Innovate and Inspire: Celebrating Women in Engineering Leading the Way

ChastainSkillman | DCCM celebrates International Women in Engineering Day 2025!

This International Women in Engineering Day, we’re taking the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our incredible women engineers.

At ChastainSkillman | DCCM, we are proud to have a team of exceptionally talented women who bring precision, creativity, and dedication to everything they do. Today, we shine a spotlight on three remarkable individuals who continue to make a significant impact on our team and the clients we serve.

Celebrating Engineering Excellence at ChastainSkillman | DCCM

We are proud to recognize:

Jennifer Schroyer – Engineer IV

Jennifer has been with ChastainSkillman | DCCM for eight years and brings over a decade of experience in engineering. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and plays a vital role in a wide range of projects. Her expertise spans from conceptual design and planning to permitting, detailed design, and record drawings for commercial developments. She has also contributed to residential and roadway design initiatives. As a design engineer, Jennifer is responsible for ensuring project compliance and securing permits through various municipal agencies, particularly in the areas of land development and water resources.

Naomi Burton – Engineering Intern

As our newest team member, Naomi’s curiosity, eagerness to learn, and fresh perspective add unique value to our projects. She has recently got a hands-on look at fieldwork during a site visit which is a key part of the internship experience, bringing classroom concepts to life and offering a real-world perspective on how our projects come together. We’re excited to support her growth as she continues her journey in the engineering field.

Stephanie Rodriguez – Engineer II

Stephanie has been with ChastainSkillman | DCCM for two years. She is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Florida Section Ridge Branch, where she currently serves as Branch President as well as practitioner for the new ASCE Student Chapter at Florida Polythetic University. Her research experience includes assisting colleagues with the design of bioretention systems to retain phosphorous compounds and perform denitrification of agricultural runoff, as well as research experience in traffic modeling and analysis. In her role as Engineer II, she utilizes Civil3D and StormWise in site design for roadway, recreational, and utility facilities.

Together, these women embody core values of excellence, innovation, and integrity. Their precision and attention to detail ensure that we consistently deliver top-tier service and solutions to our clients. Beyond their technical skills, they also bring empathy, leadership, and vision to the workplace, helping to shape a more inclusive and forward-thinking engineering industry.
Keep reading to learn more about these inspiring women—what drives them, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the advice they have for young women dreaming of a future in engineering.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

Jennifer

Engineer IV

Engineering chose me. My dad suggested that I would be good at it considering I excelled in math and other family members were engineers. I dabbled in it during summers in high school and studied civil engineering and interned in college and really enjoyed it.

Naomi

Engineering Intern

When I was younger, my dad’s career as an electrical engineer and my interest in nature led to me pursing engineering. I’ve always loved problem solving and making a difference, so engineering was the right choice for me.

Stephanie

Engineer II

As a kid, I loved art! I originally thought I wanted to be an architect as I would draw and paint urban sceneries around the town I grew up in. When it came to deciding what to pursue as a career, I realized I was really good at math and science, so why not try something that combines both math and art? My first exposure to engineering started with a drafting course I took in high school. I really enjoyed the course, but the first year I took the class was the last year the school offered it, so the following year I was moved into the engineering courses stuck with it.

What are some of your interests or hobbies outside of work?

Jennifer

Engineer IV

True crime is my bag right now. I listen to podcasts DURING work. I watch documentaries AFTER work. Hobbies include puzzles games, playing piano, reading, and mostly spending time with my family on the weekends. Our favorite past-time is heading to the beach when the weather is good.

Naomi

Engineering Intern

Outside of work, I am a hobby hopper. I love travelling, hiking, singing, dancing, and experimenting with other creative outlets. Right now, I am trying out pottery and photography.

Stephanie

Engineer II

Being creative is something I cannot get rid of, whether that be through painting, crafting, or through music. Outside of working hours, I practice painting – both traditional and digital; playing bass; crafting little trinkets; and reading.

What excites you most about working at ChastainSkillam | DCCM?

Jennifer

Engineer IV

Being able to work with the people that Chastain-Skillman cultivates. We’re a great group of people. Even though people have come and gone over the years, I’ve never worked with a better group of people at any given time.

Naomi

Engineering Intern

The close team environment is what excites me the most because I love learning from others’ experiences as well as finding out new ways to approach problems/situations.

Stephanie

Engineer II

Working at ChastainSkillman | DCCM has been an eventful experience! We are well known around Central Florida for the notable work we do through the Civil, Environmental, and Survey teams. What excites me the most about working at Chastain is the various projects I get to work on. From streetscapes to parks and recreations, there is always something new to learn about and help build my skills as an engineer.

What’s your favorite part about being an engineer?

Jennifer

Engineer IV

Watching the growth of my experience. Every day is a new experience, a new opportunity to learn something new. I’m always noticing that today I’m so much more experienced than I was 2 years ago, or that I know a lot more than this time last year.

Naomi

Engineering Intern

My favorite part about engineering is the flexibility. I have so many options in Environmental Engineering that truly any interest I have can be pursued.

Stephanie

Engineer II

My favorite part about being an engineer is seeing how the projects we work on positively affect the community it is a part of and seeing what we do now can help build a better future for the generations after us.

Can you share a project you’re especially proud of?

Jennifer

Engineer IV

I’m not particularly proud of one project over others. Most projects are another opportunity for growth, to interact with new people, to discover new things, to make mistakes and learn from them.

Naomi

Engineering Intern

I am proud of a project I completed last school year in my Environmental Engineering Lab. We sampled a few parks and the Hillsborough River to see the effects of the Hurricane on the nutrient concentration. Afterwards, we made a research poster and presented it to all of the labs in the Engineering Center.

Stephanie

Engineer II

This project began before I started at ChastainSkillman | DCCM, but as part of the Chastain Civil team, I am proud of the Lake Wales Park Avenue Streetscape project. This project was completed early this year and consists of the redesign of Market Plaza and the 1-mile corridor of Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales. Renovations include wider pedestrian walkways, new bike lanes, rain gardens, and pervious pavements for stormwater treatment. The hardscape designs used also reflect the historical aesthetic of the downtown area. These improvements help open a doorway for the City to host events such as holiday festivities and a downtown farmers market. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend stopping by downtown Lake Wales!

What’s a fun fact about you?

Jennifer

Engineer IV

I have a soft spot for cats! I played piano proficiently until I graduated high school; now I can still play, but not nearly as well. I like left-over spaghetti better than just-prepared spaghetti. My first car was standard version of my dream car – a ’93 Ford Mustang (hatchback). My dream Mustang would have been older, in not so many words…

Naomi

Engineering Intern

I learned how to swim by jumping off a cliff when I was younger.

What advice would you give to your younger self or to future women pursuing a career in engineering?

Jennifer

Engineer IV

If we want the work force to be gender balanced, we should get to the root of what gets you motivated, instead of focusing on the pressures of joining an industry that has been historically gender based one way or another. It may bring some new perspective that had not yet been acknowledged before. I’ve hit a few bumps along the way, but who hasn’t. If you take it easy with a firm dose of authority, you can be a part of a really fun team, even if it is a bunch of “guys”. As women, we can either go with the flow as one of the guys or embrace our femininity with a few extra touches of care. I’ve dipped into the role both ways and have been treated with the same respect either way, and I love that I can be versatile that way.

Naomi

Engineering Intern

Go for it! There is so much to be discovered in engineering, and school is the hardest part (So, I’ve been told!). Afterwards, the world really is your oyster. Also, don’t stop learning or applying for opportunities during college as you never know where it could take you.

Stephanie

Engineer II

One piece of advice I would give to women in engineering or thinking about pursuing is to be you! Women only make up about 16% of all engineers (Society of Women Engineers, 2024) in the US, but have been continually growing. Do not be discouraged and stay true to who you are! Engineering is for everyone and if you have an interest for it, why not take on the challenge?

Thank You for Celebrating With Us!

ChastainSkillam | DCCM is proud to recognize these outstanding individuals for their hard work, dedication, and the meaningful impact they’ve made in the engineering field and within our organization.

We hope you found their stories inspiring and that these incredible, talented women encourage you to chase your dreams and make a difference in the world.

Thank you for joining us in honoring them during this special occasion, and for taking the time to read and learn more about their work.

Check out our posts on social media:

In 2023, we celebrated the women of ChastainSkillman | DCCM with a video honoring their impact in STEM. This International Women in Engineering Day, we’re proud to revisit that tribute.

Watch below and join us in celebrating women in engineering!

About ChastainSkillman | DCCM

ChastainSkillman | DCCM is a leading engineering firm headquartered in Lakeland, FL, with satellite offices in Orlando, FL, and Nashville, TN. Established in Lakeland in 1950, our company provides Land & Site Development, Water/Wastewater, Hydrology & Hydraulics, Surveying, Utilities, and Program & Construction Management.

At ChastainSkillman | DCCM, we treasure our role in creating thriving communities, always respecting the impact our work has on their foundations and their futures. For more information, explore our website.