As Project Manager for CHA Consulting Inc., Mary D. Kerstein, PE is responsible for designing, permitting and construction coordination for many airport projects. She was involved in the Evansville Regional Airport Runway 4-22 RSA Improvements Program. Kerstein and her team improved the runway to comply with the FAA Runway Safety Area standards.
“There is a broad range of what I get to work on that keeps things exciting. I’m working on obstruction removal, wildlife fence installation, that is on the small side of the projects and then also larger projects like rehabilitation of runways,” Kerstein said.
Kerstein was named the 2018 Young Engineer of the Year by ACEC Indiana and 2019 National ACEC Young Professional of the Year.
Kerstein went to the University of Evansville where she obtained a bachelor’s of science in civil engineering. She had several internships and trained in FAA Airport Planning and Design and project management.
Kerstein is passionate about encouraging young women to pursue careers in engineering. While she was a junior in high school, her mom sent her to an engineering camp. Her mom noticed her interest in math and science.
Kerstein is now an advocate for young women whom she wants to encourage to pursue careers in engineering. She also helps raise funds to provide scholarships and other opportunities. Kerstein serves as president of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) of Greater Indianapolis. She is on the Young Professionals Committee for Aviation Indiana and has been on the Education Committee for ACEC Indiana where she was the subcomittee chair for the Scholarship committee. She currently sits on ACEC Indiana’s Workforce development committee.
“My driving factor is to encourage girls to go into STEM fields,” Kerstein said. “It was not something that I was exposed to when I was young and many other girls are not exposed to engineering at a young age. When I was growing up girls typically did not play with Legos and we need to encourage those activities in young girls.”
Kerstein was part of the Education Committee where she helped organize and participate in ACEC Indiana’s annual Engineer’s Week activities. She would visit local schools to help encourage careers in engineering.
