Pearce’s career path leads from NYC to GRAEF

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Tammy Pearce grew up in the construction industry.

Her father was an electrician and carpenter, and Pearce was holding a hammer before she could walk.

In high school, she excelled in math, taking every science and physics class her school had to offer. In college at Cornell University, she initially pursued architecture but found she missed math and science courses. So she switched to structural engineering and discovered a perfect fit.

“Once I found out I could transfer, I went running across the quad,” she said.

She’s been sprinting in her career ever since.

After college, Pearce worked for a New York City firm that later became part of engineering company Thornton Tomasetti. She was charged with working on various prominent projects — including a reconstruction of Yankee Stadium and parts of a decade-long renovation of the United Nations building in New York.

Pearce eventually left New York for her hometown of Chicago, joining GRAEF as a structural engineer. Since then, she has taken on a wide range of projects, both for health care and higher education institutions.

Outside work, Pearce has also lent her time and talents to various causes in Chicago. She’s volunteered in STEM programs in Chicago Public Schools, been active with the city’s Habitat for Humanity chapter and served on the board of Chicago’s Ace Mentorship Program, which aims to connect minorities and students with careers in construction.

At GRAEF, Pearce has also taken on a business-development role and is now chair of the company’s diversity and inclusion committee.

“I am very proud to be part of this company that isn’t just releasing messages on social media, we actually have a CEO that is willing to put his money and resources behind it,” Pearce said. “We’re pushing for real change. We’re also trying to set a model and a standard across our industry.”