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News Article
Women engineers who paved the way
Senior Denver Water engineer reflects on progress and perseverance.
Editor's note: International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated every year on June 23. It's a day to celebrate the work and achievements of women engineers, including the women who have paved the way at Denver Water.
When Jessica Barbier joined Denver Water’s engineering team in 1994, seeing another woman in the room was so uncommon it felt like an event.
“It was rare enough that it stood out — I’d think, ‘Hey, I’m not the only one today,’” recalled Barbier, now a senior engineer. “That moment of recognition was meaningful.”
Three decades ago, women in the engineering industry were few and far between. But several pioneering women at Denver Water had already begun changing the narrative, mentoring and inspiring those who came after them.
Trailblazers and mentors
In 1978, Marie Bassett made history as the first female engineer hired by Denver Water.
“Someone had to be first, I guess,” Bassett was quoted in a 2011 employee publication. “I didn’t really think about it until I got to college and noticed how few women were in engineering. By the time I arrived at Denver Water, I was used to being one of the only women.”
Bassett’s legacy is etched in the many major Denver Water projects she worked on — including the hydropower plant at Dillon Dam, the water infrastructure that supports Denver International Airport, and major upgrades at Marston and Moffat treatment plants. Bassett retired in 2011 after 33 years, closing out her career as the utility’s chief of public affairs.
Barbier knew many of the women who, along with Bassett, helped lead the way.
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Barbier remembers Susan Steele-Weir, who started as a senior geologist in 1979 and worked on large-scale projects at Strontia Springs Reservoir and the surrounding tunnel systems, retiring in 2007.
“During her work at Strontia, Susan was given the nickname ‘Pig Pen’ due to the dirt and dust she often wore after the tunnel inspections, and she was quite proud of that name,” said Barbier.
“Susan took a lot of pride in being a mentor to the women engineers and was instrumental in setting up our first Engineering ladies lunches, a tradition which we continue today."
Denver Water engineering manager encourages women engineers to embrace unique skills and viewpoints.
Barbier also credits Kala Greene, a dam safety engineer who worked at Denver Water from 1985 to 1996, with providing critical mentorship in her early years.
“Kala was in the cubicle next to mine and was always willing to offer guidance,” Barbier said. “She was a minority, a working mom and a woman in a male-dominated field.
She showed me what resilience and success looked like.”
Challenging the norms — then and now
Barbier’s early years at Denver Water weren’t without obstacles.
“There were times when men would talk down to you or be difficult to work with. Some women even left the organization because of it” she said. “The days of women being referred to as ‘sweetie,’ or times when their expertise was questioned or overlooked in favor of male colleagues are hopefully behind us.”
Celebrating women making a difference at Denver Water.
While the landscape has shifted over the past few decades, Barbier acknowledges that challenges haven’t disappeared entirely.
“There’s definitely been a lot of progress, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come,” she said. “But like many industries, there are still occasional moments when you’re reminded that some perceptions take time to change.”
Barbier notes that having a strong community of women and allies within Denver Water and especially in the Engineering department, has made a real difference — and that kind of support continues to grow.
“It’s encouraging to see more women joining the Engineering department at Denver Water and finding success,” she added. “We’ve come a long way, and I think we’re headed in the right direction.”
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A career of impact
Most of the projects Barbier has worked on are invisible to the public — buried pipelines and underground vaults like this project to bury a 4,400-foot section of open canal in Winter Park.
But starting in 2001, she had a chance to work on a large visible project at Welby Reservoir (formerly Cat Reservoir), located near Commerce City along the South Platte River.
The project was part of Denver Water’s Downstream Reservoir Water Storage Program, which reclaims sand and gravel mines and converts them into water storage facilities.
Barbier worked with a team for nearly a decade to transform the gravel mining pit into a water storage facility with a pump station. “After 10 years, toward the end of the project, I wasn’t the only woman in meetings anymore.”
Barbier says being a woman hasn’t held her back at Denver Water, thanks in large part to the organization’s evolving culture and emphasis on hiring excellence across the board.
“Denver Water does a great job recruiting the best people — and that includes some very talented women,” she said.
And as a mother of three, Barbier also appreciates the supportive work environment the utility has cultivated over the years.
“There’s not a lot of travel, the time-off benefits are generous and the schedules are flexible,” she said. “Those things made it possible for me — and many other women — to have long, successful careers here.”
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Looking ahead
Barbier says she’s encouraged by the new generation of women engineers rising through the ranks at Denver Water and in the water industry — and by her own growth over the years.
“I’ve developed more confidence and a broader perspective and have Denver Water to thank for that,” she said. “When I walk into a meeting and see all the women now contributing technical expertise — that feels really good.”
At the same time, she emphasizes that visibility, advocacy and mentorship are still crucial.
“We can’t assume the work is over,” Barbier said. “There’s still a need to support women in this field — to create space, offer mentorship and keep pushing forward.”