and genuine care for your colleagues, clients, and community have made a lasting impact on SK&A. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with you and look forward to all that lies ahead!
