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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
As part of our Member Appreciation Program, we are showcasing a member in our bi-monthly Board Member Spotlight. Our member spotlight recognizes members for their outstanding contributions to the profession and our local communities. For any questions regarding the program please email PastPresident@ymf-oc.org.
July/August
2026
INTRODUCING
Mia Martell
EIT
Design Engineer I
Mark Thomas
University Outreach Liaison
ASCE Orange County Younger Member Forum
PERSONAL LIFE
Where did you grow up?
Corona, CA
What made you want to become an engineer?
As a kid I loved solving puzzles, building Legos, and doing math. In middle school, I took drafting and architecture classes where we would draw geometric patterns and small structures. From this, I decided I wanted to be a Civil Engineer and began doing more research. As I watched videos on how structures and roadways were designed and built, I began to love Civil Engineering even more. When taking my college courses, I found transportation especially interesting and during my first internship I knew I wanted to be a Roadway Design Engineer.
Favorite hobbies, sports, and interests outside of engineering?
Some of my favorite hobbies include crocheting, painting, and trying new recipes. I also enjoy watching sports like baseball and football, although my teams hardly win.
Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me...
at Disneyland
What college(s) did you attend? Can you list your degrees, any honors, and involvement in engineering organizations during school?
I graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2025 with a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering. I was a part of ASCE as well as the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). During my time at the UCI student chapter I was a part of the Pacific South-West Student Symposium (PSWS) Transportation project where we won first place at both the 2024 and 2025 competitions.
WORK & PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Describe your responsibilities and some significant projects.
As a Design Engineer I, I have worked on a few different projects including the US Hwy 101 in Santa Barbara as well as a few city projects. With these various city projects, I have helped design curb ramps, cross gutters, bike lanes, and other aspects of complete streets and pavement rehabilitation.
What project are you currently working on and what have you accomplished/what are your tasks?
I am currently working on a 1.5-mile complete streets project in Los Angeles where I design curb ramps, median islands, and components of a Class IV bikeway. This project has allowed me to further develop my modeling skills and understanding of design elements. I also recently began a project in my hometown, the City of Corona, where a half-mile corridor is to be improved with Class II bikeways and additional upgrades along the roadway.
What is your favorite part about being a Civil Engineer?
My favorite part about being a Civil Engineer is learning something new every day. I get to solve problems while learning new concepts and design techniques that will help make me a better engineer. I enjoy being able to see a project come to life through the planning, design, and construction processes where the final improvements benefit transportation in local communities.
What skills do you find most valuable to focus on in your career?
Although I am still at the beginning of my career some important skills that I try to focus on are being detail-oriented in my work and having an eagerness to learn. It is important to me that I can take pride in delivering my best work, and even if/when I make mistakes I learn from them. Having a passion for my career and the desire to always learn more has made me excited to work on new projects and develop my skills as an engineer.
What drew you to your specific career path? If you could start your career differently, what would you do differently?
I started my career interning for the City of Yorba Linda where I learned how to understand roadway plans. After researching as-builts, reviewing plans, and creating exhibits I knew I wanted to transition to designing plans. From there I started an internship with Mark Thomas where I was able to learn so many different aspects of roadway design on the Santa Barbara US Hwy 101 project. I am happy with how my career started because I made amazing connections with the City of Yorba Linda staff and learned so much about the industry.
ASCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
How/Why did you get involved? Why did you choose to stay involved?
In college, I joined ASCE because I wanted to be more involved with Civil Engineering students and work on projects outside of class. I met some of my best friends working on ASCE PSWS projects and I wish I had joined the club sooner to benefit from all that ASCE has to offer. YMF had provided so many opportunities for me in college so I wanted to join the University Outreach team to give back those same opportunities to current students. Being a part of the University Outreach team this past school year was so wonderful and I can’t wait to help plan events for next year.
How has ASCE impacted your work and/or what is your favorite benefit of your involvement?
ASCE has been a great way to give back to students and I love planning events with other young engineers. Many of my coworkers are also involved in ASCE and two of them represented Mark Thomas at our University Outreach Specialization Station event. ASCE has been a great way to connect with students and expand my own network within the Civil Engineering community.
Who is someone you Admire and Why?
I have so much admiration for my mom because of her positivity and kindness through life’s challenges. She has always pushed me to be my best and encouraged me to learn from my failures. I would not be the person I am today without her resilience.
If you have one piece of advice to give to young professionals what would it be?
Ask questions and learn as much as you can. When I started my first internship I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but over time I grew a lot more comfortable and confident in my skills. Asking questions and ensuring that I truly understood the tasks I was working on has helped me become a better engineer throughout my career.
Lastly, what would be your personal motto?
Keep moving forward
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