We’re celebrating some of the women leading the way at KAI, spotlighting the incredible women in senior leadership in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. These trailblazing professionals are not only shaping the built environment but also paving the path for future generations. Stay tuned as we continue to unveil new spotlights, sharing inspiring stories and celebrating their contributions and leadership.
Selina Witherspoon, PE, CEM
Every team relies on a captain to navigate its toughest challenges, motivating everyone to stay focused and accomplish their goals. Selina Witherspoon, PE, CEM relishes her role as “captain” of the mechanical engineering team at KAI’s Dallas-Fort Worth, TX office.
As Mechanical Group Leader in our DFW office, Selina is responsible for selecting teams of engineers to work on projects, developing project plans, reviewing job hours and submitting/reviewing Requests for Information. However, Selina says maintaining open communication with her team members is one of the most important roles of her job.
“I have to make sure the team is on the same page and everyone understands the tasks at hand. I have always been a people person; I even have big chairs by my desk where people can sit down and talk to me about any issues they may have with work or in their personal lives. I find that being a good listener allows me to find solutions to their problems, if I can sort through the extra stuff to discover what the real issue is,” she said.
Selina first became interested in working in the AEC industry out of curiosity about her uncle’s career as a nuclear engineer. That childhood curiosity, coupled with her father’s insistence that she was good at math, led her to explore a variety of engineering classes in college. And while she may have started her higher education journey as a chemistry major, after a taste of organic chemistry, it soon became clear that engineering would become her career.
She recalls a time early in her career when she worked on her first large international healthcare project in the Philippines. The experience gave her a view of the global industry unlike anything else she had ever experienced before, and she was hooked on engineering. Today, her most rewarding projects are local ones that allow her to drive by or tour with her three children. Telling them about her role in creating the building makes her the most proud.
Selina notes that she joined KAI because she was looking for a different type of company that truly cared about the community. She was given the opportunity to lead KAI’s mechanical department in 2021, and she jumped on it.
“I have an amazing team that is going to do great things in their careers. I am excited to see what is in store for all our futures,” she said. “KAI has been a place where I can say from day one that I am heard and my opinion matters.”
In addition to being a mother of two sons and a daughter, Selina is also a mother-in-law and a grandmother of one! Outside of work she enjoys hiking, reading and always learning something new. Selina says, “life is busy, but I love finding the work/ life balance to enjoy both.”
KAI celebrates Selina and all of its women leaders.