Job description: Kirsten has been with Michael Baker International for over 23 years, working in the rail industry for over 20 years. As national director of freight rail, she is responsible for setting up the practice for growth by leading a team that delivers solutions that modernize the nation's freight-rail infrastructure. Kirsten has grown the practice significantly and helped the firm become a preferred consultant for several freight carriers. Her contributions and freight-rail client relationships have become 30% of all the firm's total new work within the Rail and Transit business since 2010.

Why she's influential as a mentor: Kirsten has made a huge impact in the profession, having worked on and managed major transportation projects. She has been a trailblazer for many women within Michael Baker and has long been instrumental in developing more women into successful railway engineers.

Kirsten has made mentoring and encouraging younger engineers a point of significant emphasis in her career. She is a model for many female rail engineers and consistently breaks down barriers in the profession to lead her projects and teams to success. She develops, trains, promotes and empowers female rail engineers. In 2023, she and other female leaders at Michael Baker created the Women's Executive Network, to develop a platform to elevate each other in their careers, support involvement in Women's Transportation Seminar and other women's professional organizations, increase gender diversity at the executive level, focus on mentorship and foster an inclusive environment for all women.