Though she had been uprooted from her home, she knew that she had no choice but to move forward. "When you're thrown out there and want to make a better life for yourself, there's no holding back. Get an education, [get] experience, and make it happen."
In spite of these very difficult circumstances, Patterson was able to complete her education and put herself on the path to success. She credits her affinity for math and science as the key factors which compelled her to pursue a career in engineering. As a high school student, she was especially fond of physics and mathematics.
"I decided to pursue a degree where my skills and enjoyment could [both] be applied," she said.
Though there was no singular experience in her youth which drove her toward engineering, she affirms that throughout her formative years she was the beneficiary of "amazing science teachers" who provided her with not only the academic know-how to realize her goals, but the emotional fortitude as well.
"They encouraged me to pursue a degree in engineering even though it wasn't a popular career choice for women in the 1970s," she revealed.
She attended Concordia University in Montreal where, apart from dealing with the differences in geographical and climate conditions, she also had to contend with a pronounced language barrier.
"I couldn't speak English fluently, so that made me a bit shy, since my communication skills were not very good."
After graduating with her bachelor's degree in civil engineering, she went on to graduate school where she completed her master's, also in civil engineering.
At that point, she immigrated to the United States when she was offered a position as a junior civil engineer for a major Los Angeles engineering firm, DMJM (Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall). Her primary duty in this position was to design Metro Systems.
"I worked on the Metro Red Line from Union Station to MacArthur Park. Then I worked on the design and construction management of the Metro Blue Line from Los Angeles to Long Beach. Both of these jobs were pivotal in my decision to start my own business."
Soon thereafter, she decided to start her own business, and in 1990, J.L. Patterson & Associates was born. 17 years later, the company employs 65 experts and professionals and is on target to reach total revenues of $12 million in 2007.
Among her many important accomplishments over the course of her career, Patterson is especially proud of the work she did on California's commuter rail.
"I was very instrumental in bringing the commuter rail to Southern California. I was part of the team who took the challenge of designing the initial phases of Metrolink within two years of planning. This has never been done since or before. I felt pretty good when we rode the inaugural train from Pomona to Los Angeles in October of 1992."
Of course, she has learned many important lessons along the way, though she asserts that her failures have taught her more than her successes.
"As crazy as it may seem, it is from mistakes that you learn the most. When everything goes well in life you don't have a chance to stop and think. But when you make mistakes, it is amazing the amount of lessons learned that one error can show you," she observes.
As she has grown into an industry leader, she recognizes that many colleagues have served as mentors to her over the years and extends her gratitude to all of them.
"Frankly, there have been many, and I don't want to risk leaving one of them behind. But to each of them, and they know who they are, a big heartfelt thank you! for all you have shown me!" she declares.
To the coming generation of engineers, she offers the hard-won lessons of her own life as best advice for professional success.
"First, get a good education and finish your degrees! This has been the single most important door that I have used to enter places. Then, once you work in your field, you will realize that there is more to professional life than numbers and figures. It is necessary to get involved in professional organizations — volunteer your time and gifts with those less fortunate, and remain grounded. Like they say, it's okay to reach for the stars, but keep your feet on the ground."
For Patterson, being grounded has allowed her to soar to success.
| Q. What do you do for fun? A. I love ballroom dancing. I actually dance twice a week and I enjoy the rumba, the salsa, the foxtrot, and the waltz. I also play on a soccer league for women over 40 years old. I'm a forward on my team and I enjoy scoring goals! Q. What CD is in your CD player right now? A. Enya — her music relaxes me. Q. What was the last magazine you read? A. I don't really read magazines much, but I just finished two books from the same author, Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Q. What is your favorite TV show? A. Of course, Dancing with the Stars. But I also enjoy Grey's Anatomy. Q. Who is your role model? A. Growing up, I really looked up to my math teacher. I wanted to be like her, dress like her, and behave like her. Her name was Diana Soza. I think I didn't let her down. Q. What makes you laugh? A. My kids! They have enormous wit, and I enjoy their company very much. We are always laughing and sharing our time with each other. Other than them, I enjoy going to improv comedy shows. I especially love George Lopez. |
