Celebrating Engineers Week with Chella Fedota

Engineering touches nearly every aspect of our lives, which is why Engineers Week is an important time to celebrate the people behind the work and to inspire the next generation of innovators. This year’s theme, Transform Your Future, is a powerful reminder of how engineering shapes our world, strengthens our communities, and opens doors for emerging professionals. We sat down with TKDA’s Chella Fedota to discuss what Engineers Week means to her and her journey as an up-and-coming engineer.

What does Engineer’s Week mean to you as an early career professional?

I appreciate the celebratory atmosphere it brings to the professional space. I feel proud to have earned a graduate engineering position and am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the hard work engineers do every day.

What led you to pursue a career in engineering?

I was introduced to engineering by my grandfather. When I was six, he entertained me by placing a recycled DVD/VCR player in front of me, handing me a few tools, and telling me to take it apart. I wasted no time removing every piece I could and proceeded to take apart whatever recycled appliance I could get my hands on. This pastime was one of my earliest experiences related to engineering, followed by various science kits and sets.

I also participated in STEM-related extracurricular activities, such as Destination Imagination, Saturday Academy engineering camps, and a mentorship program through ACE Mentors. Civil engineering became an area of interest after a lesson on bridges. While in school, I continued to explore this interest and joined the Steel Bridge club. I enjoy transportation and structural design work, but I also appreciate that every civil engineering project requires multiple disciplines working together simultaneously.

What skills have you found most important as you transition from school into professional practice?

The transition from school into professional practice has been a significant change, but I am extremely grateful for my internship experience with TKDA, which led to my full-time position after graduation. The phrase “drinking from a fire hose” came up frequently when I started, but I relied on my adaptability, curiosity, and positive attitude to navigate the transition. The support I received from my coworkers was incredible, and I’m glad I was able to approach these new changes with flexibility.

How do you continue learning and growing as a young professional in the industry?

I have my sights set on earning my professional engineer license, as well as expanding my project management experience. Although I am still a few years away from licensure, I plan to sit for the exam sooner rather than later. I work with many licensed professionals, and learning from them has been extremely beneficial. Every project I’ve worked on has taught me something new, and I appreciate being exposed to a wide variety of project types. This diversity makes it almost impossible not to learn something new with each project.

What type of projects excite you the most and why?

My education focused largely on transportation and structural engineering, so any exposure to those fields is exciting. At this stage in my career, however, I appreciate working on any type of project. Although I work in the rail group, I have worked more on transit-related projects, which has been a valuable learning experience.

Who has influenced or mentored you so far, and what impact have they had on your career?

My grandfather has had one of the biggest influences on my career. I likely would have discovered engineering eventually, but he sparked my interest at a very young age and continues to be someone I look up to every day.

At TKDA, Alex Irigoin, Justino Cruz, and Sandy Suver have all been tremendous mentors. I met Alex on the first day of my career when he flew to St. Paul for intern welcome week, and he is the person I’ve worked most closely with over the past nearly two years. I appreciate working with another young professional who is equally motivated to grow their career. Justino has also been an incredible mentor. His passion is very motivating, and he welcomed me to the team with an enthusiasm that has not faded since we first met. He continually pushes me to grow while ensuring I have the support I need, for which I am very grateful. Sandy Suver has been another mentor I’ve valued working with. Her drive and flexibility—ranging from project management to document production across many project types—are very impressive and something I look up to.