This achievement follows five years of professional growth as a structural designer on the WEC team, the completion of multiple complex design projects, and many months of studying and preparation on Kailee’s part.
Kailee joined the WEC team in 2020 after completing her master’s degree at Georgia Tech. “She’s been an asset since day one,” WEC President Brandon Hoffman said. “Kailee is always up for a challenge and never shies away from the big moments. None of us are surprised at her success in attaining licensure. We’re very proud of her.”
Born in the Philadelphia area, Kailee grew up in Maryland, where her first academic passion was music. But when she was introduced to physics in high school, she was immediately intrigued. She enrolled in increasingly advanced physics classes, and upon graduation, enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
It was during a study abroad in London that Kailee’s vision for herself as an engineer came into focus. “We were reading a book called The Tower and The Bridge on structural art that balances efficiency, economy, and elegance. And we could really see that in the structures all around us. We went to St. Paul’s to learn about domes. We studied skyscrapers and bridges, we went to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. Seeing how those principles were executed in those structures, I thought, this is what I want to do.”
Today, seeing her own designs come to life in the real world is one of the most fulfilling aspects of structural engineering for Kailee.
“During my college internship, I got to work on the 14th + Spring building in Midtown. Getting to drive by that building so often was really exciting, and really made me feel like I was on the right path.”
At Willett Engineering, some of Kailee’s favorite projects have been media production complexes where blockbuster movies are filmed. “Seeing those movies and knowing I was a part of that, that’s really cool,” she said.
As Kailee began to establish herself in the field of structural engineering, another passion arose – that of inspiring other young engineers and especially young women engineers.
“There’s so much more representation for women in structural engineering than there used to be, but there’s still a long way to go. In my undergraduate courses in civil engineering, the students were about fifty-fifty, but in my masters-level classes, there were a lot fewer women. So I enjoy opportunities to encourage other women in this field.”
Kailee remains involved with the Georgia Tech chapter of Chi Epsilon, the civil engineering honor society, where she has been invited to give presentations on her career and share her insights with current students. She also enjoys representing Willett Engineering at career fairs, inviting soon-to-be graduates to apply to join the WEC team.
Diversity is one reason Kailee is proud to promote Willett Engineering to young engineers. “It’s great to work on a team that includes other women and where women are respected as professionals,” Kailee said. “My advice to other young women pursuing engineering is always to make sure the person you work for has your back. Also, if you’re confident about something, stand your ground.”
Kailee also hopes more women will pursue licensure, yet she acknowledges it’s a daunting task for any engineer. “It can be hard to muster up the motivation to complete the process,” she said. “I think you just have to set a goal for yourself of ‘I want to be licensed by whatever year’ and commit to it.”
The Willett Engineering team was glad to support Kailee through the process of preparing for and completing the licensure exams. “People loaned me books and study materials, and everyone was as accommodating as possible,” she said. “That really made a big difference.”
Kailee is particularly grateful for the on-the-job mentorship she’s received from Mac Willett and Brandon Hoffman.
“Mac taught me to combine concepts I learned in school with engineering judgement to solve practical problems. Through him I learned so much about the construction process that you don’t learn in school. Mac taught me that you are never done learning. Brandon encouraged me to take the next step in my career by pursuing licensure. His guidance and support allowed me to gain the confidence and knowledge I needed to become a more independent engineer.”
As a licensed structural engineer, Kailee is excited and inspired by the responsibility of reviewing and sealing drawings. However, she believes she will always love designing.
Just as she did in her study abroad days, Kailee continues to find inspiration in travel. In her leisure time, she loves researching and planning the next big trip for herself and her husband. This year they completed a trip through several national parks in California. Next up, they hope to visit Spain.
Among coworkers and clients, Kailee is known as a dependable, flexible and innovative engineer. Her WEC teammates congratulate her on this milestone achievement and look forward to her continued success.