Susan Killen Teaching is Part of the Plan

Susan Killen, Senior Project Manager and Senior Professional Associate, thrives in the fast-paced environment of PB’s San Francisco office. Both accessible and progressive, the Senior Supervising Planner balances the motivational energy of an enthusiastic teacher with the dedication of a fascinated learner. “Clients and employees alike respond to Susan’s professionalism, sincerity and guiding hand,” says Randy Altshuler, San Francisco Area Manager for the Americas Infrastructure Company.

To Susan, it’s a natural give and take.

“It takes so little to pay attention and offer feedback,” Susan explains, “but it is always so valuable, especially in a group setting. In the end, these factors are critical to overall business practice.” The value of Susan’s natural mentoring abilities, penchant for teamwork and comfort with complex planning efforts are revealed by her current project work.

She’s assumed front-end positions on major San Francisco Bay Area projects such as Sonoma Marin Area Transit (SMART), a proposed 129-kilometer (80-mile) commuter rail line for which she is directing, as Project Manager, preparation of the environmental impact statement and report. Susan is also Project Manager for the $10.9 million Biological Monitoring Services effort during construction of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the east side of which will be anchored in one of the world’s richest estuary and marine environments.

Susan clearly puts her belief in individual support and team enthusiasm into practice while immersed in project work. “If you take time with each team member—really empower them—then the return on that investment is reflected in the success and dedication of the entire group. It isn’t surprising that everyone wants to be valued and appreciated for their efforts.” According to Susan both projects are running smoothly, “thanks to amazing teams.”

In a region where the challenges of rapid development mean that teamwork, adaptability and forward thinking are critical, Susan maintains a healthy perspective on the role of planning in traditional engineering projects. She recognizes the necessity of planning the early stages of work, and is confident of its long-term significance. “Planning is always on the ground floor—the beginning of a project,” she says. “Yet that early involvement creates a framework for the direction of the rest of the effort.”

Planners have a commitment, Susan maintains, that continues on various levels beyond the planning stage. “Planning never ends, it just becomes more of a support rather than a lead or it may take on an advisory role. The fact is, any good team will rebalance many times. As a planner, your stamp is on that project forever.”

With a masters’ degree in Education, it isn’t surprising that Susan has focused her mentoring efforts beyond that of her everyday role of supervising planner. She is a member of PB’s Women’s Focus Group and names her work as Chair of the Professional Recognition Subcommittee, in which she leads efforts to recognize the firm’s new Professional Associates, “the most meaningful activity I am privileged to be a part of at PB.”

Susan is working with the National Highway Institute on the development of the Federal Highway Administration’s Nationwide Environmental Policy Act and Transportation Decision-Making course. She is also leading classes as part of the National Transit Institute’s Public Involvement and Transportation Decision-Making teaching team. As with her activities in PB’s San Francisco office, she’s discovered that these are activities with reciprocal advantages: “The class always teaches me twice as much as I attempt to teach them,” Susan says.

Whether a planner with the gift of teaching or teacher with a mastery of planning, there is great value in Susan’s unique nature, explains Randy. "Susan has brought a key element of PB's Strategic Plan to life here in San Francisco. By integrating her work on the Career Development Committee where she has played a large role for 5 years, with her efforts to mentor staff at the local level, Susan has made PB's mission statement which says that employees are the firm’s most valuable asset a reality.”