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For Justin Ford, being an engineer checks all three boxes for a happy work life: 1) Working with people who are smart and that he respects; 2) Being continuously challenged and always having to learn new things and develop a more diverse toolbox; and 3) Being shown recognition and positive reinforcement for the hard work.

He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in civil engineering and Spanish language from Montana State University after researching the engineering profession during high school.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to go to college and had no desire to write long dissertations and term papers, so I decided to double down on the technological side of learning. But I still didn鈥檛 really know what it was that an engineer did, specifically, or the differences between the many disciplines. I think access to and awareness of engineering is really lacking from a general high school education, or at least it was in mine and I have heard similar stories from others,鈥� he said.

Ford said his favorite projects are those that are visible to the rest of the world, as so much public water and wastewater infrastructure goes unnoticed by the average passerby. He also likes retrofitting structures. His work includes the Hannah Mason Pump Station in Willamette Park, a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant in Parkdale, and the 鈥渢win towers,鈥� one new and one refurbished water storage tanks, in rural Pleasant Home.

鈥淭hese three projects were unique for different reasons, but especially that they were, respectively, in prized park space and gaining public approval was challenging, a diverse team of project members and technologically advanced, and the perfect harmony of building new infrastructure adjacent to refurbished aging infrastructure,鈥� he said.

Colleague Erin Reed describes Ford as 鈥渆verything you would want in someone you work with. He鈥檚 approachable and light-hearted, is committed to his craft and has a passion for the work he does, and has a strong commitment to community outreach work as well.鈥�

Ford鈥檚 community service involves Water For People, which builds water and sanitation infrastructure in rural and impoverished communities worldwide and promotes safe hygiene.