Jennifer Usher, PE // Senior Project Manager, Principal // Hartford, CT Office // Employee Owner since 2005
How long have you been at BL? I started September 19, 2005.
What drew you to engineering / why did you become an engineer? My interest in engineering stems from my grandfather and my love of Legos as a child! When I was a freshman in high school, my grandfather asked me if I had given any thought to a future career. He told me about the work he did as a civil engineer at the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) on a variety of public infrastructure projects, and I thought, “This is what I want to do!” Choosing civil engineering has afforded me opportunities in a variety of different subfields – I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a diverse array of projects, including site development, highway design, bridge design, utility design, and more.
What is your favorite part of your job? The best part of the job is the people I work with – I am part of an amazing team! They are incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, and have so much expertise and experience. We also get each other’s humor, which helps ease things when stress levels get high. I also really enjoy working with our clients and continuously learning new things. When you find a position like this, you want to hold on to it!
You’re the program manager for the CTDOT CLE Bridge contract – can you tell us a little more about that program, how you got involved, and what lessons you’ve learned over the years? As the Consultant Liaison Engineer (CLE) for the CTDOT Bridge program, my role involves overseeing bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects across the state. We handle everything from evaluating options and making recommendations to managing hydraulic design, environmental permitting, utility coordination, and construction support. It’s a fast-paced job that requires balancing multiple priorities to ensure projects stay on time and within budget. I never expected to be in this role since I’m not a bridge engineer, but the challenge drew me in. Seven years later, I know I made the right choice—the experience and relationships I’ve built are invaluable. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is trusting my team; once I did that, I could focus on serving our client and making a real impact.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun? My favorite way to decompress is spending time with my dogs, Oliver and Emersyn. I also enjoy playing golf, puzzles, and playing board/card games. Unfailingly, I spend the first 15 minutes of every morning sipping tea and solving NYT’s daily puzzles – solving them all will give a boost to my day!
