Meet Mónica Quiñones

Can you share some interesting project stories?

I have a lot of stories from my work with our national parks. Recently, I was at Bandelier National Monument. At the end of our site visit on the first day, we decided to hike and get to know the park better. We just wandered around and enjoyed the history and beauty of the facility. We told the client about our experience the next day, and they were surprised. They told us that they don't have many contractors that take their personal time to explore. It speaks to the value we see in our work for them. 

Another exciting story is that I worked on another project in Catoctin Mountain Park, which many people don't realize is Camp David's location. Working around the security requirements and visiting a park with that significance and history was fascinating. While visiting a groundwater well building, I even saw a helicopter fly in and out and wondered who was coming to stay at the camp. There is always something happening in the parks; every park is a new adventure. It is fulfilling to make a difference in places you visit with family and friends. 

What do you think is the biggest challenge in working on our federal contracts?

Most of our federal clients deal with infrastructure that has reached the end of its design life. They are also faced with limited funds in a market with changing conditions that significantly increase construction costs. All this limits the amount of work our clients can accomplish within the funds appropriated, so we work hard to find solutions and deliver cost-effective designs while preserving the historical and natural resources at the parks.

If you aren’t working, where can we find you?

I love spending time with my family, going to the beach and traveling. We also have an RV and try to go somewhere at least once a month, visiting new places and learning their history.

Can you share one piece of advice?

Never walk away from an opportunity. Even if it’s not exactly what you are looking for, it will always have some potential. Learning and challenging yourself is crucial because that is when we grow as professionals.

My work with the NPS came as an opportunity six years ago. One of my mentors reached out because one of my colleagues was stepping down from their role with Shenandoah National Park, and my mentor offered me the opportunity to take over the project. While it was a completely new government entity to me at the time, I can’t even imagine my life without it now. I love working for the parks and making a difference.

What do you enjoy most about working at #OurJacobs?

Several things come to mind, but most importantly, people and opportunities. Working with the most talented and passionate group of people is gratifying. Even though we work for a large company, as we deliver projects together, we create strong bonds within our teams and support each other to grow and develop. There are also so many opportunities. At other companies, moving up the ladder is hard unless someone else leaves a position. That's not the case at Jacobs, whether you want to be a technologist, manager or leadership role. I have moved to ten different offices because of my husband's military service, and the company has been supportive throughout the past 18+ years. These moves never kept me from opportunities and allowed me to work with various clients and people. The possibilities are endless at Jacobs.