My Story

Marsia is a Senior Associate for GBA, responsible for the growth of their operations in the state of Illinois. She is an engineering executive with over 30 years of experience related to transportation, utility capital improvements, rail, site development, federal installations, commercial and industrial development.

Marsia went to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation right out of college and was the assistant resident engineer for a cable-stay bridge construction project over the Mississippi River.

She left IDOT to join a Midwest engineering consulting firm, becoming the first female partner of the firm. In 2006, she departed and founded and built an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to $8 Million in revenue in five years. After one year in business, she negotiated the successful acquisition of an environmental consulting firm. After four years in business, she acquired the fixed assets of a construction company creating a contracting division as a union signatory entity.

In 2012, she sold the company to devote time to her family and write a book, Cross, Yield or Burn; Navigating the Bridges of Life, which was published in 2022. In 2013, she returned to engineering and founded Sequoia Engineering & Environmental (Sequoia), a full-service civil engineering firm specializing in geotechnical, environmental and construction engineering, with offices in Missouri, Illinois, and South Dakota. Sequoia was acquired by Gonzalez Companies and she then joined an industrial and commercial roofing contractor as their chief operating officer where she was responsible for development, design, and operation of their management and inventory systems. When offered the opportunity to return to engineering consulting, with Lochmueller Group to oversee their operations in Missouri and Illinois, she accepted and has since move to join GBA in 2025 to grow their presence in Illinois with their company’s vast suite of services.

Marsia holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering from South Dakota State University and a Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri Science and Technology. A Doctor of Civil Engineering honoris causa from University of Missouri Science and Technology. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in 9 states.

Marsia has been very active with many professional associations throughout her career, most prominently with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). She served as chair of Public Policy and Practice committee, a board level committee, responsible for eight constituent committees, one that is responsible for the quadrennial preparation of the infrastructure report card, which was released on March 3, 2021. She formerly served as Director of Region 7 from 2016 – 2019 and Governor from 2009 – 2015. Region 7 is comprised of the states of Missouri, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, representing over 10,000 members of ASCE. Region Directors communicate between the Student Chapters, Sections and Branches to ASCE on the Board of Direction. She has also formerly served on the Society’s Board of Direction, Program and Finance Committee, New Revenue Task Committee, President of the St. Louis Section, Women and Diversity Committee, Governance Structure Task Committee, Leadership Training Committee, and Public Policy Committee.

In 2016 Marsia received the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award for outstanding civil engineering performance and dedication to the civil engineering profession. She was the second woman at that time to receive this award since its inception in 1960. In 2010 Marsia received the St. Louis Most Influential Woman award for her commitment to the St. Louis Region and her strong presence in the engineering community. In 2010, Marsia received the Smart Women, Smart Money Women on the Rise Award from the Illinois Treasurer’s office, an award that is given annually to women whose success as business owners makes them a role model for other women in their community. On March 21, 2018 Marsia testified before the US House of Representatives in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building at a hearing on the small business perspective of the development and use of our Nation’s infrastructure.

She serves as a volunteer for The Women’s Safe House in St. Louis, Triad High School engineering design and development course mentor, First Robotics FTC 8620 team mentor, and as an ASCE mentor and Math Counts. Marsia is married, and resides in Glen Carbon, Illinois with her husband of 40 years. They are the proud parents of two biological children and have lovingly raised three additional young men who joined their family as teenagers and have all since grown into thriving adults. They also have two rescue Pitbulls and a rescue three-legged cat. She finds great joy in serving as a role model to young stem enthusiasts, engineers and entrepreneurs and hopes to continue to inspire all to achieve their own magnificent goals.