Project Engineer Jessica Markel finds working in the maritime construction industry empowering and is among Weeks Marine’s leading engineers at their Ellis Island project. As part of the Women on the Waterfront series, she tells us about her journey and her accomplishments, touching on why she chose engineering and maritime construction, her role with Weeks Marine, and what she hopes for other women in the industry.
You studied mechanical engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology. What triggered your interest in engineering? Was there a particular moment where you thought “this is what I want to do?”
My mom is a civil engineer, and my dad is a “gear-head”, so I’d say I had the best of both worlds in terms of technical and practical exposure to engineering growing up. As I got older, I always gravitated towards math and science in school, so between that and my parents’ backgrounds, engineering seemed like the natural choice. Ironically, I ended up studying mechanical engineering but ultimately working for a heavy civil engineering company, Weeks Marine!
There are a lot of places an engineer can choose to work. How did you get started in the marine construction industry?
I learned about Weeks Marine through an NJIT job posting email. After a bit of research on Weeks, I became fascinated with the complex work the company does.
Building anything on the water is a feat in and of itself, and I quickly noticed that Weeks is a leader in the marine construction industry. I knew that I wanted to be a part of their team and help build incredible structures.
Most recently, you’ve been at work at Ellis Island, an iconic location and vital stretch of waterfront. What’s going on there?
It is an honor to be part of Weeks’ work at Ellis Island, an iconic landmark where millions of immigrants first stepped foot onto American soil. In order to preserve Ellis Island and ensure visitors for generations to come can visit and learn about its history and heritage, Weeks is performing a rehabilitation of certain portions of the island.
We are installing a waterside combi-wall around a large portion of the island and encasing it in concrete; this helps stabilize the seawall. The ferry slip where passengers arrive at the island has received a complete overhaul with a new timber fender system as well as inshore strengthening behind the seawall. Granite repairs, slip scour protection, and landscaping are also aspects of the Ellis Island project.
Tell us more about Weeks Marine.
I think the most critical aspect of any company’s success is the team of people behind the name—and Weeks is no different. It’s our people that make the work we do possible. Weeks is a family-owned company, and they invest in us like family. Our fleet of equipment started out small but has grown to accommodate the constantly evolving needs of this industry, and, coupling that with the expertise of the people that work at Weeks—our crane operators, tug and dredge captains, mechanics, welders, engineers and more—has resulted in great success. With over 100 years in the business, Weeks has grown into one of the largest marine, dredging, and tunneling contractors in North America, but has not lost its family feel.
What’s been your role? Specifically, what does a typical day on the job as an engineer at the Ellis Island Seawall Repair look like?
I was the lead estimator on the Ellis Island bid, so I have been engrained in this project since March of 2020. It’s been so gratifying to watch a project of this magnitude and at such an iconic location evolve from estimating to execution. When Weeks was ultimately awarded the project in September of 2020, we knew it would be a significant undertaking and given the historical, national importance of Ellis Island, that we needed to have a tight approach to work that needed to be done.
As Project Engineer, my main focus has been on subcontract management. I handle contract negotiations and execution, scheduling, and overall coordination. Certain aspects of the job are complex in both coordination and management; at any given time, we could have up to six subcontractors on site. It is my job to organize the subcontractors and synchronize their work with other subcontractors and with Weeks to keep us on schedule.
What do you want other women in engineering to know about working in the marine construction field?
The marine construction industry provides great opportunity for both professional and personal growth. Initially, I thought I would have to work 10 times harder to prove myself to the men. Ultimately, I found that couldn’t be farther from the truth. From the moment I started working in the construction industry I was welcomed with open arms by men and women alike all with the same shared goals: to do great work and keep our way of life moving forward.
The perception that the construction industry is a “man’s world” is only true if we let it be. I came to Weeks Marine with a goal to be successful and have had tremendous support in doing just that. I think this industry can be either intimidating or empowering; I chose the latter and want to encourage all women considering working in this industry to choose the same.
What’s it like to lead the Weeks Marine team?
I take great pride in my ability to lead as a woman at Weeks and being the one and only leading lady currently here on Ellis has been an incredible opportunity to represent female engineers. Handling all the subcontractors on Ellis means I often interact with dock builders, laborers, and operators. I take pride in lacing up my boots and standing tall with the guys, all of whom are supportive and collaborative.
Weeks is a company that encourages and bolsters the careers of women in this. We are all on the same team working toward the same goals. We are always encouraged to dream bigger and reach higher.
Throughout my time at Weeks, I have worked with some fierce, strong, and intelligent women. To me, these women are an inspiration and motivate me always strive for greatness.
I would encourage anyone—especially other women—to consider a career with Weeks Marine. Since joining, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and work in Louisiana, both at our construction yard as well as within our Dredging Division. There is nothing better than a fresh beignet after work!
I’m also a graduate of Weeks’ unique Construction Division Accelerated Development Program (CDADP). The program rotates participants through the various divisions within Construction, allowing them to experience all of the different aspects of our work. Throughout my time in CDADP I got to work with and learn from extremely talented coworkers in estimating, safety, and on previous projects. The CDADP has made me a more well-rounded engineer and woman.
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As part of our Women on the Waterfront series, the Waterfront Alliance has conversations with women who work in the maritime sector in the New York-New Jersey region. Read other interviews from this year with Captain Zeita Merchant, Sharlene Brown, and Katie Mosher, or check out the 2021 Women on the Waterfront: Sarah Pennington, Mary Habstritt, and Genevieve Clifton.
