Kicking it into High Gear: A Q&A with Brandy Creed

There are many basic moves in Taekwondo and Krav Maga, but Rail and Transit Group Leader Brandy Creed is far from a beginner. With her extensive background in martial arts and the rail and transit industry, she constantly takes her projects to the next level.

We sat down with Brandy to discuss her approach to rail and transit in Florida and how she is kicking things into high gear.

Tell us about your journey with Jacobs.

I joined Jacobs in 2008 through an acquisition. At the time, I was in the process of changing my career. I had been doing a lot of work in water design projects and switched over to a more transportation-focused portfolio. I left Jacobs and became an in-house consultant to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), also known as Tri-Rail. 

In 2019, I rejoined Jacobs, and it’s been a completely different experience. I’m working in a different market with another group, which speaks to the many careers you can have at Jacobs. I am very happy to be back.

You’ve been involved in advancing Rail and Transit for most of your career, what sparked your passion for this market?

Before my family moved to the United States, we lived in Costa Rica and were frequent public transit users. We would take the bus downtown to parks, events, the beach and even the movies. We wouldn’t think twice about planning our trip because there was so much access to public transit. After we moved here and I started working in the field, I realized how much planning goes on in the background. Seeing the diversity of the projects was fascinating because it’s not just a static bus or train. These projects cross neighborhoods and counties, each having its unique challenges and communities. Many disciplines and stakeholders are involved, and each project is its own adventure.

How has being a Florida resident shaped your approach to rail and transit programs?

Rail and transit in Florida are in their infancy, so we are building up these systems while revolutionizing what we provide to the community. Public transit focuses on commuters and job access, so it’s not just another way to travel but another option we provide to the community.

I spend a lot of time in the community and with community leaders making sure we have funding to expand these networks. An example is we are working on several Federal grant applications to create safer, multimodal corridors. The first step to developing the system is ensuring you have the capital and operating funds for these projects. Being a Florida resident allows me to look at projects through the lens of the community and better serve the people on these systems every day. 

What do you see as the biggest challenges for growing rail and transit in Florida?

I think the biggest challenge is efficiency—rail and transit need to run quickly to be attractive to passengers. Right now, most of the transit runs between 15 and 30 minutes which could be more efficient and convenient. The stops also had previously been developed in old, inaccessible industrial areas. On top of that, waiting anywhere in south Florida for more than five minutes means you're sitting in the sun. If it's not the sun, it's a sudden rainstorm. We always joke that it rains sideways here.

So, taking in all those challenges, we need to make public transit more convenient for its passengers and cost-effective for our stakeholders. Adding air conditioning to a station, while you aren't hot, is more operating cost. We must be thoughtful about how we can benefit both parties.

What is your favorite part of working with the community in Florida?

I love the diversity and culture. There are so many different points of view and influences in one region. Many people come to Florida from other countries and communities, and they can share their experiences. We can be pioneers right now, expanding and developing our transit into a major network like the other regions across the Americas. With our diversity and expertise, we can bring that vision to life, creating a system that works for us. It won’t be the system in New York or Boston, but one that will work for Florida. I’m excited to be a part of that community.

How can we use technology to better serve our clients?

There is so much data out there that I am surprised when I see projects where we are still going out and surveying how many people use a bus or rail system. There are so many other ways we can improve the data by using technology. We can better understand the movement of people and vehicles through the data at StreetLight. For example, their platform can measure vehicle, transit, bike and foot traffic virtually anywhere. It even has specific modes where you look at different times of the day. I definitely see this as the future of how Jacobs can support clients in this market. 

What's one career highlight that you can share?

My career highlight really comes from my struggles. When they promoted me to the Director of Engineering and Construction at SFRTA, my department had just taken over managing the maintenance of the South Florida Rail Corridor. This was a very time-consuming area of the business, and at the same time, I was managing a significant design-build project. On top of all of that, I was getting my graduate degree. 

I felt very accomplished making it through that challenging time. Maintenance and operations were new and intimidating, but I learned so much. I also completed the design-build project, all while getting straight A’s in school. Managing those competing priorities and taking care of my two little daughters at home –  overcoming all of it was a highlight.  

When you aren’t working, what do you do in your downtime?

I love to workout. I enjoy running, and my husband is a martial arts master, so we practice Taekwondo and Krav Maga together. We have two daughters who also participate with us. It's a great way to get together and spend time as a family.

Something else I enjoy is getting my family together to sing karaoke. I like heavy metal, so my go-to songs are Metallica and Guns N' Roses.

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to have a career in this market?

I advise my staff to be active in at least one professional association. There are a lot of associations for rail and transit, and they apply to more than transportation engineers. These projects bring together many fields, so participate in as many associations as possible. 

These associations are also great places to find a mentor. I would also recommend keeping a database of all the people you meet. This database is a great place to list their expertise, and you can draw upon their experience whenever you have a question about a project. 

Finally, when you meet new people in the industry, connect them with others. That way, they can expand their networks. You never know whom you might need to reach out to and when. There are so many experts in this field, so you need to keep contacts at your fingertips.  

What do you enjoy most about being part of #OurJacobs?

I love our culture. I never feel like I am one out of 60,000. I feel like I am part of a tribe. I have an amazing team where I have the freedom to contribute to the organization and the community. I can speak up with the support of my supervisors and the people I work with daily. The Florida team is small, but we are very passionate and love what we do. I love working with them, and that’s why I love Jacobs.