Growing Globally: Olivia Millard’s JacobsGo! Experience

What were you most excited about? 

Going into this experience, I was excited to learn from technical specialists in Oregon and develop my design skills. On the personal side, I looked forward to exploring the Pacific Northwest outdoors – trail running, skiing, hiking and camping. 

What kind of work did you do in your JacobsGo! role? 

Like my role at home, my workload spanned a range of diverse projects. They involved concept level designs of treatment plants to support capital planning, detailed design of treatment systems, quality control management and development of an interactive facility map dashboard as part of program management efforts. 

One project that was a key focus during my time in the region was early works for a water treatment plant. The project centers on the design of fish intake screens and raw water pump replacements which will help the city maintain reliable operations through upcoming major upgrades at the plant. 

What was the best part of your JacobsGo! experience? 

There were so many wonderful moments, it’s hard to choose just one! Overall, my favorite part was meeting and connecting with the team in-person. I reconnected with colleagues who have transferred from Australia to the U.S., met people I had only ever seen presenting in community of practice or on Network of Emerging Water and Wastewater Technologist calls and discovered mutual connections from across the globe. This experience has made our huge company feel more approachable and has given me the confidence to make the most of being part of a global team.