Heather Milne is a project manager with Parsons Brinckerhoff, based in the firm's San Diego office and she has more than 13 years of experience working on large-scale infrastructure projects throughout the United States.
A licensed professional engineer in California, Milne's project experience ranges from program management on a transit system rehabilitation project, to managing a multi-disciplinary design team for a fuel operations facility, to construction management on airfield pavement projects at San Diego International Airport. Her responsibilities have also included project and program controls, project scoping, design review and stakeholder coordination.
Milne's attention to detail, depth of understanding and ambition sets a great example for her team. As a part of the firm's internal management team in the San Diego office, she plays critical roles in business development, client relationships and project delivery.
Milne is currently supporting the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) as the deputy program manager on its $725 million Trolley Renewal Program, a major capital investment to bring the region's 30-year-old transit system into a state of good repair.
Prior to her transit work, Milne supported multi-billion dollar program management teams at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and San Diego's Lindbergh Field. She also maintains an active presence in the infrastructure services industry.
Milne is a member of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and is a member of the Construction Management Association of America. In May 2011, as part of ARTBA's Young Executives Development Program, Milne participated in a 5-day seminar in Washington, D.C., that culminated in a meeting with her U.S. Representative and networking with industry leaders from around the country.
Finding a Way
"As an intern in college, I worked on a project at Boeing in Seattle, Wash. The project slogan was 'Find a Way,' and was printed on posters, coffee mugs and other project-related materials. At the time it seemed to be nothing more than a catchy phrase. After working on multiple projects, each with different challenges, it has come to define my outlook on project execution — a reminder to stay creative and find a solution, or 'Find a Way' to get it done."
A Positive Impact
"The San Diego Trolley system is currently undergoing a major renovation and when complete in 2015, the new low-floor trolleys will operate on the entire network making trips faster, more comfortable and more convenient for all passengers. The trolley serves approximately 90,000 passengers on a typical week day. Being on a team positively impacting such a large group of people is truly rewarding and makes the everyday challenges seem small in comparison."
