July/August 2023 - 74

The Die Was Cast
A job opportunity with TDOT in the geotechnical
section came along soon after
graduation. Walters reminisces, " My
love of rocks and my fascination with
the rock cuts along the interstate must
have inspired me more than I thought. "
One of her early assignments with
TDOT was working off a barge on the
French Broad River in winter, which
her colleague and supervisor at the
time, David Barker, described as, " not
exactly a pleasure cruise. " Barker
continues, " As our least senior engineer
in the office - and because it was a good
experience for her - she was the logical
choice. She accepted the opportunity
enthusiastically. I would like to say that
it was part of a great master plan that I
had but it was more of a coincidence or
luck. " Walters earned her " chops " on
that project, which was the beginning
of her becoming a top-notch engineer
in the geotechnical section, and formed
the basis of her interest in the use of
drilled shafts for TDOT projects.
Walters loves the variety of each
project. Tennessee's unique geology
means that any two jobs are never the
same. As she puts it, " I enjoy the puzzles.
I also love using new innovations in my
work. " In this vein she mentions how
her involvement with DFI led her to
having conversations with Peggy
Hagerty Duffy, P.E., D.GE, who is the
executive director of The International
Association of Foundation Drilling
(ADSC). She is a fellow member of DFI's
Women in Deep Foundations (WiDF)
and Drilled Shaft Committees. It was
there in which they discussed using air
track drills for drilled shaft investigations.
Walters noted that their conversation
sparked a research idea for her
regarding air track drilling for measurement
while drilling (MWD).
Ann and Charles Walters honeymoon at Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Walter's work at TDOT is wide and
varied, which suits her just fine. This
includes testing, deep foundation
evaluation at both the design and
implementation stage with a special
focus on drilled shafts, the management
of consultants who undertake design
and testing functions, report review, and
fostering multi-discipline teamwork.
Despite this heavy workload she also
finds time to participate in not only DFI
but also the American Society of Civil
Engineers and the National Society of
Professional Engineers for which she
has made multiple presentations in her
areas of expertise. As part of her
involvement in WiDF, she contributed to
the committee's " It Takes a Village "
column series in Deep Foundations.
Walters enjoys the collaborative aspect
of her involvement in DFI.
When it comes to her take on opportunities
for women in civil engineering
she offers, " I say 'go for it.' I have been
having the time of my life. The everchanging
projects coupled with the
ability to get outdoors and not be in
front of a computer screen all day long
make this a perfect job. "
Summing Up Ann's Journey,
So Far
Walters harkens back to her days with
her mom collecting trace fossils. She
says, " Small organisms traveling
through the mundane day-to-day
happened to walk through the mud 5
million years ago. Sometimes trips
through the mud have been fossilized
for the whole world to see. I have
recently taken that as a life lesson. You
never know what everyday thing you
do might create a forever mark on
someone. I try to do my best to leave a
positive mark wherever I go. "
All who know and work with Ann
know that is exactly what she does,
every day.
74 * DEEP FOUNDATIONS * JULY/AUG 2023
Osama Drbe at a site investigation
July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2023
