Celebrating inspiring women at JEO
March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the incredible contributions of women—both past and present. We asked our team to nominate female coworkers who inspire them—and their stories of dedication, leadership, and encouragement are too great not to share. Throughout the month, we’ve recognized these women for their passion, leadership, and dedication to shaping our workplace and the world around us. Here are a few excerpts from their internal interviews.
Driving Excellence
Sarah Rosenau, Senior Project Coordinator ǀ Lincoln, Nebraska
Sarah’s expertise and passion keep countless projects on track. But her impact goes beyond individual projects; her leadership and drive inspired the expansion of the project coordinator role at JEO.
What motivates you to do your best work?
“I love creating quality work and helping others do the same. I’m motivated by my great team—the better my work is, the more it helps them by providing tools that make their jobs easier. It’s been energizing to see the ripple effect of my work on other teams and departments. Recently, I’ve realized how much I resonate with our cultural theme of ‘teach and learn.’ It’s my favorite part of coming to work! I love teaching, and can’t wait to document and pass along everything I know.”
Embracing the Journey
Maricela Paramo, Transportation Engineer-in-Training ǀ Grand Island, Nebraska
Maricela is passionate about designing safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure. With experience in road, trail, and land development projects, as well as construction inspection, she plays a key role in helping municipalities build stronger, more connected communities.
How do you define success for yourself?
“I define success as the sense of fulfillment that comes from knowing I gave my all to a situation, regardless of the outcome. Success isn’t always about achieving a specific result; it’s about the effort, hard work, and courage to try. Even in failure, there is growth and experience. To me, success is a continuous journey of striving, learning, and embracing the process.”
Cultivating Curiosity
Allison Koranda, Proposal Team Leader ǀ Wahoo, Nebraska
Allison navigates the high-stakes world of proposal development with exceptional dedication and precision. She plays a critical role in ensuring JEO’s proposals meet strict, immovable deadlines. Balancing time management and collaboration with the pressure of those hard deadlines, Allison’s expertise and leadership are vital to our success.
Do you have a favorite quote or motto that you live by?
“I had the privilege of working with Terry O’Brien, the ‘O’ in JEO, for several years. When I started with the firm, I was a young 20-year-old with no prior knowledge of engineering or architecture, so you can imagine how many questions I had. Often, I’d preface my questions with, ‘I have a dumb question.’ After about the 10th time that first week, Terry told me, ‘There’s never a dumb question. Always stay curious, that’s how you grow and learn.’ This perfectly embodies JEO’s ‘teach and learn’ culture. Those who work with me know I ask lots and lots of questions. I love the knowledge that surrounds us at JEO, and I learn something new every day.”
Learning Resilience
Alyssa Vaughan, Community Engagement Senior Specialist ǀ Omaha, Nebraska
Alyssa’s ability to engage with diverse stakeholders make her indispensable to our team. Our clients benefit from her deep understanding of community needs and her commitment to fostering connections between community members and projects. Alyssa’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of meaningful engagement.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
“’If you can survive this, you can survive anything.’ In my previous work life, I lived in Hawaii for two-and-a-half years working on an extremely controversial construction project. As tough as that job was—both personally and professionally—I would not have traded that experience for anything. I learned so much about myself and what I’m capable of during that time. That whole experience reminds me that I can do hard things and still come out on the other side.”
These are just a few of the many great stories at JEO. Thank you to all our colleagues who inspire and lead by example. Happy Women’s History Month!