March 2009
Molly O'Toole is the President and project manager of Molly O'Toole & Associates, Ltd. based in Lombard, Illinois, and has been a diplomate of AAWRE since March 2006. Ms. O'Toole has been part of stormwater management in northeastern Illinois since the Illinois General Assembly authorized countywide initiatives in 1987. She has extensive experience working in both the public and private sectors, and her involvement in stormwater management and natural hazard mitigation stretches across local, state and federal levels of government. To read bio
Most fun class while in school:
"Governing in a Democracy," a case study course at Harvard with Marty Linsky.
Most fun project you worked on:
Addison Creek Watershed Study, 1988, crazy schedule, lots of folks helping, tight budget, got it done, and still had a sense of humor and money at the end.
An item you always wanted:
A castle.
Favorite song & artist:
"What a Wonderful World," Louis Armstrong.
Favorite movie:
The Shawshank Redemption.
Molly O'Toole & Associates, Ltd. is a consulting firm specializing in stormwater and watershed management and natural hazard mitigation. Molly O'Toole & Associates, Ltd. is a women owned business and certified with the City of Chicago and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. To get to know Molly more personally, she answered some questions that we had for her back in mid-March:
Can you share with us a bit on where you grew up?
MO: I grew up in Michigan; born in Muskegon and grew up in Lansing. Lansing was home to Oldsmobile and REO. "Rush hour" was around shift changes at the Lansing Assembly Plant. Lansing is the capital city of Michigan and area residents enjoyed the activities and culture at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Lansing is situated along the Grand River and I remember our family taking a drive on the interstate to see the homes below inundated by a Grand River flood.
What made you become interested in civil engineering and particularly to specialize in stormwater and flood management? Was it something that you knew early as a student in school?
MO: My father is a civil engineer and spent his career with the Michigan Department of Transportation. He spent his early career in bridge design and construction offices, but by the time I inquired about his job - and asked what he did - he was in the Maintenance Division and he answered, 'well, I answer a lot of mail these days.' It sounded very boring to me (I think I caught him on a bad day). The summer after graduating from high school he shipped me off to a woman in engineering camp at Michigan Tech University (his alma mater). While I went under duress, I had a great time. I wish I had this introduction to engineering half way through high school. After the camp, I opted to study chemical engineering at Michigan State, but in my mid-sophomore year I switched to civil engineering. The public service aspect civil engineering was appealing. And I need to thank my father for the constant, gentle nudging that civil engineering was the place for me. And he did many notable things in his career besides answering the mail!
In college, I did an internship with a Michigan highway department, and I also worked for Dr. Mackenzie Davis at MSU who specialized in wastewater treatment. Through those processes of elimination I opted for a job doing watershed modeling with the Illinois Office of Water Resources as my first job after college.
We've read that you serve as a science fair judge for your local school district in Illinois- are you still participating as a judge and did you ever participate in a science fair project yourself as a student?
MO: Sorry, I wasn't a science fair participant. I don't recall the opportunity in middle or high school. But, yes, I still serve as a science fair judge in our elementary school district. I work in the word 'engineering' as often as I can. I've also participated in our middle school's industrial technology classes where they ask parents to come in and talk about careers. Since they do a bit of drafting in the class, the school has great success bringing in architects to show house plans and so forth. One of my sons said 'hey, my mom has surveying equipment!' So I've brought in a laser level, an old hand level and an old planimeter. We had a great time measuring. We also spent time looking at aerial photos, which the students found fascinating. My message is the classroom has been, 'if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up, get an engineering degree. You will probably find that you like engineering. And if you don't, you still won't go wrong with a technical degree in your back pocket!
We understand that you served and lived in Honduras for a period of time? What fond memories do you have of that part of the world or memories that really have stayed with you?
MO: This was actually a two-week temporary duty (TDY) with the Air National Guard. I was part of a team of engineers and architects sent to design base facilities that were to be constructed by other Guard units that followed us. This was in the mid-1980s and the U.S.'s activity is the area was part of a joint task force, which included all branches of the military. I was a young lieutenant and sure learned fast. It was the rainy season and the full-time personnel enjoyed leading you to believe that the approaching rain cloud was nothing - but once you saw a cloud it was almost too late to get under cover. It took me a while to avoid getting soaked, but with the hot temperatures it wasn't too bad to get cooled off!
What made you decide to pursue a master's degree in public administration and what was it like to attend classes at Harvard?
MO: I recall hearing on a number of occasions comments such as 'engineers aren't very good managers.' I pursued a public administration degree partly in response to comments such as that (which may or may not be true), though mainly because my position with the State of Illinois had me more involved in legislative and policy issues - and I enjoyed it!
At the Harvard Kennedy School (full name is Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government) I participated in the Mid-Career Program where seven years of policy experience counts toward your master degree work. Course work is over one year and you must take at least eight courses - and all of your own choosing. This was the main draw for me to Harvard! I was fortunate that I was able to talk an educational leave from my job for less than a year.
All of Harvard's professional schools allow you to take courses at the other schools (Harvard Law, Harvard Business). With this kind of educational freedom, one of my classmates called the program "Intellectual Club Med." He was right; the vacation from the work place offered countless opportunities to enjoy the classic Harvard case study courses, or economics or negotiations, and policy.
I have to mention what an advantage it was to be an engineer and participating in the program. Many of the young students or my mid-career colleagues cringed at the math involved in the economics courses or mapping out negotiations exercises. With my technical abilities I was always welcome to any study group!
You started your own firm in 2003- about the same time when AAWRE was being created. Operating your own firm for the past 5 years- can you share on what it's been like to be in charge of your own firm?
MO: It's been quite enjoyable; it's been challenging, educational and rewarding. I was encouraged by my previous employer to go hang my own shingle, and it has been a worthwhile endeavor. Once you are up the learning curve of incorporation, taxes, book-keeping it's really just engineering, as usual. I've resisted growing as a company - I have children at home that still need plenty of parenting but the growth opportunities are present and hopefully will remain so.
And in these difficult current economic times, has it affected your firm directly and how have you coped?
MO: We have not been affected. Much of the work that I do is related to FEMA programs. Since the natural disasters continue, the hazard mitigation planning and project workload through FEMA and state and local emergency management agencies is increasing.
You've done a lot of work with FEMA in your career- are you still highly involved? Are you planning to continue to be involved in many of the organizations that you have been working with?
MO: Yes, and I hope to remain involved in FEMA programs. Much of my interest in FEMA and state-level programs comes from my years with the State of Illinois. It's a challenge to create and manage federal programs that are effective at the local level, and FEMA has been an agency that welcomes input on how to better their programs. As for the organizations that I'm involved with, I hope to be more involved in the future (when all done with PTAs, Scouts, sports)!
You are one out of the first select group(s), that became diplomates of AAWRE- since March 2006. For you personally, what types of services or efforts would you like to see AAWRE pursue or do you envision?
MO: It strikes me as odd to hear that I am in the first select group. I see so many water resources engineers that are senior to me, who do not hold master degrees, and yet they made very significant contributions to our profession. To me, they are the first group! I would like to see AAWRE further pursue the "grandfathering" of engineers of a certain age that has only a B.S.
And what was your primary reason for pursuing the D.WRE?
MO: To be considered as part of the "profession." By that I mean, water resources has grown and expanded as an area of study and management over the last several decades. From that growth, water resources is now a more definitive field. I think we all have had those moments of trying to explain to someone what we do. We said something to the effect "... I work with floods and I work with communities...." I think we'd all prefer to be able to say, "I'm a water resource engineer" and have folks know what that means. Yes, it may be some time before we get that far, but it's a goal that I'm happy to help facilitate.
Which honor that you have received so far, do you personally cherish most and why? Being "Young Government ASCE Civil Engineer of the Year", earning "Commendation Medal, United States Air Force", being part of Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society, serving as ASFPM-Stormwater Management Committee Chair, or serving as ASCE-Central Illinois Section, West Branch Vice Chair? (or something else)
MO: Hmmm, I'll have to say "Young Government ASCE Civil Engineer of the Year", partly because I was in such good company with the [of more mature age] "Government ASCE Civil Engineer of the Year", Kay Whitlock! Truly they were all wonderful honors and opportunities, but at the Illinois Section ASCE award dinner for the Young Government Engineer I did get to apologize for having said to my father when I was a teenager that "I'll never be a civil engineer! I can't think of anything more boring to be!" I am happy and proud to be part of this profession.
Can you share with us a bit on what you like to do, when you are not busy working? A favorite hobby or interests?
MO: I enjoy golf and theater and traveling. I have three children that keep me from hobbies at the moment, but my husband and I are enjoying their activities. If the budget allows when the children are done with school, I'd love to go to more professional and college sports events. And I hope to make my way north, south, east and west to see our world.
Being an alum of Michigan State University- do you follow Spartans basketball? And if yes, do you have any predictions for this upcoming March basketball tournament?
MO: Absolutely, I follow Spartan Basketball! Tom Izzo was an assistant basketball coach when I was there. He's definitely gotten more excitable over the years! And, of course, I think this will be the year for State to win the NCAA. Keep in mind, however, as a Chicago Cubs fan, and like all other Cub fans, I always say "this will be the year?"
What would you like to see yourself doing, 5 years from now?
MO: My dream job is to be the Secretary of the Interior! When I was a kid I thought the Secretary of the Interior got to decorate the White House, but now that I know what the Secretary really does, I would enjoy the job even more! Seriously, in five years I hope to still enjoy working with my company, and continue working with clients and consultants that I am so proud to be associated with.