In our previous newsletters, we have highlighted some of the incredible women working on the Project in many different capacities. SSW Project Controls Manager Kim Watson is no exception.
Kim comes from deep roots in Orange County. It's where she grew up; it's where several generations of her extended family still live. Kim graduated from Orange High School before attending Concordia University Irvine. Then she went to work for the Irvine Company developing and constructing residential buildings throughout the area.
Now she works here in the heart of Los Angeles. Funny enough, she currently lives in Rancho Cucamonga, which is an even further commute than coming from Orange County would be. The location lets her spend a lot of time outdoors with her kids or playing golf with her family. Kim likes being outside, whether it's taking an RV roadtrip to Utah or riding jetskis in San Diego.
Kim's job also affords her plenty of opportunities to be outdoors. She is charged with tracking and managing costs on the Project, as well as overseeing compliance issues for administration. Kim tells us that she is very process oriented and enjoys the complexity of large civil construction projects like this one. Many of these bridge elements, she explains, have never been built before, so it is incredibly rewarding when the coordinated teamwork brings the Project to life.
It is clear that Kim takes pride in her work and that is precisely the advice she would give to anyone interested in a career in the construction industry. As a mentor to up-and-coming engineers, she also tries to impart the importance of teamwork. "Working together as a team," she says, "compels us to be better together."
Kim is looking forward to construction of the unique helical pedestrian and bicycle ramp that will connect the bridge to a park below, as well as the multi-colored LED lights that are going to be embedded into the Arch Ribs.
When driving over the completed bridge, she says, "it will be cool to tell my kids: 'I helped make this.'"
