The American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado (ACEC Colorado) honored Christine Britton, PE (JVA, Inc. – Boulder) as the 2021 Young Professional of the Year at its virtual Leadership & Scholarship Achievement Celebration ceremony on May 5.
The Young Professional of the Year award recognizes the notable skills and abilities of the next generation of engineering leaders, and each entrant must be nominated by a consulting engineering firm leader and demonstrate a significant impact on public welfare on a project and/or the furthering of professional growth and development within the firm.
Britton was nominated by Vice President Jeannette Torrents, PE, SE, F.SEI, LEED AP, at JVA, Inc., where Britton has worked for over seven years, making a significant impact in the Historic Preservation Studio. “Christine’s dedication to preservation extends beyond her comprehensive project work to volunteer and leadership contributions at both the local and national level. Her commitment to her career and community have already made a significant impact on our profession, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she will do in the future,” commented Torrents.
Torrents also commented that as a licensed professional engineer, Britton leverages her unique combination of a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering and a Master of Science in historic preservation to preserve historic structures in Colorado and across the country. Two such historic projects include the Many Glacier Hotel, once listed as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, and the 4 Bar 4 Stagecoach Hotel and Barn, named by Colorado Preservation, Inc. as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places.
Britton also volunteers her time with several industry associations including her current role as an instructor for the B.E.S.T. Program (previously known as Vanishing Treasures) of the National Park Service, where she helps lead workshops about the structural engineering of historic structures for non-engineers.
“Teaching opportunities like this help disseminate knowledge on the topic of preservation engineering to those in the profession and beyond, which is critical to saving historic elements of our built environment,” commented Britton.
Photos courtesy of ACEC