Samantha Harker is a structural engineer at FOCUS who was introduced to the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) world long before choosing a career. With a father who owns a commercial wood framing company, Samantha explains, “Growing up around job sites and seeing projects come together sparked my interest early on.” This early curiosity ultimately led Samantha to pursue a career in the AEC industry as a structural engineer. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys spending time at her cabin, dirt biking, paddleboarding, and hiking, while hobbies like sewing, knitting, and crocheting provide a creative outlet.

Finding Her Path in AEC

Seeing how individual components come together to form a complete structure created a strong appreciation for the engineering behind the scenes. When it came time to choose a major, structural engineering stood out as the perfect blend of problem-solving, creativity, and real-world impact. One of the most rewarding aspects of her profession is seeing designs come to life. She says, “It is really rewarding to support contractors during construction, answer questions in the field, and then eventually see the building completed.”

Learning and Growing at FOCUS

Mentorship has played a major role in Samantha’s professional development. Her coworkers at FOCUS have influenced her growth not only by sharing technical knowledge, but also by teaching her how the construction industry operates and how to communicate effectively with clients and contractors. “I have learned so much from my coworkers,” she said. “They have helped me understand how things work in the field and how important clear communication is in a successful project.”

Early in her career, Samantha faced the challenge of stepping into responsibility and design work sooner than expected. “Knowing that your work affects real structures can be intimidating,” Samantha explained. “Asking questions and learning from experienced engineers has helped me build confidence.” One of the most interesting projects she has worked on is the Ivory Innovations Office Building. “It pushed me to think creatively and explore new approaches while working closely with others,” Samantha explains.

Looking Ahead

Samantha’s long-term goals include obtaining her Professional Engineer license and continuing to work on larger, more complex projects. She also hopes to eventually take on management roles where she can help guide projects and mentor younger engineers. “I want to pay forward what others have taught me.”

What Samantha values about working at FOCUS is the experience she has gained and the supportive team environment. The team encourages questions, is open to teaching, and provides opportunities to work on a wide range of projects, allowing her to learn quickly and build confidence. “One of the biggest lessons I have learned at FOCUS is the importance of detail and constructability,” Samantha said. “Every detail matters. It is critical to think through how something will actually be built.” We are excited at FOCUS to have Samantha growing alongside us.