Suzanne Theiss
Year Graduated: 
1984

District Local Assistance Engineer

Caltrans

Job Description

My job is to oversee energy studies for transportation projects and research alternative energy opportunities for Caltrans. My first supervisory position was for the environmental engineering group responsible for noise, energy, air quality, and water resources. I even published a small research paper on geothermal use in transportation facilities with the Transportation Research Board. My work at Trans Lab varied quite a bit over the years until I ended up working on bioacoustic issues for transportation construction on both terrestrial and aquatic critters.

Why did you choose this program?

I fell in love with Humboldt when visiting colleges as a senior in high school, and have considered this area my home since moving here when I was 18 years old.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

The year was 1984. Ronald Reagan was president, the summer Olympics were being held in Los Angeles, and “When Doves Cry” by Prince was number one on the billboard charts. But there was a regional historic event taking place in Humboldt County that most people knew nothing about. I was apparently the first female ERE student with an emphasis in energy to graduate from HSU. The day after my last class, I started work as a Jr. Civil Engineer at Caltrans. I have now been with Caltrans for 30 years, and am currently the District 1 (North Coast area) Local Assistance Engineer.

Other comments?

I come from a family of six kids and grew up in Saratoga, California, just outside of San Jose. All of us kids teased our folks that they just needed a larger workforce for all the projects Dad had around the house. Now, I have a full house of my own. I live with my husband Eric, our three children (two are adopted Humboldt natives) and my mother-in-law, in a log house just outside Eureka in Freshwater. Looking back at my entire career, this last year has been the busiest.

After realizing I wanted to be a part of developing solutions to a variety of issues, I chose the field of environmental engineering with an emphasis in energy. I was the only female student in most of my upper division engineering classes. I have always been comfortable working with guys, so I didn’t feel too different; however, I know some of the guys were not always comfortable working with me as a female. I didn’t have the same experience at Caltrans, where most folks treated me the same as a guy in my same position.

I began my Caltrans career performing construction inspection projects around the Boonville area. I did have to tell some of the contractor staff that, “yes, I thought that watching a bunch of guys work and keeping a diary fit just fine as women’s work,” but I was always able to get the job done without being held back by my gender. Running after paving trucks in the summer heat was a nice excursion from the coastal fog.

I got married in 2004 and wanted to start a family. My husband and I wanted to raise our children on the North Coast, so in 2008 I transferred back to District 1 into the Local Assistance Unit, providing oversight of city and county transportation projects throughout the District. I am glad to be home again!