Paige LaBarr Finds New Career Opportunities in Texas
Paige LaBarr, PE, never imagined her career would lead her into the transportation industry. But she’s thankful that her path has led her to construction, to Texas, and to RS&H.
“I feel very fortunate to be here with RS&H,” Paige said.
A project engineer in RS&H’s Transportation-Construction Management group in Houston, Paige has been with the firm for nearly two years. Paige serves as a key member of the Houston team on several large, high-profile construction projects and is skilled at scheduling, planning, and contractor and client coordination.
A Bradenton, Fla. native, Paige graduated from the University of South Florida in 2013. She began her career as a civil engineer in the oil and gas industry. Over the course of her four years in oil and gas, Paige worked on six different projects in five different states.
One of Paige’s moves brought her and her husband, Justin, to Houston to serve as a project engineer for a natural gas plant – but then work unexpectedly took her to a new plant being built in Lake Charles, La.
While working in Louisiana, Paige came to a critical realization. Although she loved what she was doing, she did not want to continue to live apart from her husband and move every year.
In her search for a change, Paige’s resume landed in the hands of Kirk Fauri, RS&H Vice President and Texas State Leader for Transportation-Construction Management. After several conversations and interviews, Paige felt that RS&H would make a great match.
Looking back, “I am extremely thankful that Kirk and Brian were willing to take a chance on a Florida girl from the oil and gas industry,” Paige said. “I couldn’t have found a better match.”
Paige knew that learning a new industry would be a challenge, but she felt that her diverse project experience would allow her to adapt quickly and learn the important aspects this new industry to quickly become an integral member of the team.
The move back to Texas has been great for Paige and Justin, a water resources engineer. Both fans of water, they spend their off time at the beach or chasing after red fish and flounder and trout. The couple is also building a pair of red cedar end tables for their new living room.
Since joining RS&H, Paige has worked on several large projects with RS&H’s Transportation-Construction Management Practice. She was on the winning team for the $317 million I-10 reconstruction project, and is currently working on a 4.5-mile stretch of I-45 near League City, Texas.
“I’m on the job site every day, wearing jeans and boots working in the field office and getting to spend time out in the field,” Paige said. “This is a great fit, especially with all the opportunities we have here in Texas.”