Caitlyn Meyer, PMP

I began my career supporting community and economic development projects in York County, Pa. Next, I became a management consultant guiding Pennsylvania state department clients on enterprise application implementations. Now at GeoDecisions, I focus on project management and business analysis. I work with our department of transportation (DOT) clients, creating innovative solutions to improve their workflows.

I wanted to diversify my experience and return to my GIS roots. At GeoDecisions, I’m able to combine my interest in geography with my passion for improving government operations while applying my management consulting experience.

Transportation planning, new development, and infrastructure maintenance are critical to creating a better future. The DOT projects we support help keep our water clean, people connected, infrastructure strong, and goods flowing.

One of the most impactful decisions I made was moving to Raleigh. North Carolina was a target market with one of the largest state-owned road networks in the U.S. The move allowed me to become a leader and expand my network.

I’m creating a data fabric vision for a DOT client. Data fabric is super cool because it can help tackle the knowledge management challenges that large, complex organizations face.

I care about creating a vibrant community, which needs transportation systems to thrive. Transportation projects come with their own unique set of challenges. I enjoy helping our clients navigate these complexities.

I have been lucky to work on several grant-funded DOT projects. Grants are often the way that more innovative, non-traditional projects are funded.

DOTs must consider how to best position themselves, which means submitting the best fit project in grant applications. They can have thousands of needs, so picking the right project can be tricky. Well-organized project information is critical to provide necessary data for grant proposals as well as to meet reporting requirements following a grant award.

Since grant-funded projects don’t always look like traditional projects, it’s critical that expectations, deadlines, and data capture are communicated upfront. It’s important to identify these risks early and monitor them often.

Legislators care about the return on investment and fiscal responsibility of DOT projects and programs. Data integration and connectivity are key to making better overall decisions.

GeoDecisions has been very supportive of my professional development and career growth. I was encouraged to attend training programs, and I have attended the Gannett Fleming Project Management Training, new business development training, and, my personal favorite, the Carnegie Mellon University Leadership Training Academy.

The engagement and learning opportunities. I enjoy connecting with people and learning about new topics and industries with each new project.

For those familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, I am an ESTJ – the executive. We all know having a title of “executive” doesn’t mean you are a leader. Two leadership traits I try to use daily are empathy and communication.

One of my most recent accomplishments was becoming a Project Management Professional (PMP). I was qualified to take the test for years, but I had test-taking anxiety. Luckily, I passed in the highest percentile with the help of the Gannett Fleming-sponsored exam preparation course.

I participate in the Connected Women at Gannett Fleming and Future Generations of Gannett Fleming employee resource groups (ERGs). I also volunteer for professional organizations, such as WTS and Future City.

I see them as motivated to produce good work and improve processes. We live in a world of constant change, and I think the next generation will positively influence change at Gannett Fleming and GeoDecisions.

Networking and building relationships can take you places. I’ve learned a lot by shadowing organizational leaders, which allowed me to observe how to navigate business relationships and communicate with stakeholders.

Do less. I’m a chronic overachiever, but I’ve learned to schedule myself less and be more present in my day-to-day personal life.

Every person on a team brings the whole sum of their life experiences. I appreciate Gannett Fleming’s goals around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B). Important to achieving our DEI&B goals is diversity up and down the ladder. For example, Gannett Fleming learned that, when forming employee resource groups, you need representation from entry- to executive-level to support inclusive decision-making.

I love nature, whether it’s hiking with my dogs or paddleboarding. I’m getting married in March 2023, so my current hobby is wedding planning. My project management background helps!

I live with my fiancé Ethan and our three fur kids: two cute dogs and one clumsy cat. I also help care for my nieces and nephews whenever I can.

I taught karate to kids for about 10 years in my teens and 20s. It was a fun experience and a great skill to have.

I would trade places with whoever is currently vacationing on a private beach in Thailand. I have always wanted to visit, and a beach cocktail sounds lovely.

During college, I studied abroad in Galway, Ireland. I would love to return and live there. My inner history nerd appreciated walking by abandoned castles on the way to get Irish coffee.