Gina Masell Haylett, PE

Balancing her professional and family roles, Gina Masell Haylett is poised to positively impact the engineering field.

Gina Masell Haylett, PE, is a Project Engineer II who embodies the quintessential suburban working mom lifestyle. Balancing her professional responsibilities with her personal life, she is a dedicated mother to two young sons, both under the age of four.

Having joined Jones & Henry Engineers just a year ago, Gina brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles. She spent four years at Tetra Tech in Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan, followed by 26 months at Klienfelder in Bowling Green, Ohio. Reflecting on her transition, Gina describes her time at Jones & Henry as a refreshing change, particularly noting the strong mentorship culture. “I think the people who work here are brilliant,” she shares, highlighting the dedication of her colleagues.

As a wastewater engineer, Gina focuses on the complexities of treatment processes, working “inside the fence,” where sewage, stormwater, and industrial water get treated before being released back into the environment. Her clients include various municipalities, such as Perrysburg and Greenville, which provide a fulfilling sense of community engagement.

Gina grew up in Perrysburg and Waterville, Ohio, before her family moved to Rochester, Michigan, where she attended high school. Still undecided about a college major after high school, Gina enrolled in pre-med coursework at Michigan State University while also considering a career in secondary education. However, her residence in the Engineering dorm and passion for math and science ultimately steered her toward engineering.

In her junior year, Gina was uncertain about whether to pursue public or private engineering. To gain a broader perspective, she took political science courses, which enriched her understanding of the public aspects of engineering. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological/Biosystems Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, followed by a Master of Science in the same engineering field.

An internship at the White House Domestic Policy Council Office of Energy and Climate Change in 2016 proved pivotal for Gina. It exposed her to the gap of technical expertise in influencing policy in Washington, further shaping her career aspirations.

Gina thinks people would be surprised to learn that she can play the bagpipes. When she was a sixth grader, her brother played football, and the school’s bagpiping band often performed at halftime. Hearing rumors of some colleges offering full-ride scholarships for pipers, she decided to learn to play. Although the scholarship never panned out, she still has a set of bagpipes.

Outside of her engineering role, Gina cherishes time with her family, particularly in their kid-friendly backyard. Staying active remains a priority for her. As a former member of Michigan State’s rowing team, she now works on fitness by lifting weights and walking for 30 to 60 minutes daily. Over the past year, her commitment to fitness has led to an impressive 80-pound weight loss. “Committing to walking every day has given me more energy and eliminated my 2:00 afternoon lull,” explains Gina. “As a result, I am much more productive at work.”

Looking ahead, Gina’s career goals involve effectively establishing long-term relationships with clients and serving their needs. She hopes to leverage her political science knowledge to enhance her contributions as an engineer. She notes, “It’s easy to ignore the social part of engineering,” acknowledging the ongoing challenges with project funding and the need for political support for initiatives.

With a family legacy that includes her grandmother, the first woman to serve on the Perrysburg city council and its first woman president, Gina is not ruling out the possibility of pursuing a future political office herself. In all facets, providing quality service to the community remains her focus.

As Gina continues to thrive in her dual roles as a Project Engineer and a mother, she remains committed to making a positive impact in her community and the engineering field. Her journey reflects not just professional growth but also a deep sense of responsibility and engagement with the world around her.

With her unique blend of technical expertise and political insight, Gina is well-equipped to address the industry’s challenges. As she looks toward the future, she remains committed to making a positive impact in her family, community, and the engineering field.