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Young Tunneller of the year: Amanda Kerr, USA

Young Tunneller of the year: Amanda Kerr, USA

24 November 2019

“The Tunneling Industry provides many opportunities for quick thinking and creativity in a technical environment; I look forward to more engineering challenges and to further mentor young engineers to succeed in a demanding industry.” 

Amanda received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Spanish Literature, as well as a Master of Science in Engineering in Construction Engineering. Throughout her Undergraduate studies, she held leadership positions in her university’s Chi Epsilon, ASCE, and NASTT student chapters performing STEM outreach activities, particularly focused on Underground Infrastructure, with surrounding elementary schools and youth programs. As a winner of the NASTT Michael E. Argent Scholarship, bringing more talent, diversity, and focus to the trenchless industry is of utmost importance to her. She began her construction career with heavy civil work with the Southwest Branch of Granite Construction, on the Tucson International Airport project in Arizona (US) where she gained firsthand knowledge of the success possible by the proper implementation of alternative delivery methods. She then went on to work as a heading engineer on the Northgate Link Extension with MichelsJaydee-Coluccio. Following this position, she worked as a Lead Field Engineer for the joint-venture of Michels-Jaydee on the Blacklick Creek Sanitary Interceptor Sewer (BCSIS) tunnel project. She was involved in the TBM Design and Hardware selection, led a team of engineers managing the construction of eleven shafts, served as lead project scheduler, and managed the BCSIS Environmental program. After two years, she became Lead Project Engineer, where she oversaw major structural design modifications that significantly reduced construction costs and saved the project over 180 calendar days, as well as successfully negotiated project change orders with the client, preventing any outstanding claims. Amanda currently works as a Lead Project Engineer for the large diameter tunnelling division of the Michels Corporation