Lauren Joyce, a graduate of Trinity Hall’s Class of 2018, is proving the transformative power of a strong foundation as she thrives in the construction industry. Now a project engineer at Kiewit, the foundation laid during Lauren’s high school years was instrumental in shaping her confidence, adaptability, and success in her current role.
Lauren currently serves as a batch plant and crusher plant project engineer at the Gross Reservoir in Boulder, Colorado. On the construction site, Lauren is a leader, responsible for managing multiple engineers, overseeing operational costs, supporting four crews and acting as the primary point of contact for her project manager.
This project—a 24/7 dam expansion—is monumental. Once completed, the dam will be the 13th largest concrete dam in the U.S., tripling the water supply to Denver. The scope includes crushing over 1.8 million tons of rock and batching and placing approximately 1.4 million cubic yards of concrete. “This is one of the coolest and largest projects my company has done, so I am thrilled to be gaining so much experience and getting exposure to so many people within Kiewit,” she said.
However, working on a large-scale project like this in a male-dominated industry does not intimidate Lauren. “In my two years in the construction industry, I’ve come to realize a lot about my confidence and personality in the workplace,” she shared. “Trinity Hall allowed me to develop a confidence that I don’t think I would’ve gained had I gone to my town’s public school. I’m able to thrive in a field where I don’t feel intimidated and because of that, I’ve gained the trust and respect of my managers and colleagues.”
Beginning as the drill and blast field engineer at Kiewit, her roles have constantly evolved, requiring her to embrace challenges and adapt quickly. “Something different about my company is that people always have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I’ve held many different roles in such a short amount of time because as soon as I got comfortable with my work or responsibilities, I was put to learn something new,” she said.
After Trinity Hall, Lauren attended Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore where she studied mechanical and materials science engineering. Lauren also swam for Loyola’s Division I swimming and diving program. As a student-athlete, she balanced swimming and rigorous coursework, a skill set she finds invaluable in the professional world. “Being able to manage my coursework while being an athlete taught me a lot of skills that I’ve learned to be valuable and sparse in the professional world,” she noted.
Lauren’s journey is a testament to the power of a strong foundation and the importance of nurturing confidence in young women.
“I owe a lot of my success to what was instilled in me at Trinity Hall. I truly believe that I can do anything in my career and in my life,” she reflected. “Trinity Hall gave me such an amazing four years through both academics and athletics. I was able to meet my best friends for life and build unique relationships with teachers that allowed me to be passionate about any subject, ask as many questions as I needed to, and have fun while doing it.”
Her path from Trinity Hall to a leader in the construction industry serves as an inspiring example for our Trinity Hall community, especially our students, of what can be achieved with preparation, perseverance, and passion.