Rachel Calvert describes herself as an “odd duck,” seemingly referring to the unusual path that led to her current senior civil engineering position for Marin County. Calvert, 54, moved as a teenager to a logging town on the west coast of British Columbia, where she worked as a hydraulic excavator operator which involved heavy physical labor.
Calvert says it was uncommon to see a woman in her position in the late 1980s. “I physically worked on many civil projects: building new highways, reconstructing parts of the Alaska highway, working on a hydroelectric dam, excavating tail ponds, grading golf courses and building logging roads.”
After seven years of being a heavy equipment operator, Calvert wanted to earn her log scaling certification for a job at Nicholson Forest Products. This meant going back to school to improve her math skills—which ignited a passion for both math and science.
Calvert’s teacher at the time suggested looking into engineering. And with her background in civil construction, Calvert decided to pursue geotechnical engineering. At 30, Calvert graduated with honors from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
And her distinctions did not stop there. Calvert recently received the Manager of the Year—Public Works Emergency Management Award from the American Public Works Association.
What made you go into public works?
I transitioned from private sector engineering to public works because I wanted my work to have a more direct impact on public facilities as opposed to consulting for developers or private companies. Effectuating positive change for the residents of an existing community is rewarding.
Which projects make you feel the most accomplished?
What I really love to do is help people, so all projects that provide public safety make me feel accomplished. Emergency projects provide me with the opportunity to mitigate danger, environmental impacts, expense and inconvenience—which makes them my favorite.
Congratulations on being named manager of the year by the APWA!
I’m deeply honored to receive this award. I am proud to have been the leader of this team that accomplished so much so quickly and with so much care for the residents.
What was your dream before finding yourself in engineering?
Since I was very little, I always wanted to be a fighter pilot. I joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets as soon I was old enough but was sad to learn that my vision was not adequate to follow that particular dream. So on to the next.
Name a favorite trait about yourself.
My ability to be spontaneous. My husband and I went on our honeymoon with a one-way flight to Heathrow and a goal of hitting up Windsor, Amalfi and a few other places. We effortlessly went whichever way the wind blew as long as there was Wi-Fi to book the next thing during coffee breaks. We had incredible experiences every day, incredible meals and a place to sleep each night.
What sort of incredible experiences?
Madame Butterfly at the Teatro La Fenice, a pasta cooking class at a lemon farm in Via Delle Cartiere and a photo shoot in Paris because we complimented the art on a restaurant wall while the photographer happened to be within ear shot.
What do you do outside of engineering?
Deep sea fishing, skiing and home renovations. My number one is fishing, though. I like being way out on the ocean with all the wildlife interaction, the relaxing bobbing of the boat and the way the sudden whizzing of the line and bend of the rod always startles the heck out of me in the most exciting way.
