SWE Diverse Podcast Ep 294: The Power of Perseverance With Secretary of Puerto Rico DTOP Eileen Vélez-Vega

In 2020, longtime SWE member Eileen Vélez-Vega made history as the first woman to be appointed Secretary and CEO of the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works.

In this conversation, recorded live at WE24, she reflects on her inspiring STEM journey and the unique pivots along the way: from being the first engineer in her family, to interning at NASA and Walt Disney World, to building a successful engineering career and ultimately leading a state government agency.

Interviewed by Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, Vélez-Vega wraps up her term as Secretary and discusses the power of perseverance, the role SWE has played in her career, and how being a Latina in engineering has served as a superpower.

Listen to the episode on SWE’s website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Guest: Eileen Vélez-Vega, Secretary and CEO, Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works.

Eileen Vélez-Vega was born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico. She earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a master’s degree from Mississippi State University. She is the first engineer in her family.

Her career includes internships at Walt Disney World and NASA, and her professional career has included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and private consulting with Kimley-Horn. In 2020, she began a new chapter in her career when she was designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico as the first woman Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works.

She specializes in multi-disciplinary projects with a specialty in airport engineering, project management, emergency response, and business development. Her priorities as Secretary include maximizing federal funding to accelerate the island’s recovery focused on resiliency and long-term maintenance. Recently, she became the first Puerto Rican inducted in the Space Camp Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

Host: Larry Guthrie, Director of Content Strategy, Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Larry Guthrie is the director of content strategy for the Society of Women Engineers. He has over 20 years of experience in all areas strategic marketing and communications, both in the corporate and association settings. Guthrie is responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating omnichannel content publishing strategies that align with SWE’s audiences and stakeholders.

Before joining SWE, he was the director of communications at CCIM Institute, where he developed and oversaw the overall marketing, communications, content, and media strategies for the association. Guthrie holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Old Dominion University.

He has also spoken at numerous events across the country, including ASAE’s Marketing, Membership & Communications national conference, Association Forum’s Forum Forward national conference, the National Apartment Association national conference, and AssociationSuccess.org’s SURGE national conference.