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From Intern to Expert: Meet Laurie Langlois

Starting as the first intern in our Detroit office in 2000, Laurie Langlois’ role has evolved several times over the past 25 years. She is now a contract manager role for MDOT’s I-75 Modernization Project Segment 3.
map marker United States | Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Reading Time : 4:33 minutes

Laurie Langlois’ journey with us began in May 2000, just as she was finishing college. She was the first intern in our Detroit office, which had only about 15 employees at the time. While there wasn’t a defined internship role then, Laurie jumped in where she could. That summer she worked on bridge inspections, traffic sign inventories, CADD work, entry-level roadway design, preparing proposals, filing document and even IT support with a background in computer science and engineering.

Fast forward to 2025: Laurie is now a contract manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation’s I-75 Modernization Program 25-year long-term maintenance owners representative consultant contract.

 

Can you describe a pivotal moment or project that significantly advanced your expertise?

Looking back on my career, I don’t believe there was a single pivotal moment that advanced my expertise. Instead, every project I worked on brought new experiences and opportunities to learn. I took on many different roles, each contributing to my growth as a civil engineer. Over time, these experiences helped me mature in my profession, allowing me to clearly identify what I truly enjoyed doing. This clarity enabled me to choose projects that not only aligned with my strengths but also left me feeling both rewarded and engaged.

 

How have you seen the company evolve since you started, and how has that impacted your career development?

No more paper timesheets! WSP has certainly had an incredible journey over the last 25 years. Since I started, the company has been acquired twice and rebranded multiple times, yet the outcome has been nothing short of exponential growth. We've added amazing people who share our common goals, expanded our resources and broadened our areas of expertise, all in service of providing our clients with exceptional results. This evolution has had a significant impact on my career, offering me the chance to explore various roles and eventually figure out where I could really shine within the company.

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Laurie Langlois
Lead Consultant, Civil Engineering
United States
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…every project I worked on brought new experiences and opportunities to learn. I took on many different roles, each contributing to my growth as a civil engineer.

What opportunities has the company provided that have been instrumental in your growth?

One of the most significant opportunities WSP provided me was the ability to work part-time. This flexibility allowed me to achieve my personal and family goals while still having a successful career. Balancing my work and personal life has always been a top priority, and WSP has supported me in doing so by offering the flexibility to adjust my work schedule as I entered different stages of my life.

On the professional side, WSP has always made me feel like I truly mattered. My supervisors actively sought out opportunities for me to gain hands-on experience, attend relevant training and connect me with a mentor. This level of support has been consistent throughout my entire career.

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The beginning of a career filled with lessons, growth and many coffee breaks.

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Laurie on site of the MDOT I-75 Modernization.

Looking back, what advice would you give to your intern/early career self?

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned was to stay true to myself and not get caught up in the career paths of my colleagues. There were times early on when I accepted or volunteered for assignments, thinking they were the "next logical step" because I was basing my decisions on what I saw others doing within my limited view of the industry. If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I’d tell her to trust her instincts and that it’s perfectly okay to want a different outcome or career path than others. The outcome is that I am in a role that I enjoy — and while it’s still challenging, it’s the right kind of challenge.

What about WSP’s culture or guiding principles resonates with you, or has made you want to build a career here?

Collaboration and teamwork. The civil group in Michigan is something special, and I am proud to have been a part of it for 25 years. We’ve grown together, encouraging open communication, sharing of knowledge and a collective problem-solving mindset. There were times we worked until the sun came up to meet deadlines, because we all shared the same goal of excellence.

Also, civic engagement and community service. I grew up in urban Detroit in a disadvantaged family, being the first in my family to go to college. Over the years, we have done countless activities to give back to our city, including donating school supplies to children, cleaning up Belle Isle, working at the soup kitchens, volunteering/donating to Goodfellows to provide every kid with a Christmas, to name a few. The chance to pay it forward gave me a sense of personal fulfillment in knowing that our efforts can change lives, particularly in a community that shaped who I am.

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Laurie pictured WSP colleagues Jon Eschmann and Ken Holbert at the American Concrete Pavement Association Awards. The MDOT I-75 Modernization Segment 3 earned the Gold Award for Divided Highways (Urban).

  

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