Meghan Drew’s grandfather was an automotive engineer who sparked her interest in math and science.
She grew up in Morton, Illinois, near Peoria, and earned a degree in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: “I chose civil because I like being able to see the things I’ve designed get built, and I like giving back to the community.”
After college she worked four years with the CDM Smith consulting firm; she’s now in her fourth year as a project engineer with the Chicago office of Black & Veatch. She received the 2025 Outstanding Young Professional from the Illinois Water Environment Association.
Her influences: A couple of more senior engineers took time to explain things you don’t learn in school. When I’m out on site, operators are really good at explaining what they’re working on. Operator preference is a big thing. You don’t want to design something that will be a pain for people to work with.
On the job: I focus on civil and process mechanical work on mostly municipal facilities. I work on jobs with our controls, electrical and structural engineers and other disciplines. We pull everything into one design so that everything works together.
What makes it exciting? No two projects are the same. It’s always a challenge using my brain to figure out what is specifically required for each project: how to get the hydraulics to work, or how to fit something in a small space.
Sources of pride: It’s nice to see something I’ve worked on performing well and serving the community, and to know that the operators are excited to use it — that it’s an upgrade and makes their days easier. It was rewarding to chair the IWEA Young Professionals Committee for two years and interact with manufacturer’s reps, operators and others whose jobs aren’t the same as mine. It opens your eyes.
Looking ahead: I’d like to become an engineering manager and be the lead on projects.
Advice to young professionals: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be interested in people in other roles. Keep yourself open to all sorts of new opportunities.
The boss’s view: Meghan has strong interpersonal skills. She does a great job of connecting with clients and understands their needs. She is a high-performing engineer who is in demand among people who lead our projects.
—Matt Hayes, project engineer manager
