D|F Benchmark Series: Lindsey Keziah, PE



Lindsey Keziah, PE is an associate, senior transportation engineer, and office manager at Davis & Floyd. She has been with the company for 15 years providing transportation engineering. Read along as Lindsey shares her perspective about balancing her roles as an engineer and office manager as well as why she finds her sector so rewarding.

Professional Questions

  1. Why did you choose to be an engineer?

    I really stumbled into it. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mom suggested I study civil engineering at USC because I was good at math. Fortunately, I loved it and couldn’t be happier to be an engineer.

  2. What is your favorite part of working at our company?

    The people that I work with. I’ve been here for 15 years, and it’s been one of my favorite aspects of Davis & Floyd. It makes coming to work enjoyable!

  3. What is one thing that surprised you about your current role?

    The balance of being a transportation engineer with taking on the role of office manager. It was interesting balancing the technical world and meeting the needs of projects versus making sure people are happy and planning events. I was surprised how much I loved the office manager role. Taking on both roles allows me to use two different parts of my brain involving technical and creative/social skills, which make a great combo.

  4. What is one thing that you wish people knew about your job?

    I wish the public understood more about the process that goes into a roadway project and why it takes as long as it does to finish it. As a transportation engineer, I often hear complaints about how long it takes to complete highways or local roads, but people don’t realize how much time and effort go on behind the scenes to get the project done. Funding, designing, permitting, bidding, and construction—all things take time and may have unexpected challenges.

    So many things can happen in the design and permitting process with needed adjustments due to unexpected hiccups. Anything can happen from finding an endangered species to needing utility relocation. Also, you have input from stakeholders including clients, municipalities, and property owners to make sure you’re meeting their needs while following regulations.

  1. What are you most proud of in your career so far?

    Getting to see the changes in my community that I got to be a part of. I worked on Glenn McConnell Parkway where we widened the road from four to six lanes. Not only is it something I get to see, but I drive on that road every day. This project allows me to see the products and enjoy the results along with other users. Sidewalks, interchanges, highways—I get to see the project’s process as well as its impact as others and I walk, bike, or drive on my designs.

  2. Why did you choose transportation?

    I like the process and the clients that we work with. I like that I can see the updates and results. We drive these paths every day in our lives, and it’s really cool to see how they help communities.

  3. What is the most interesting project you have worked on with Davis & Floyd?

    Palmetto Commerce Interchange. It included a lot of the different aspects of roadway design and allowed me to collaborate with all our other departments at Davis & Floyd. It’s one of the biggest projects I’ve worked on! It checked all the boxes including the NEPA process, permitting, utility relocations, noise studies, right-of-way acquisition, public involvement, interstate, local roads, bridge, pedestrian accommodations, and coordination with municipalities at the city, county, and state levels. It improves connectivity and helps pedestrians with safer access. It included all aspects of my job!

  1. What are your goals for the next few months/years?

    I want to continue down the path of project manager and grow our transportation team by bringing in younger people. As I grow, I want the next group below me and the younger group below them to grow. This way, we have a continuous circle of development and connectivity as the team designs current and new projects. Bottomline, I want us to continue to find good people and become great engineers together.