Jennifer Schaff has a master’s degree from Michigan Technological University emphasizing geotechnical and water resources. For nearly 20 years, she worked as a consulting engineer on site/municipal projects with a heavy focus on stormwater. She now works for family-owned County Materials Corp., promoting and educating the benefits of manufactured concrete products with an emphasis on reinforced concrete pipe. “Be courageous, be positive and have passion in what you do. Good things will come out of your hard work!”
What’s your favorite thing about being an engineer?
Opportunity and continued learning.
What do you like most about working in the concrete pipe industry?
I enjoy learning, collaborating and team building. I am blessed and humbled that my job allows me to work with, and learn from, industry experts from all over North America and abroad. Within our focused market areas, we collaborate to improve our offerings and how we communicate.
How did you get started in the industry?
While working as a consultant designing and constructing several projects, I interfaced with the sales representatives at County Materials. This relationship grew over time, and they eventually offered me a position. I am very happy to be part of the team, and I really appreciate how employees at all levels are offered training and opportunities to improve themselves so they can move up in the company. It probably sounds like an advertisement, but it’s my sincere opinion!
What’s one lesson you’ve learned in this industry that’s stuck with you?
The people I have encountered are wonderful and treat you like family. I’ve had several life-changing events since I started in this industry, and I am blessed to have my co-workers, industry colleagues and friends to lean on.
What’s your most memorable project?
I recently had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with linings for precast concrete structures. Typically, linings are used in sanitary sewer applications to prevent corrosion associated with sewer gases. I really enjoyed learning about the materials and performing some welding. There is a lot of talk about using resins containing recycled materials in thermoplastics, but I learned from a fabrication perspective that recycled resins contain impurities that may cause welds to be questionable. It is important to dive in and study material properties when looking to use new materials.
If you were talking to a group of high school girls, what would you say to encourage them to become an engineer?
Don’t listen to the people who may try to discourage you! Set your goals and visualize them coming to life in detail. Continue this as a nightly practice before bed and greet each morning with gratitude. Also, learn how to communicate in pictures. I can’t tell you how many engineers want to convey their ideas in pages and pages of text, yet the projects we design and the messages we need to convey to the public must be in easy, understandable terms. Using visuals is a wonderful way to bridge communication gaps. I recently listened to a Ted Talk by Mellissa Marshall titled “Talk Nerdy to Me.” She has a great take on how engineers and scientists need to improve our communication techniques.