Her Story
About Marisa
I started in this field after Hurricane Rita hit Texas. I left school to work for FEMA helping with the response, which was supposed to be just a break but I fell in love with helping communities recover. I stayed with FEMA almost two years then was recruited by the state of Texas to help stand up their first disaster housing program after Rita, which was my most notable achievement as it was starting from scratch in 2007. I've done similar work in North Carolina and Puerto Rico. Now as Associate Vice President at AECOM for 13 years, I develop policy, training, and manage housing recovery programs post-disaster. My success comes from always saying yes to opportunities even when unfamiliar, like moving to New York for Superstorm Sandy work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to saying yes to opportunities even when they seem foreign or challenging. I have a tendency to jump in with both feet if I think I can add value, like when I moved to New York to help with Superstorm Sandy work after Hurricanes Ike and Harvey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice came from my mentor Kelly Crawford in 2009 when she told me to say yes more instead of no as an auditor, to think outside the box and figure out how people can use funding legally rather than finding reasons they can't. She said to use yes as my mantra, which I have applied for 20 years and attribute my whole success to that conversation.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Know your worth. Believe in your value. Take up space politely but confidently. Don't be afraid to speak up and make your voice heard. As women, we know what we're talking about most of the time when we have the guts to say it, so find your voice and do it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are finding footing with ever-changing federal funding, which has led to colleagues being shuffled around. It's hard to explain value to communities that may not know they need mitigation or recovery planning. People don't understand the connection between nature-based solutions and resilience until after a disaster hits, and public trust and education are key issues.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Loyalty, not blind but true loyalty, along with commitment and follow-through are biggest for me. Loyalty to yourself and your own passions and convictions is the most crucial, more than loyalty to a company.
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