This week's guest is Dawn Dodge, PE, Shareholder at Kimley-Horn. Dawn is Kimley-Horn's St. Pete Office Lead and a Professional Engineer with over 16 years of experience. Her experience in both commercial and municipal land development makes her a knowledgeable and adept project manager with a complete understanding of the issues encountered on a variety of projects. In this episode, Dawn shares her career journey from intern to office lead and shareholder at Kimley-Horn, discussing the lessons she's learned along the way. She also talks about her experience working on various civil engineering projects and how she balances her responsibilities.
Welcome back to the second season of She’s Wild, the Podcast for Women in Land & Development. Today's guest is Dawn Dodge, PE, Shareholder at Kimley-Horn. Dawn is Kimley-Horn's St. Pete Office Lead and a Professional Engineer with over 16 years of experience. Her experience in both commercial and municipal land development makes her a knowledgeable and adept project manager with a complete understanding of the issues encountered on a variety of projects.
In this week's episode, Dawn shares her career journey from intern to office lead and shareholder at Kimley-Horn, discussing the lessons she's learned along the way. She also talks about her experience working on various civil engineering projects and how she balances her responsibilities.
Memorable Moments:
4:20 I was on the team that was selected for The Pier Approach project here in St. Pete. And that was very, very exciting at the time, because you know, talk about placemaking projects and being involved in that as the civil. It really was five years of my life, that project from concept to community engagement to implementation. And so that really got me passionate about St. Pete. I built relationships with you know, the whole community, the leadership within the city, and that's when I became passion about St. Pete and I helped open our office here. We opened in 2018 with 17 people. And so now fast forward, now we've moved locations and we're over 50.
15:36 Being an office leader is a challenge, but I really do enjoy it. And it's really rewarding, seeing my staff growing as well. We're developing others that are now growing and so it's very exciting.
20:01 I think that something that brought me really far is I haven't been afraid of taking risks. I messed up before; and I've learned from it. And now I'm so well rounded. I could have just stayed comfortable, working on single family and some industrial, but instead I kind of kept taking big risks, stumbling, learning, and now I'm so grateful for it.
Connect with Nancy:
Instagram:https://instagram.com/nancysurak
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancysurak/
Website: www.nancysurak.com
Connect with Dawn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnmdodge/
She’s Wild Sound Production by: Luke Surak, Surak Productions: surakproductions@gmail.com
Nancy Surak00:00
Welcome to She's Wild, the podcast for women in land and development. I'm your host, Nancy Surak. I created this podcast as a way to collect conversations of women in the land and development industry. I've been a land broker on the west coast of Florida for nearly 20 years. And I love to empower other women and to tell them about this amazing industry. But I find often that there just aren't enough women being featured on big stages, whether that's at local conferences, or nationally. So I set out to find these women myself, that are killing it in my business across North America that are changing the communities that they live in every single day, whether they're building condos, multifamily, single family, office, or industrial projects, I hope that you will find this space to be inspirational, motivating, and educational. From time to time, I will feature women who are not only in my business, but also career coaches, and motivational speakers. Hello, welcome back to She's Wild, the podcast woman in land and development. Today's guest is Dawn Dodge, a shareholder, and the St. Petersburg, Florida office lead for Kimley Horn. Dawn is a professional engineer and a very dear friend of mine, Dawn, welcome to the show. I'm happy that you're here today. And I can't wait to get into your story and your background. So I'm going to hand just turn it over to you and you say tell us a little bit more about yourself in how you became what you are today at Kimley Horn.
Dawn Dodge01:38
Sure. Thanks, Nancy. Thanks for the intro. And thanks for having me on the show. Very excited. But a little bit of background on me because actually, I was talking to someone the other day that asked how I became a civil engineer. So it's top of mind but grew up in New Jersey and decided that I wanted to go to Florida for school. And so in high school. My teachers just said that, you know, since I really liked math and science that I should look into engineering, so I said, Okay, sounds good. I had no idea what engineering really was, I just knew it had to do with math and science. So that's how I got into engineering, came to University of Florida, for college. And then clearly I loved Florida, so I didn't look back, getting into engineering. I had an internship with Kimley Horn. I ended up in actually in Lakeland, didn't know anything about Lakeland just knew that it was kind of close to Tampa, which I had been. So that's why I ended up there. But people were great. So after college, I joined Kimley Horn full time in Lakeland. They're worked on a lot of large scale projects, one of the most notable projects was actually streamsong. So that was a project that I did the stormwater for. And I like to say that you know, that project kept our office going through the recession is very large project or almost all whole office was working on it. So that was that was pretty exciting and kind of coming out of the recession. I realize I'm a little bit more of a city girl. So that is what brought me to Tampa. So I went to Tampa and there I worked on a lot of program work so Walmart's so did a lot of Walmarts learned a lot about working with a program. The fast pace. And then slowly I got introduced to public sector projects. So I landed upon a high rise in downtown Tampa Skyhouse Channelside. And so that that was pretty cool, an urban project, very hands on. And then I then got exposed to a park project Perry Harvey Park, which is an urban park in downtown Tampa. And with that, I started developing this passion for placemaking projects. So you know, while I'll do a Walmart all day, these projects just were a little bit more special to me. I was on the team that was selected for The Pier Approach project here in St. Pete. And that was very, very exciting at the time, because you know, talk about placemaking projects and being involved in that as the civil. It really was five years of my life, that project from concept to community engagement to implementation. And so that really got me passionate about St. Pete. And so that's where it's a high profile project, complex projects. So I built relationships with you know, the whole community, the leadership within the city, and that's when I became passion. about St. Pete and I helped open our office here. And so we opened in 2018 with 17 people. And so now fast forward, now we've moved locations and we're over 50. So that's a condensed version of what got me here.
Nancy Surak05:20
That's amazing. That's a great overview, because I was like thinking, Okay, well, what were the projects that you worked on? You've worked on some pretty notable ones. So I'm going to just take a step back. For the benefit of folks here listening, that might not be familiar with Streamsong. I know what that is. Could you give us just kind of a very quick, concise overview of where that's projects located, say, like in relation to Tampa Orlando, because that might be what most folks can relate to. And then what, what exactly is it?
Dawn Dodge05:50
So Streamsong is Mosaic's land, their mining land, which is in Fort Meade, which is essentially the middle of nowhere. It literally is, because we had to build a treatment plant. We had to build a roadways, we had to build everything. So yeah, so I would say halfway between Orlando and Tampa, an hour South middle of nowhere. So there, we built a resort and three golf courses in the middle of nowhere, and it's a retreat or project. Yeah.
Nancy Surak06:22
Absolutely. Beautiful, great golf course. There. I guess. It's a hotel and like a conference center, correct?
Dawn Dodge06:30
Yeah. It's like a retreat, meant to be for a retreat. And because of that, it's unique because of the phosphate mining. There's all of this topography. So it's you don't feel like you're in Florida when you're out there.
Nancy Surak06:41
Yeah, it's a beautiful project. But it is clearly in the middle of nowhere. I tell the story, the first time I ever went there. The cell towers aren't really developed.
Dawn Dodge06:50
Yeah, yep,
Nancy Surak06:51
That was. And I pulled out and this was is early, like maybe a year or two after it open. I pulled out and I had my phone open. And I needed to take a right or left whatever it was, I needed to go one direction. And I accidentally went in the opposite direction. And I drove for a little while. And I was like, I'm in the wrong place. And my phone just would not refresh. I was like, Oh, my God, I do not have an atlas in my car. I don't know where I am. And I ended up just turning around and driving in the other direction. And then I was fine, you know, eventually got another cell tower. But I think they've made improvements since back then.
Dawn Dodge07:31
A little bit. Yeah, yes.
Nancy Surak07:33
But it really is a great project. So thank you for explaining what that what that is. You also mentioned the Pier and St. Pete. Yes. That is a definitely a placemaking project in our region. It's absolutely gorgeous. Tell me a little bit more about the pursuit of that project in some of the more intricate details associated with the work that you did there.
Dawn Dodge07:58
Sure. So. So with that project there, you know, there was a pier itself overwater pier, and that had its own selection process. And it was kind of complicated. But once once that team was officially underway under design and selected, the city was able to secure additional funding for the uplands. And so they went out to an RFQ. So with that, we partnered with W architecture out of New York, and Wanamaker Jensen, who's a local architect that we have relationships with. So we teamed together for that in the RFQ. And, you know, clearly we are successful, and we won the project. And so, with that project, like I mentioned it, you know, so not only did we have to go through the normal process, which is concept, community outreach and design, we also had this full peer team that we had to coordinate with. And we also had to catch up to them, because they were a little bit ahead of us. I argue a lot ahead of us. And again, our budget was smaller than theirs as well. So so that was that was fun, as well, fun challenges there. But yeah, what's great is, you know, we started off with the concept plan, and really the I mean, just just as far as Kimley Horn, so So I was, you know, at the time, you know, I look back and I can't believe you know what I did at that time, I learned a lot throughout the process. It was a very, very challenging project. You know, it started off with the parking requirement. What is the parking requirement for a pier like this? So, our team had done a parking study for all of downtown St. Pete. So we had a lot of data. And so we worked with our partners. My transportation folks worked with our partners across the firm. And just to figure out what's the right mix of parking because you've the architects that said no parking, and they And you had economic development guys that said, we want more parking. So it was this this fine balance there. And then throughout that it was, you know, the stormwater and getting that to work. And and I'd say the, the biggest challenge on projects like this is, you know, there's only so much funding. And when it comes to the engineering, you can't see that you can't feel that you can't, you know, actually use it. So it becomes a big challenge when it comes to the civil engineer, when, you know, when when the budgets come in, they see this big bucket under civil and they turned to me, they say, how can we reduce that? So that that definitely was a big learning experience is okay, how can we get creative still keep the integrity of a design? And then at the end of the day, you know, we, we can't flood, we need water we need sewer. So it was I would say that was the biggest challenge. Definitely.
Nancy Surak10:59
What a great opportunity, though, for you. Right, as you are right before you were about to open the office. today. Well to have the opportunity to build all those local relationships.
Dawn Dodge11:09
Yeah, exactly.
Nancy Surak11:10
I mean, obviously, that's like a career changing project. Right.
Dawn Dodge11:15
Yes.
Nancy Surak11:16
Be able to demonstrate your leadership skills and your ability to kind of not only manage that whole process, but just demonstrate to your company that hey, like, I'm good here, which is cool. Yeah. And you did mention another project that you're working on now. And I know, it's probably because it's really, really early. But one of the more notable ones, is the Trop. Right. Right. Yeah, tell me a little bit about I know, it's very, very early. But tell me a little bit about what your role will be on that particular project?
Dawn Dodge11:44
Again, very early. So you know, so yes, we were successful, our team, the Heinz and race team in winning the RFP, the mayor has selected our team. So you know, provided that all goes well, then yeah, our role, you know, will be the, the transportation and the civil engineering for, you know, the 86 acre development. So, you know, it's going to start off with, you know, master planning the infrastructure, we need to, you know, make sure we have enough parking phase phasing is going to be huge figuring out how we're going to do this, as well, as you know, designing it with the, you know, the future in mind, you know, this isn't gonna happen overnight. So we're gonna have to plan for future changes, you know, we don't want to over Park, we want to, you know, make sure we provide infrastructure for new technologies. Yeah, that in a nutshell, will hopefully be what we'll be working on.
Nancy Surak12:45
And for the benefit of those folks who maybe aren't in the local market, you know, we were dropping like, sort of nicknames of some of these projects. So the Trop is Tropicana Field, which is where the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team plays today in an antiquated facility or older facility that the city of St. Petersburg owns the 86 acres. And they're looking to redevelop that and reposition it. So that's what you guys are on the team for with Heinz. So I just wanted to clarify that for folks who may who may be thinking, what is the Trop? Yes, yeah, here locally for us, because we live in this market in the name of a region and you're in St. Pete market. We know what that is? Yes. For those of and that's a very large project. It's a very large scale. Project, not only regionally but exceptionally large for St. Pete. I don't know what their overall square footage, I mean, acreage is in downtown, but it's a big chunk.
Dawn Dodge13:40
It's a big chunk. Yep. In the heart. Yes. Yeah.
Nancy Surak13:43
So I appreciate that. Thank you. You mentioned that when you opened the office in St. Pete, you had 17 people on your team, and now you have 50 What has that been like going from being a project engineer working on the true civil stuff, and then transitioning in your career to be both that and a people manager? What's that? Like?
Dawn Dodge14:08
Yeah, and I think it's good that you you pointed out to that, that it is both I'm not just an office manager. So it is, it is, you know, doing both or we call them you know, seller doers. So, you know, I, on one hand, I'd first like to say that, you know, I love it, I'm passionate about it, I absolutely love it. On the other hand, sometimes I do step back and I'm like, how, how am I juggling this and the different hats I put on a day. You know, for instance, today, you know, I have my project calls, and then I have some employee issues that I have to deal with today. Then I'm looking at a furniture plan for our kitchen because we recently moved in and we need furniture and then Switching over to, you know, we have a public pursuit, so strategizing on that, and then to marketing. So you know, so that's my, you know, one day, you know, that's that. So I would, I would to summarize it, I do love it because I stepped back and I'm like, I feel like, I accomplished so much I touched so much, and I'm really passionate about it. And then sometimes it's it is where, you know, I need my Fridays are a good day to just say, okay, or sometimes I just stay at work late, you know, once a week, and it's just okay, let me actually just just, just me catch up on everything. But yeah, I would say it's it is it is a challenge, but I really do enjoy it. And it's really rewarding, seeing my staff growing as well. And it's, you know, it's working. As far as you know, we're, we're developing others that are now growing. And so it's very exciting.
Nancy Surak15:50
Ya know, that's awesome. And I didn't, I wasn't very active on social media for Engineers Week. But that was recently. So happy Engineers Week. I heard stories about how different engineering companies were celebrating that do you guys have I know, every once in a while, y'all, you guys will do some really cool things in your office. But from a morale standpoint, did you do anything cool during Engineers Week? So I'd probably spin it just because there was Engineers Week. But But But this didn't specifically coincide with it two weeks ago.
Dawn Dodge16:25
Every office, we have different roles for our younger folks. So one is a VP of Fun. So they get a budget. And they're responsible for organizing things throughout the year. And one thing that they actually organized two weeks ago, on a Friday afternoon was a scavenger hunt. And so the scavenger hunt was the they did a great job coming up with it, they split us up to teams, they came up with all these rules. And basically, there's 25 things you could do, you could get points for different things. And basically, it ended at Corrigan's, which is a pub here in town that actually I guess it's close now, but things involved, ride the sun runner and take a picture, go to Fergus and have a drink, go to the pier and take a picture. You know, all these things that have to do with things in the community. And you know, just getting us all together and of course competing. So that is just just something that we kind of did. It was a little bit before the Engineers Week, but it was definitely a team morale boosting. You know, all of that is really cool.
Nancy Surak17:30
So much fun. I'm trying to remember there was something I remember you. You guys did, but I can't remember exactly what it was you did something with, like decorating all of your office space. Oh, we did that. Yes. For Christmas. It was the decoration contest for Christmas. Yes, the different teams. And so development services is what I do. And so we we came in a little bit late, we were slow moving, but then we came in strong. And yes, we won Yeah there were great pictures. It looks like say fun. So
Dawn Dodge18:02
It was fun. It was definitely I was like, I really hope this is gone. By the time I come back for the new year because it's a lot.
Nancy Surak18:11
Awesome. We do think back over the period of when you got out of school at UF. And you started off your career. When you think back then could you have imagined where you would be now?
Dawn Dodge18:26
No, not at all. I think about that. And sometimes I try to think about that in you know, now I think about it irrespective how you know, I have you know, I mentor, you know, my staff and, you know, you know, my first gut instinct is just to say, you know, brush it off. But you know, sometimes like you have to reflect and be like, Okay, no, like, I do really need to dig deep and see how this was possible because I want to bring up others, you know, that are around me? I don't necessarily have the answer yet. But I do think about that, you know, and I'm still very close to the people in Lakeland because they were like family to me, and they say to me, you know, how proud they are, you know, coming from little ol Lakeland and just you know, moving up the ladder. So I think the biggest thing probably is just not necessarily that I knew what I wanted, but I just you just keep getting better and you keep moving forward. And I tell my staff that too is just anything that happens. I you know, it's just you keep getting better. And you know when I got to low point, I feel like many points in my career I got to low points. And it just I remember there's one project with a client and I just thought to myself it was okay what's the worst that can happen? They fire us okay. They're gonna fire us but I know now I learned what happened there it what I could do better. So I know that's never gonna happen again. And and then that's just the mentality have with everything now. And I think that that is something that brought me really far because I haven't been afraid of taking risks. Because I messed up before. And it's been I've learned from it. And now I'm so well rounded. You know, I could have just stayed in Lakeland, comfortable working on single family and you know, some industrial, but instead I kind of kept taking those risks, stumbling learning, and yeah, now I'm so grateful for it.
Nancy Surak20:28
I remember when I first met you, and you were working in the Tampa office, and you were like a project manager in the Tampa office. And then before I knew it was like, like, she's opening the office in St. Pete, this is amazing. And having had the privilege of serving on different boards with you and watching you just in your career. I'm like, oh, like, go like slay it like, especially, you know, in our world where there's not a lot of women at the table. It's even more pronounced. I mean, certainly for me, and I talked about it all the time on the show. There aren't very many women, land brokers, there's just not a lot of us. It's the same thing for females in your space. I can count on maybe on one hand, the female PEs professional engineers that I know, personally in Tampa, maybe two hands, but that's stretching, stretching it from not only private work, but into the public sector as well. Yeah, that's one like, oh, it's probably two hands. But it's it's not folks who I necessarily interact with on a pretty regular basis. Exactly. Yeah. And I, you know, and it is, you know, people like you to I mean, you've always been so welcoming and encouraging. And it does, it takes a village, it really does. And you know, you know, I, you know, I know we joke about how, you know, you would always speak up and say well, okay, at all these board meetings, well, where's the woman? Where's the woman and people will roll their eyes. But then when you weren't there? We were like, well, where are the women because Nancy is gonna yell at us. But it's so great, because it's such a difference you made by doing that, because it worked. It worked. And really, it really did. And just for the benefit of the folks here today, what she's referencing is some ULI, the Urban Land Institute in Tampa, and may not being afraid in the room being the brave, I mean, not that other people weren't willing to ask the question. It was just sort of like, nobody was asking the question. In the room at the table, in next company, but many women were asking the question, one on one with other women. And I just said, you know what, I'm going to die on the sword. I don't care. I'm going to ask the question. I'm just going to ask who about diversity on panels and different speaking opportunities and being on boards? And like, who's good? Who are we pulling into the room? And, and you're right, like, it was scary for me. Because I knew that was kind of like, well, why are why are you asking this? And I'm like, I'm not looking to rock any boats. I just think that if you don't ask, there will never be change.
Dawn Dodge23:02
Exactly.
Nancy Surak23:03
And now I'm really proud of that. And that was I think that work started like six years ago, seven years ago. And now. Yes, I made that difference. It wasn't just me, right? Like women like you are like, yeah, why? Why? Asking the question when I wasn't there. And men who were also proponents, they were heroes to like in the room, that now I can see like in a in some of these professionals actually will come up to me and say like, I'm so glad that you asked those questions, because now I'm much more aware. Yes. So, so that's what that's all about. Okay, back to Dawn. So Dawn, when you look back at your, the course of your career, Kimley Horn, is there a project that is your favorite project that you just saw? Like? I love that. I love what I did there. I'm super proud of it.
Dawn Dodge23:54
It has has to be the Pier Approach project? Definitely. Because yeah, there's just so many layers to it. And what I love is, is going out there now, I remember when we had community meetings, and you know, we asked the community, what would you like to see out there? What would you like to do out there? And then the architects would present the plan. And they would say, you know, here's a place, you know, where people can walk their dog, they could do yoga on the lawn. And I remember, again, kind of coming back from Lakeland, smaller town, I was like, okay, who's gonna do that? And they're like, oh, people of all income levels. And I walk out there now, and it could be Tuesday afternoon. And it really is being used like we had hoped. And it's just so incredible to see that and, you know, be part of it. And it really it is just to walk around the community now, and there's so many things I could look at and say, I've touched that, you know, we did this and so yeah, that's yeah,
Nancy Surak24:56
You're feeling a little bit of your fingerprint is left on some of those projects, right?
Dawn Dodge25:00
Exactly, yeah.
Nancy Surak25:01
What a what a cool story. Because I mean, and I talked about this all the time how I take credit for everybody's projects that if I'm involved, yeah, the ones I'm not involved the ones, right. Like, I'm like, I built that when that is not true. I'm ugly and broke or I do not build anything. It's sort of the same thing for you guys. Right? It's like, I was involved in that I remember making that decision. Yeah, you know, and to know that you've made a positive impact on the overall community is so awesome. And something you can share with your kids, which is, like mommy designed that go? Yeah. They're gonna be like, what? But it's awesome. Okay. Has there been any major challenge that you've faced, either in becoming the office lead or on a project that you really learned something from that you'd like to tell us about?
Dawn Dodge25:55
What you said, just kind of brought one to mind. And it? It was, it was a thought, challenge your mind. So. So we had we had planned on opening the St. Pete office, it's just looking for office space, and you know, how stressful it is, and how long it takes, and you've have, there's not a lot of offices in St. Pete. So get finding the right space. It was it was pretty drawn out. And so I had, you know, always known that I wanted a second child. And so right, when we finally were kind of locked in, where we knew that we were going to open October 2018, just shortly after that, and I was, you know, lined up to be the we call it OTL, the office lead, I found out I was pregnant. And you know, it was very exciting. But then, panic. I was like, how am I supposed to so I found out that I was pregnant. Our office was opening in October, I my due date was March. So I'm sitting here thinking, how is this going to work? And I you know, I panicked? Because, you know, I've obviously it's very exciting, but you know, I'm going to basically open office and be out for three months. So I probably kept it quiet for a little bit. And then and then it finally came out. And you know, I just was, you know, again, it, it. It was just hesitation and just concerned because again, logistically, how's this gonna work? You're trying to open a brand new office? And how could you have the leader out, like, it just didn't know how it would work. But, you know, I was, you know, pleasantly surprised with the support I had from the leadership. And it was amazing. And, you know, and I actually talked to them now about it. I'm like, what I was like, how, what was going through your guys's mind, you know, because I was figuring, like, what does it do? You just need to put someone else now. And they said it, they're like, you know, it, you know, it's, it's about the long term, and it's about the people, and you know it, okay, you're gonna have a couple of months that you're out within your back. And in the end game is, you know, this is the right move. So I just so appreciated that, you know, they, you know, took it that way, and you know, it provided the opportunity. But it was definitely a big concern to me, because there's such a happy, happy space, but then I was a little concerned, but it did work out.
Nancy Surak28:29
Yeah, I once took a job before I was in real estate. And I didn't know it when I took the new job, but I was pregnant for my second and I had no idea. Like I didn't know like I was like, oh, like two weeks into the job. I'm like, Oh crap, I am pregnant. I was like, Oh, my God, I was similar, right? Like, what's gonna happen? Is this gonna hurt me? Like, how long do I need to keep the secret when am I going to start showing? Yeah. And it all worked out. I think it was all like, in my own head clearly, like, it was totally fine. But I was just like, so if there's a message in there for any females or guys really, who are listening, who have a wife that has a profession, it's all going to work out. And if you're at a place where they're not supportive, then you need to know that and that's a great time to learn anyway.
Dawn Dodge29:18
Exactly, exactly. And now I tried to you know, is we have people that, you know, they, they're having children, and it actually is nice that I'm able to have that story. Because then they really believe us. It's like, no, trust me, you're gonna be fine.
Nancy Surak29:33
Well, in being able to say like, listen, like the company recognizes that her employees have to come first and you guys have private lives, right? You have a personal life and we want to support you in it. And that's honestly probably like the best recruiting story you could ever tell. Because you can say like, Look, I I interned here and look at me now. But yep, it's a great, great example of just how to do it, right. So I'm super proud of you and happy for you.
Dawn Dodge29:59
Thank you.
Nancy Surak30:00
Okay, Dawn, so I do rapid questions at the end of every interview. These are pretty easy. So we'll just get started on those. You're ready?
Dawn Dodge30:08
Yep.
Nancy Surak30:09
First, if a young person called you and said, I really think I want to pursue a career in engineering, or design or architecture or being a developer, but I'm not quite sure where to start, and I'm looking for some advice. What would you tell them?
Dawn Dodge30:26
Are they in college?
Nancy Surak30:28
They can be any age, or imagination, just such an engineer. If it's somebody in college, what would you tell them? If it's somebody after what would you tell them?
Dawn Dodge30:39
I would say and I got this idea actually from you, because you know, you did such a great job with with your kids with this is shadow shadow. We've had that, you know, someone will shadow our office is perfect example. We have. We have engineering, we have transportation, we have landscape architects, you know, so so definitely shadow ask questions, really understand what this career is. And yeah, then make your decision.
Nancy Surak31:03
Yeah, awesome. Okay, cool. Second question is, have you read a book or listened to a podcast or consumed any sort of content recently that you find particularly inspiring that you would like to share with the folks that are here today?
Dawn Dodge31:19
I would say conversely, one of my outs are basically how I spend my time is really with mindless things like Tik Tock and, and Real Housewives. I say that is like the best thing I do do some, you know, leadership books and stuff that are recommended to me, but really, I just need escape at all.
Nancy Surak31:38
You know, it's funny that you say that, and I'm gonna to applaud you right here. it here because not everybody will admit that. But I once had someone from the Business Journal interviewing me for like a feature piece. And they asked me, what do you do in your downtime? Like, basically kind of thing like, what kind of content do you consume? And I was like, Oh, I'm a fan of the Kardashians?
Dawn Dodge32:00
Yes. Yes.
Nancy Surak32:02
The trashier, the better and they printed it. I was horrified. I was like, Oh, my God. For me, I was like, I am on so much during the day that at night, I really need my brain just to like, not have to work very much.
Dawn Dodge32:18
Exactly, exactly.
Nancy Surak32:19
So I get it. 100%. Okay. And finally, if folks wanted to keep up with you, in your professional quest, Are you active on any social media like LinkedIn, or anywhere like that, that they can kind of just keep up with what you're doing or paying attention to? And you're, you know, in your leadership, at Kimley Horn?
Dawn Dodge32:37
Yep, LinkedIn. Yeah, LinkedIn definitely is the one that I use. All right. Awesome.
Nancy Surak32:42
And is there anything else that you like to share at this point with folks who are here, just kind of listening into our podcast?
Dawn Dodge32:49
I don't think so. I really want to thank you so much. You know, so you know, you've been an inspiration to me, and you've been so supportive of me. So it's just such a great, you know, I feel like we have such a great group and community here in the Tampa Bay Real Estate Community. And so it's just yeah, I'm really grateful and thankful.
Nancy Surak33:06
Well, I'm super proud of you. And I'm really happy to be able to just be a witness to your career. trajection and kind of, I know that like really awesome things are still on the horizon. And I'm super excited for you. So thank you for joining me today. It was a pleasure getting to know you even a little bit better. And yeah, we'll see you soon. Awesome.
Dawn Dodge33:27
Thank you.
Nancy Surak33:27
Thanks. Thank you for joining us for another episode of She's Wild the podcast for women in land and development. If you enjoyed today's show, please go out and rate us so that we can be found by other women in our industry. And if you know women who are working in land and development, please share this podcast with them. And if you know a total rock star woman, badass chick who is killing it inland and development anywhere in North America. I want to know who she is. Please reach out to me so that I can feature her on an upcoming episode.