Legacy - Volume 3, Number 2 - (Page 22)

All-Stars Professional Looking to the skies DMJM Aviation’s Mastropieri plans a takeoff to me over the years has enhanced my experience so that it encompasses many different facets of airport planning as well as managing technical work,” she adds. And Mastropieri’s role continues to expand. She is currently serving as a planning project manager, under DMJM Aviation’s program manager Joe Glowacki, P to oversee the upfront components .E., required to justify the implementation and construction of a future parallel runway at the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. Lisa Mastropieri’s love of flying led her to the engineering and planning industry. Now that her career has taken wing, Mastropieri is dedicated to helping others. As a founding member of the Women’s Development Forum (WDF), an internal initiative that seeks to create an environment to attract and cultivate talented women leaders, Mastropieri has a goal of mentoring women planners and engineers within DMJM Aviation. >> ect manager, spent many summer days at air shows with her father. Over the years, she went from just marveling at the technology of flight to envisioning herself as a pilot taking to the sky. “I was always fascinated by airplanes and dreamed of becoming a pilot,” says Mastropieri. “Aviation seemed a natural fit.” But Mastropieri’s dreams were grounded by the cost of flight school and the limited career expectations for women in nontraditional fields. “For me, flight school costs at the time appeared to be as much as medical school,” says Mastropieri. “And, in those days, women weren’t encouraged to pursue nontraditional careers.” Instead of becoming a pilot, Mastropieri became a junior high school teacher—but during her three years of teaching she never quite abandoned her childhood ambitions. Finally, Mastropieri returned to school, earning a master’s degree in aeronautical technology from Arizona State University (ASU). “I realized there were aviation careers that did 22 Legacy—VOLUME 3: NUMBER 2, 2008 G rowing up in Massachusetts, Lisa Mastropieri, DMJM Aviation associate vice president and senior proj- not require a pilot’s license and I was excited to pursue them,” adds Mastropieri. “The engineering and applied sciences program at ASU was a way of reaching my goals.” After earning her master’s degree Mastropieri headed to New York City, where she started her career serving as an airport planner/airport noise analyst working on airport noise compatibility studies and master plans for a DMJM Aviation predecessor firm—and she has since worked her way up from there. Mastropieri is using the expertise she has gained over the past 20 years in many ways. Since August 2007, she has served as project director for a general engineering contract (GEC) at Florida’s Flagler County Airport. Over the past six months Mastropieri and her team have provided a variety of services, including an environmental assessment for the relocation and extension of a runway and the development of minimum standards and rules and regulations for the airport. Mastropieri’s broad range of expertise prepared her to lead the many challenging aspects of the project. “The variety of project opportunities presented “Through WDF I am able to serve as a mentor , to advance the careers of other young professionals in the industry,” says Mastropieri. Her commitment also extends to school-aged youngsters. “It’s important that women in scientific fields participate in community events so that young people—particularly young girls— see science as an exciting field and know that there are no limits to what they can become.” It’s that zest for aviation-related work that has earned her respect throughout the company. “Lisa brings great enthusiasm and technical ability to our projects,” says Frank Wengler, P .E., vice president and planning and engineering practices leader for DMJM Aviation. “She has earned the respect of our clients.” These days Mastropieri doesn’t have to dream about flight. She is part of a profession that makes it happen. From teacher to pioneer, Lisa Mastropieri has earned her wings. L

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Legacy - Volume 3, Number 2

Legacy - Volume 3, Number 2 Contents In the Zone Gaining Altitude Six to Go: Planning Projects Promise Increased Mobility Women's Development Forum On the Move in the Southeast Protecting the World's Future Making the Grade Coming to America A Dedication to Development Looking to the Skies Spotlight on People and Projects An Aviation Innovation

Legacy - Volume 3, Number 2

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