Tran Duong, Strengthening Solutions engineer at Simpson Strong-Tie, reflects on how the Simpson Strong-Tie Student Scholarship shaped her career path. From receiving the scholarship as a civil engineering student to transitioning from consulting at Freese and Nichols, she now helps lead the company’s structural strengthening solutions. Tran shares her journey, emphasizing the importance of making connections, taking risks and learning beyond the classroom.
My name is Tran Duong, and I wanted to share a bit about my journey and how I ended up as the Strengthening Solutions engineer for Simpson Strong-Tie, based in Texas. My role focuses on the Composite Strengthening Systems™ solutions line for Simpson in the central region of the US. It’s a bit tricky to sum up what I do in just one sentence, but essentially, I’m working to build a brand for Simpson Strong-Tie in the structural strengthening market. This involves providing technical expertise in fiber reinforcement solutions (FRP and FRCM) for concrete repair and strengthening, seeking out project opportunities and striving to become a trusted advisor for our engineering community when these jobs come across their desks.
My connection with Simpson Strong-Tie started back in my junior year at the University of Texas at Arlington when I applied for and received a scholarship from them. This scholarship wasn’t just a financial boost; it had a profound professional impact on me. Something about Simpson really changed my perspective on the industry, which is why I’m here today as a full-time employee.
After graduating from UTA in December 2017 with a BS in civil engineering, I took on a full-time role as a structural engineer at Freese and Nichols, Inc., a civil engineering consulting firm specializing in infrastructure projects. I worked in Fort Worth for a year before moving to Houston to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Houston while continuing to work part-time . In 2020, I graduated and moved back to Fort Worth. I continued working for Freese and Nichols until June 2023, when I took a leap of faith and joined Simpson Strong-Tie. During my time in consulting, I also received my structural engineering (SE) licenses.
Looking back, I believe everything happened for a purpose. In May 2023, I had several opportunities to work for other consulting firms, but something inside me suggested checking whether Simpson had any openings. The scholarship outreach event I attended back in 2016 had planted a seed in my mind, and I decided to take a chance. I reached out to Doug Allen, who was then a branch engineer in McKinney before his promotion to manager of Enterprise Services for Multifamily construction. Doug and I connected during the scholarship trip in 2016 and stayed in touch over the years. After my email, Doug reached out within the company, and Kevin Davenport offered me an interview. Now I’ve been with Simpson for about a year and a half, starting as a Composite Strengthening Systems™ field engineer at branch 23 in McKinney. With the recent restructure, I’m now a Strengthening Solutions engineer for the central region of the US, reporting to the company’s home office in Pleasanton, CA.
As a result of my happy experiences, I want to encourage students in structural engineering, architecture or construction management to apply for the scholarship and build connections with people they might not otherwise meet. These connections can be invaluable in helping define and build a career. Additionally, I hope to provide them with a different perspective on the engineering, architectural and construction industries, beyond what they learn in school or through traditional career paths.
There are many different pathways you can follow in your career, and I hope to plant a seed in your mind as you prepare to enter the professional world. My advice? Learn as much as you can beyond textbooks; learn about people, the business side of the industry, and how it works. Keep an open mind, advocate for yourself, take chances, make mistakes, and know that the sky’s the limit if you’re willing to put in the work and take initiative. Maybe we’ll even be colleagues one day.
