Stephanie Templeton, PE

I work in the Facilities Corporate Business Group as a project manager, and my role in the vertical structural group consists of project planning, design, and coordination through completion of construction. I work on everything from airports to water/wastewater structures to maintenance centers and other facilities. I also serve as the Phoenix office principal.

I found Gannett Fleming when I was looking to work in industrial and municipal engineering for a larger company. It’s now more than seven years later, and I’m still here because of the great people I’ve met at this company along with the many wonderful opportunities I’ve been given to grow professionally.

I’ve been encouraged to pursue several goals of mine, including completing the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) LEAP class to further my knowledge in various aspects of project management. I was also provided the opportunity to attend Gannett Fleming’s project management training and the firm’s Leadership Academy.

I am in the final stages of completing an assignment for the Valley Metro Operations and Maintenance Center Expansion job in Phoenix. This project has been interesting as it is the first time I have been an acting project manager where Gannett Fleming is the prime design firm with subconsultants. There are so many intricacies with this design-build project, since it is also an active yard and situated on land owned by multiple entities.

The most challenging aspect of my job is managing the stress associated with juggling multiple projects and meeting deadlines while trying to maintain work-life balance. The payoff is seeing the structures that I designed get built and knowing that they’re helping the community.

I see opportunities to gain a wealth of institutional knowledge and experience from the seasoned generations. I also believe the next generation will introduce new technologies and ideas that will expand Gannett Fleming’s horizons and add value to the firm’s processes, allowing our company to continue delivering quality, innovative projects to clients.

It has been said that people don’t quit jobs; they quit managers or teams. The fact that Gannett Fleming believes its employees are the key is significant to me, particularly because I know that my team has my back. Qualified people work for and leave all sorts of firms. So many Gannett Fleming employees experiencing longevity in their careers here speaks to the fact that the company values its personnel and wants them to succeed.

I have been told since I was young that I am empathetic, and I think this is a quality that can get overlooked in the analytical world of engineering. I genuinely care and want the best for my clients, my team, and anyone I work with, and I believe this trait has helped me in my career.

Find a mentor outside of your company, even if they are not in your field. The advice from an outside perspective can be very helpful.

I love music – mostly singing and playing piano. I also cook and bake and have been able to try a lot more recipes since working from home. And I enjoy traveling and experiencing other cultures, too!

Can you spot Stephanie singing in our 2020 holiday video?

One of my favorite traditions is putting on a puppet show on Christmas Eve at my parents’ house for the extended family. Every year growing up, a member or two of the family would write a play, and the kids would perform it for the entire family using marionettes that were purchased all over the world. It solidified that none of us would be going into acting anytime soon, but the laughs and the production of it all was a great way to start off the holiday with everyone. We recently reinstituted this tradition after a couple-year hiatus, and even as adults, this tradition had us all belly laughing!

My mom. Even in the worst of circumstances, she has always led by example and confronted difficulty with grace. I have loved learning from her and her life experiences. So glad to call her mine!

Be kind and genuine to everyone, no matter the level you rise to. It doesn’t matter if you are the CEO or the janitor; everyone deserves equal respect.

Get a new cup of coffee and listen to music. The right set of tunes can change my whole mindset. Those who worked with me when we were in the office full time know I have a very eclectic playlist.

I didn’t always want to be an engineer. I initially received a scholarship for piano and was an accompanist for one of the symphonies here in Arizona in high school and during college. Thankfully, I was able to mesh the best of both worlds now that I design and build things while listening to music.

Prague, Czech Republic. I’ve been lucky enough to visit this beautiful place, and it is just breathtaking. There’s such history and so many cultures, and everyone is friendly!

“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls. It is pure nostalgia for me and brings back childhood memories. I can’t listen to it without singing.