Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Van Hoosier.
Hi Kristen, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how did you get to where you are today?
I was born into a military family – my dad served in the US Army for 23 years before joining civilian life. I was born in New York, moved to Germany and Missouri, and landed in Texas after 9/11. From then, my dad was stationed overseas in the Middle East three times – once for 6 months and the following two times for one year each. That was a tough time. My mom did her best to raise two teens while my dad was gone, but the uncertainty of where he was, what he was doing, and how he was doing all the while, I had a couple of friends who lost their mom/dad overseas, and my dad even lost colleagues overseas – it took a toll on me. I struggled with depression and eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia) throughout high school, which completely ruined any chance of me going to West Point, which had always been a dream of mine. I went to the University of Texas at Austin (hook ’em) to pursue a BS in Biology with the intent of going to medical school afterward. I can tell you – that didn’t happen. My depression and eating disorders came with me to UT. I skipped classes, failed one, and dropped several others. I was stuck in a downward spiral. My bulimia got so bad that I was told I was on the verge of heart failure. I realized what I was doing was not sustainable and that my dreams of attending med school would not happen. The reality of that was hard to process. I came home (I lived with my brother just off campus) and came clean about what was happening. He knew that I was struggling. But he was my hero in one of my most vulnerable moments. He talked to me and helped me break down what I needed to do to focus on getting better. He helped me identify what I truly wanted: to help people. He helped me find a new purpose and a different way to achieve my goal. After that conversation, I withdrew from UT for a semester and focused on improving. With my mom’s help, I was able to beat bulimia by the end of the Summer. I went back in the Fall and had my eyes set on transferring to the Engineering school. I spent the next year and a half focusing on getting my GPA up, getting involved in school organizations, and making new friends. I did a complete 180. I had hope; I was healthy and working while going to school. I graduated in 2015 with my BS in Civil Engineering, joined Cobb, Fendley, & Associates, a consulting firm, and quickly found my place.
2016, I started going to the gym because my mom said I should stay active. I fell in love with two classes in the gym – Les Mills BODYPUMP (a 55-minute barbell class using light to moderate weights with lots of repetition) and BODYCOMBAT (a 55-minute mixed martial arts-inspired workout, high cardio). I found community through these classes, and these individuals brought out a confidence I thought I’d never have. In 2017, they encouraged me to get certified in these programs. By 2018, I was teaching these classes. Me, the shy girl. Outside of a year-long hiatus from 2020-2021, I have been teaching these programs ever since and even added on certifications for BODYBALANCE, TONE, AND CORE. I love that I get to help people through these fitness experiences. Everything from processing a lousy day, they had to take an hour to focus on themselves and not on the hardships they or their loved ones are going through, to just wanting to get more vital for themselves and their families – I am honored to help others. But I do this part-time. My day job? I am a full-time civil engineer working on Municipal projects for the Central Texas region. As is the theme with me, I enjoy helping others, and my work allows me to help the community through our work. While I manage projects, my official title is Team Lead, and through this, I also get to focus on the careers of others through mentorship. I believe in creating a work environment that makes people enjoy coming to work. To help, I host a monthly videogame night after work where we play Rock Band, Just Dance, or Super Smash Bros. We sometimes play pickleball on the parking garage rooftop and have a weekly virtual social to unite members across different offices.
Outside of work, I’ve been involved in professional/technical organizations related to my field and volunteer opportunities. I have been a TAWWA (Texas Section of American Water Works Association) member since 2014 as a UT student. Still, during the pandemic, I became involved in my local chapter (Capital Area Chapter) in 2020. I helped host some virtual social events and stayed on for planning when gatherings resumed. I became the annual Seminar chair for 2022-2023, and it was honestly a stressful event because “Treemageddon” happened the same day as the seminar, and I was 9 months pregnant! I’m the scholarship chair this year, and that’s been great after the seminar fiasco. I’m also involved in TSPE (Texas Society of Professional Engineers). I joined in 2020 during the pandemic and took on the Communications Chair position responsible for email blasts, preparation of newsletters, creation of graphics, and management of social media accounts. I held that position until just recently. I became Secretary in 2021-2022, Vice President/President-Elect in 2022-2023, and Chapter President. I have also helped plan our Engineers Week Banquet since 2021 and have helped plan and execute social events, our most recent being a pickleball tournament to raise funds for MATHCOUNTS. Through TSPE, I had the opportunity to participate in their PELI (Professional Engineer Leadership Institute) program in 2023. I was also awarded Young Engineer of the Year for my local chapter. I’m also a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and have been more active nationally.
Still, I have recently started assisting with social events at the local level. I know this sounds like a lot, but I wanted to be more intentional with volunteerism in the community, so I joined JLA (the Junior League of Austin) this year and am currently knocking out my provisional credit requirements to become a full-fledged member. I’m halfway there! This has been a lot about my involvement outside of the house, but I’ve got a whole family at home – a 4.5-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 9-month-old. I’ve been married to my husband for 6 years, and he’s the best stay-at-home dad you could imagine. I strive to be the best I can be, hoping it inspires them to do the same. Everything I do is for them. We also started an eBay business in 2021 selling used video games! It’s been a great side hustle, and we have a 100% positive rating almost 3 years in!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Whoops, I went into some detail on the previous page, but to summarize, I’ve had different challenges throughout my life. My dad being overseas during my adolescence was hard, and that’s when my depression and eating disorders began. It was so bad that I truly thought I’d never be able to escape the cycle. When you think about it, I was in a bad place for almost 10 years. This is partly why I try so hard to do good things and make the most of the time I have left – I don’t know how much time I have left! Another challenge has been providing for my family on my income – that’s why I hustle so much!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Team Lead, Project Manager, and Associate at CobbFendley. I truly love my work, the people I work with, and my company. I feel valued for my work in and outside the company, and my voice matters. They recently increased maternity leave to 8 weeks paid leave, and I can’t express how proud I am of that. The civil engineering industry is behind, so I’m glad to see this change happening, especially at my company.
Regarding my work, I’m proud of how hard my team and I worked to produce plans with the community’s interest in mind. Working on municipal projects means I get to play a part in someone’s life – whether it’s ensuring they have water, wastewater collection, safe roads, sidewalks, or proper drainage – there’s a lot to consider. We do our best to make decisions with the community in mind. We work collaboratively with our clients (cities, MUDs, counties) to meet the needs of individual members of the community. What I’m known for at work is caring about others. I check in often with my teammates and try to create a safe space for them to come to me when they need advice, are struggling with others, have conflicts they’re dealing with, etc. I often buy random things and snacks to bring to work to share with my colleagues. I do different things to create a positive and fun work environment. What sets me apart from others is that I go all in when I commit myself to something. I am very responsive and detailed, andI’m one of the first to raise my hand when help is needed. I volunteer a lot. I’m proud of my work, commitment to my team and the community, passion for others, and drive to be a better version of myself every day.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m inconsistent with reading. I’ve started and never finished a dozen books. In my free time, I play videogames – Final Fantasy 14 with my best friend in Florida, Baldur’s Gate 3 with my husband, Runescape (I know. I’m about to hit 20 years!), all sorts of RPGs, the occasional shooter, random indies. My favorite podcast is even videogame-focused – What’s Good Games (go check it out!). Videogames are my way of recharging.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.vanhoosier/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-van-hoosier-p-e-50668251/
