Stratus

Today, in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re showcasing Norma Merrick Sklarek. As the daughter of immigrants and the only African American woman in her class, she graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Architecture. However, while Sklarek was highly qualified and intelligent, she was denied access to 19 different architectural firms and spent four years at an unwanted job. A decade later, she became the first African American woman to hold an architecture license in New York. This certification landed Sklarek a job at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which became the foundation for the rest of her career. Later, she would become the first African American woman architect in California to be licensed. Her notable projects include the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Terminal One station at the Los Angeles International Airport, and the Mall of America. Sklarek went on to co-found the largest woman-owned architectural firm at the time, Siegel Sklarek Diamond. (Source: Wiki, Adobe Stock) #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces #architecture

Today, in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’ll be showcasing Robert Robinson Taylor, the first African American to be enrolled and graduate from MIT. His impressive success in academia continued from there. As the first accredited African American architect, Taylor was in high demand. Booker T. Washington, the first leader of Tuskegee Institute, sought after Taylor in hopes he would come work at Tuskegee as both a teacher and a leader in building on campus. While at Tuskegee, Taylor collaborated with Washington, drawing lots of inspiration from MIT. His projects extended beyond Tuskegee, including Carnegie libraries in both Texas and North Carolina. Along with his architectural work, Taylor found himself as the vice-principal of Tuskegee and was chairman of the Tuskegee American Red Cross. (Source: Wiki, MIT, Library of Congress) #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces #Tuskegee

Exciting news! Engineering Strategies, Inc. (ESI) is now part of the Stratus Team! Their deep expertise in water and wastewater engineering strengthens our ability to deliver even more impactful solutions for municipal and industrial clients across the Southeast. Together, we’re building smarter, more sustainable water infrastructure. Welcome, ESI! We look forward to what we’ll accomplish as one team. Read more in our press release: https://bit.ly/3XfK2W0 #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces #Engineering #WaterResources #Partnership

Today, in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re showcasing Aprille Ericsson-Jackson, aerospace engineer. She was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at Howard University and a Ph.D. in engineering at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Ericsson has continued to work for NASA for the last 30 years, serving in many different roles. Her work has left lasting impacts in various departments, from stabilizing spacecraft through missions to managing science instruments like the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS). One of her most prominent works includes assisting with the James Webb Space Telescope mission. Presently, Ericsson is the head of the Instrument Systems and Technology Division within NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Apart from her responsibilities as an engineer, Ericsson has dedicated a significant portion of her life and career to mentoring young individuals and students. (Sources: NASA, Wiki) #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces #nasa #AerospaceEngineer

Today, in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re showcasing Howard P. Grant, an engineer with many firsts. Grant graduated from the University of California Berkeley College of Engineering with a degree in Civil Engineering. This accomplishment made him the first African American graduate of the school. He then went on to become the first African American engineer for the city of San Francisco and the second licensed African American engineer in the entire state of California. Beyond his groundbreaking achievements, Grant was deeply immersed in the engineering community and played a pivotal role in education and support for the Bay Area and beyond. A mentor to numerous young African American engineers, he founded the Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers, a beacon guiding aspiring talents into the realm of engineering. (Sources: SEA CA and LinkedIn) #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces #CivilEngineering

#NationalEngineersWeek is in full swing! Today, we're spotlighting Rebecca Griggs, P.E. from Morris + Associates. Thanks for the insight, Becca! #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces #CivilEngineering

Celebrating the brilliant minds of engineering this week! Your creativity and problem-solving skills fuel innovation and drive progress. Thank you for pushing the boundaries and imagining what's possible! #EngineersWeek #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces

Attending the AEC M&A Summit? Don't miss our CEO, Brandon Enochs, as he shares his insights at the "The Private Equity Path - A Perspective from an Emerging Leader" session. Mergers and acquisitions are transforming the AEC industry, and Brandon will dive into how firms can navigate private equity opportunities for growth and long-term success. #Acquisitions #Privateequity #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces

🌟 Welcome to the Stratus Team, Dion! Your aviation expertise and firsthand industry insight make you a great addition to Prime Engineering, Inc. and Stratus. Excited to see your impact across the Southeast! ✈️ #StratusTeam #PrimeEngineering #BetterPlansBetterPlaces

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth join us in celebrating the architects and engineers who have left their mark in the A/E/C industry. Today, we are showcasing Ursula Burns, the first African American CEO of a Fortune 500 company. After earning a degree in mechanical engineering, Burns began an internship with Xerox, only to become the CEO of the company 30 years later. While working, she also earned a Master of Science degree from Columbia University. Since stepping down from her position at Xerox, Burns now serves on many different boards to prominent companies including Nestle, ExxonMobil, and Boston Scientific. (Source: Wiki, Adobe Stock) #StratusTeam #BetterPlansBetterPlaces #womeninSTEM