On May 21, Jessica MacClanahan was public works director for the city of Redmond.

From transportation or wastewater, to parks and fleet management, MacClanahan now leads a team of 87 people — almost 40 percent of the total number of city employees — that builds and maintains the city’s public infrastructure. She will oversee a $76 million budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

MacClanahan, 36, joined Redmond in 2022 as a city engineer. When William Duerden, the previous public works director, announced his retirement about a year later, she applied for top job.

When she found out she got the job, MacClanahan said that “it was a moment of pride.” She said it felt good to be an example for her two young daughters.

Mary Meloy previously served as public works director in the 1990s.

“It’s an honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of shaping Redmond,” MacClanahan said.

Born and raised in the Portland area, MacClanahan graduated from Santa Clara University in 2009 with a degree in civil engineering and music. With math and science being her favorite subjects, she was drawn to civil engineering because it offered the tangible outcomes that she liked to see.

“It’s rewarding to work on designing and constructing projects that benefit the livability of our community’s daily lives,” MacClanahan said. “It’s valuable to see how these projects are ultimately used, and how they inform the future growth.”

At Santa Clara, she recalls being one of four or five women in her engineering class of about 100. Despite the lack of representation, MacClanahan felt welcomed and included.

“I had such a wonderful experience at Santa Clara — it felt like an enriching environment at that particular school,” she said. “I didn’t feel discriminated against.”

But entering work in the real world revealed a few challenges that come with being a woman in a male-dominated field.

“I feel like as a female engineer, you may have to prove your worth and your value a little bit more at the onset,” MacClanahan said. “I’ve tried to just put my best foot forward, be the best that I can be and let my talent shine for myself.”

MacClanahan worked in northern California for about eight years, then made her way to Central Oregon.

“What I admire most about her is her ability to build relationships with colleagues, other agencies and the community,” said Lindsey Cromsigt, a city engineer who has worked alongside MacClanahan both in Redmond and at a previous job. “There’s passion in her work, she supports her team and is an inspiring and intelligent leader.”

Mayor Ed Fitch called MacClanahan the “best engineer (I’ve) ever worked with in 45 years.”

“She can analyze situations very well and is a very good team player,” Fitch said. “It’s hard for me to not say good things about her.”

As Redmond continues to grow and more projects start, MacClanahan said she wants to be “conscious and thoughtful” about both the master plan of the city’s future, as well as the thoughts and ideas of the people on her team. She said that being “approachable, accessible and a good listener,” to both the public and her staff members will be key to finding success in the position.

One summer project that residents of Redmond should be on the look out for is a new traffic signal at NW 9th St and NW Maple Ave, said MacClanahan.

Bigger projects currently in the works include reconstruction of Southwest Reservoir Drive and working towards completing the design on the Redmond Wetlands Complex, a $70 million new wastewater system.

Editor’s note: This story was updated June 20 to note that Mary Meloy previously served as public works director and was the first woman in Redmond to hold the position.

 “There’s passion in her (MacClanahan’s) work, she supports her team and is an inspiring and intelligent leader.”

Linsdey Cromsigt, engineer.