Having earned a Bachelor’s in Biological Systems Engineering from Iowa State University, Graduate Engineer Bailey Griffin brings a specialized skillset to the civil department at ISG, helping provide partners and clients with innovative water quality solutions on a wide variety of projects. Bailey carries her passion for the water outside of the office as well, and on summer days can be found boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, or fishing at her family cabin on Lake Jefferson.
One of my strengths from Strengths Finder 2.0 is ideation; I’m fascinated by ideas and able to make seemingly disparate connections. That is fitting because it’s one of my favorite things about engineering—being able to take an idea or theory, apply it to problems that our clients may be facing and seeing it come to fruition.
I had always enjoyed and excelled in math and science so I started researching areas of STEM. My passion for the environment and design made biological systems engineering the perfect fit for me as I got to learn and build my career around water resources, water quality, and systems engineering.
I work on the water resources team at ISG. On a day-to-day basis I work on providing solutions to clients on projects including drainage improvements and repairs, wetland restoration and banking, modeling, and drafting. The things I enjoy most about these projects is promoting the inclusion of water quality solutions and being able to identify multi-purpose solutions that improve water quality and drainage simultaneously.
Working at ISG is my first job out of college, and I have been able to learn so much already. By providing the environment to be independent and grow personally and professionally, ISG has allowed me to take my career into the direction I wish and pursue new projects that I am passionate about. One of the first projects that I got to work on at ISG was developing the Alternative Side Inlet (ASI) Calculator. Being able to take the initiative on this calculator so early on in my career was a wonderful opportunity in itself, but it also provided me many opportunities to present at conferences to build my confidence in a product that I was really proud of and grow as an engineer and public speaker. The calculator is a publicly available tool and I hope to expand its use in the future.
Alternative side inlets replace the out-of-date traditional side inlets by using simple, yet effective design using a drop structure and water quality-focused intakes. The calculator is an Excel-based tool that helps properly size ASIs to slowly drain water within a 24-hour time frame to promote temporary storage and sedimentation along drainage ditches, which improves water quality while not damaging crops.
Apart from ISG’s extensive experience and expertise in drainage, what truly sets us apart is our willingness to deliver on innovative projects and practices, such as leading the industry on storage on drainage systems and building one of the largest bioreactors in the world. Trying new things allows us to grow as a firm, as well as push boundaries in the industry. Our eagerness to partner on research projects and grants further demonstrates our collaborative effort towards improving water quality.
My mom inspires me. She has always been my role model growing up and she has molded me into the person that I am today. She is a selfless, hardworking, and great mom!
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As ISG continues to grow and expand to new geographies, we want to share a few non-traditional benefits that have come with employee owners choosing to relocate. Culture transplants ensure that as we continue to grow, we stay true to our core values, mission, purpose, and culture, which not only benefits ISG employee owners, but our clients as well. This why we encourage relocation across all our locations.
If you know Mallorie, you know that she is anything short of how she describes her fellow coworkers–friendly, helpful, humble, fun, and knowledgeable. For nearly eight years, this Senior Graphic Designer has been making an impact at ISG with her creativity and bright personality. What brought her to ISG and what is her favorite part about working here? If you guessed the people, Mankato’s patio, and projects, you’re halfway there.
As the leader of ISG’s robust marketing team, Abby Gram is a resilient creative force who is always ready for the next challenge. Read on to learn about ISG’s #Allin culture, some surprises about the marketing team, her time on the muddy Mississippi, and why she encourages others to “just keep swimming.”
As a Project Accountant and former Support Specialist, Bill Bartz continues to serve as an important link between projects and employee owners. Learn more about Bill’s journey to ISG, the importance of a first-class team, and get an inside scoop about the Green Bay office and some of Bill’s favorite post-work activities!
ISG’s Caleb Rasmussen is a steward for conservation through his role as a civil engineer. Focusing on surface water, Caleb works on the unique waterways of the Midwest to improve water quality and wildlife. Even though he spends much of his time outside while on the job, you can still find him enjoying the outdoors working with his livestock or spending time with his family.
What do you get when you combine real-world experiences, a collaborative team environment, strengths-focused personal and professional development, and exposure to a positive working culture? One rockin’ internship with ISG! This year, ISG welcomed 35 interns into our offices—investing in their experiences by providing customized and meaningful opportunities that mutually impact our firm and each student.