FRANCES
WISDOM
ATKINS
CIVIL ENGINEER, E.I.T.
Resilient Design & Development
SITES AP
PHILOSOPHY
The clarion call to my generation is to lead, engineer, and operate resilient systems that compensate for their environmental degradation, promote social well-being, and respond to the future uncertainties of natural and man-made disturbances. Going beyond the scope of engineering, I assimilate interdisciplinary concepts of social, economical, and ecological sustainability to secure a safer future for generations to come.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
LEED Green Associates
SITES AP
AutoCad Civil 3D
AutoDesk InfraWorks
CulvertMaster – Bentley Systems
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Bluebeam Software
Google SketchUp
Microsoft Office Suite
Adobe Creative Suite
MATLAB
Spanish (Level B2)
Asana
Zoom
Slack
EDUCATION
Cornell University, College of Engineering, Ithaca, NY May 2016
Bachelor of Science: Civil Engineering, Resilient Design & Development
Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain 2014-2015
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales, y Puertos
Study Abroad Experience
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
Founder + Project Engineer January 2023-Present
Atkins Consulting Services LLC, Carmel, CA
Founded Atkins Consulting Services with the primary objective to support and consult for other small design businesses requiring innovative design and project implementation expertise. Primarily consulting for Primo Engineering + Consultants, working on 4+ residential, trail-use, and commercial projects within Mendocino County. Prioritizing collaboration with local organizations and design teams to develop Coastal Development Permit plans that implement low-impact designs, which encourage historical, biological, and cultural conversation.
Design Engineer III January 2019-May 2022
Sherwood Design Engineers, San Francisco, CA
Lead the conceptualization, analysis, and design of 12+ sustainable civil projects in Northern California, managing schedules and project execution for teams of 5+ junior engineers. Specialized in a holistic design approach - prioritizing external team collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and resilient design and development via implementation of green infrastructure, low-impact development, engineered open space + regenerative land stewardship. Project types included corporate campuses, mixed-use development, luxury resorts, K12 schools and higher education, agriculture, residential and health care, public works, streetscape improvements, land development and masterplanning projects.
Internally, established a Civil3D Team that created and distributed company-wide standards and educational material. Founded the DE REP Group that encouraged 40+ design engineers to support each other, navigate their careers, and revamp Sherwood’s onboarding, training, and retention processes. Elected member of Sherwood’s Innovative Team - a multidisciplinary team that collaborates, implements, and dispenses innovative project design strategies and research.
Notable Projects Include:
Maha Guenoc Valley Project: a 16,000 acre, ~$1 billion dollar land development project in Lake County, CA. Managed several projects, implementing innovative stormwater management strategies, 60+ miles of roadway infrastructure, fire resiliency plans, and water reuse systems.
Sunnyvale Civic Center: a 9.5 acre public work’s campus project in Sunnyvale, CA. Executed site-wide utility distribution, streetscape improvements designs, & construction administration.
Head-Royce School: a 7.5 acre K12 campus in Oakland, CA. Lead design of site improvements, including grading, utilities, stormwater management, roadway and drop-off circulation, and integrative stormwater/play stations.
Project Engineer, EIT Summer 2017-December 2018
Kelley-Wise Engineering, Prescott, AZ
Conceptualized, designed, and prepared infrastructure plans for 25+ residential and commercial projects with budgets up to $12,000,000. Project breadth encompassed areas of grading, drainage, water, sewer, storm water management, roadway design and improvements, and site panning for land development projects. Prepared engineer’s cost estimates, bid schedules, building permit applications, construction and environmental compliance documents, and design reports. Conducted work site reconnaissance and site testing, and assisted land surveying crew.
Advised and collaborated with clients to determine best-fit solutions to City and HOAMCO compliance regulations, while considering budget constraints and environmental impacts. Embraced mid-project change orders as drivers of creative solutions. Compiled presentations for both public work and private sectors.
Undergraduate Research: Sustainable Housing 2011-2016
Cornell University Sustainable Design Team (CUSD), Ithaca, NY
Pioneered international, sustainable housing projects within China, Nicaragua, and Haiti. Analyzed different strategies of resilient design and development, while learning and applying marketing strategies and cultural considerations. Authored a Reference Manual for CUSD members to guide them in resilient design processes, and to ensure future project success. Created a standard of project evaluation tailored to CUSD, and organized the development of an extensive CUSD Project Case Study for all past and present projects.
Undergraduate Research: Building Performance Spring 2014
Ying Hua, Design and Environmental Analysis, Ithaca, NY
Conducted surveys to evaluate the performance of campus buildings including both new construction and major retrofit projects. Recorded and analyzed environmental quality measurements of separate workspaces.