by Suzanne Howard

     Melissa Marshall is an engineering analyst with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. A 1998 graduate from the University of Florida with a master's degree in agricultural operations management, she began her career with this civil engineering firm upon graduation.
     "I wanted to do something that had to do with wastewater treatment and international development," says Marshall. "Kimley-Horn was looking for someone who was specialized in wastewater, and fortunately I got the job."
     One of her major clients at Kimley-Horn was a private utility company. She helped design and expand their wastewater treatment plan in addition to designing a treatment disposal system for the utility. She worked on that project for three years.

Melissa Marshall's career path took a different turn.

     Marshall then transferred from the firm's Sarasota, Fla. office to their Tampa office. She is now involved with commercial land development, an area she had never before considered.
     "It's a demanding job. It's definitely not where I thought I would be, but it has been good," Marshall says. "It helps to be open to other areas. It provides a broader aspect to my career, rather than being so specialized."
     Marshall's current work also draws from her undergraduate degree in environmental management in agriculture. She took college courses in environmental engineering, and in her current position she helps determine any environmental risks at potential development sites.
     In her position, Marshall works with government agencies, municipalities, architects, the transportation department, the water management district, attorneys, subconsultants, surveyors, and land planners.
     "Communication is very important," says Marshall. "I spend 75 percent of my time dealing with government agencies coordinating things."
     Marshall, an ASAE member, credits the agricultural engineering department at the University of Florida with her decision to go into agricultural operations management.
     "I enjoyed the people in the department. They seemed to care about the students," Marshall says. "There was a lot more attention given to those students than ones in other departments."
     She also had the opportunity to create her own curriculum. It provided her flexibility and the chance to take courses in different departments.
     Marshall feels that women bring a different perspective to the predominantly male field.
     "I would absolutely recommend it for other women," she says.
     Marshall is still interested in someday pursuing international work and working again in the wastewater field.
     "I thought I wanted to be specialized in just wastewater," Marshall says. "But I did something different and I learned so much more."