A Passion For Engineering
Kayla’s journey into engineering began at a young age, inspired by her father, who operates a family-owned metal fabrication shop. As a child and young adult, Kayla would often accompany him to work, lending a hand and soaking up the skills of the trade.
“At job sites, he would draw on a piece of napkin paper, sketching out what he would go back and weld or build,” Kayla recalls. “Watching my dad bring his vision to life was incredibly inspiring and is what sparked my interest in engineering.”
After graduating from Sedro-Woolley High School, Kayla pursued a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in material science at Washington State University. She was one of four women mechanical engineers in her class, an accomplishment she holds with great pride.
“My advice for young women entering the engineering field would be to work hard and never doubt your place. Your dedication will earn you the success you deserve,” states Kayla.
From Intern to Full-Time Engineer
During the summer between her junior and senior years, Kayla returned to Skagit County and applied for an internship at Janicki. Familiar with the locally based company, she was excited to join the industrial team, which tackles diverse projects across various industries, from energy to transportation, architecture and marine applications.
“I really loved my internship,” Kayla reflects. “I enjoyed working on the industrial team because of the variety of projects.”
Six months after graduating, Kayla was offered a full-time position as a project engineer at Janicki. She started out working on a transportation project, managing schedules and mold fabrication for a composite bus. Kayla valued the opportunity to oversee every stage of the project from start to finish.
“As a project engineer at Janicki, you get to see our products evolve from initial concepts to final delivery,” she shares. “Many engineers don’t get that experience, which makes Janicki truly unique.”
Creating Unique Solutions
Among her many projects, Kayla particularly enjoyed working on large-scale composite artwork panels for the Bay Area Rapid Transportation (BART) system. These panels, made from infused fiberglass reinforced plastic and decorated with 2-tone gel coat artwork patterns, now hang from the ceilings of subway entrances around San Francisco.
“I take great pride in knowing that I helped engineer those panels and that they are enjoyed by many people daily,” Kayla says.
Life Beyond Engineering
Outside of work, Kayla embraces the outdoors, often found hunting, fishing, or spending time with her dogs and husband, Mike. Before starting college, she competed in professional rodeo and barrel racing, traveling across the western United States each summer. She still enjoys spending time with horses and is grateful for a career that supports her diverse passions.
