Hoysick is immediate past president of the Colorado chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar and is vice president of programming for the Denver chapter of the Airport Minority Advisory Council, which supports minorities and women in the aviation and aerospace sectors. She also serves as membership chair for MOVE Colorado, a group of transportation funding advocates, and she is as a member of the Colorado chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. Hoysick has received honors from multiple industry organizations, including the APTA Early Career Program, ACEC Colorado’s New Faces of Engineering, and multiple honors from WTS Colorado, where she was named Emerging Leader in 2015 and Member of the Year in 2020.

How did you break into the industry?

Graduating from college in 2010 meant navigating the uncertain waters of a post-recession economy. After graduation from the Colorado School of Mines, I secured a pivotal role as an intern on the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) West Rail Line. This position was more than just an entry-level job; it was an overview of all aspects of major infrastructure development during a critical time for the industry. I was hired by Jim Starling and Paul von Fay, two figures who provided essential mentorship and guidance. Their willingness to bring on an intern during a lean economic period provided me with hands-on experience that was hard to find at the time. The West Rail Line project served as my training ground, allowing me to work both in the office on design review as well as out in the field doing construction management.

What is your favorite project and what challenges did you overcome on it?

Among the extensive portfolio of projects, I have been fortunate to work on, Denver Union Station stands out as my favorite. It is a career-defining endeavor that reshaped the transportation landscape of the city. Serving as the program management oversight consultant within the RTD team. The project was unique in its complexity and scope, successfully integrating light rail, commuter rail and bus systems with pedestrian, bicycle, and automotive infrastructure. This intricate layering of transit modes transformed the station into a true connectivity center, requiring rigorous coordination and a holistic view of urban mobility.

While the technical complexity was vast, the most impactful personal challenge - and ultimately the highlight of my experience - was transitioning from office-based engineering to field-based construction management. Leaving the theoretical side of engineering to manage the tangible realities of the job site presented a steep learning curve, especially as a twenty-one-year-old female. I watched the site evolve from a simple dirt field into the iconic hub it is today, a transformation made possible by an incredible project team whose collaboration turned a grand vision into concrete reality.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years, and what goals have you set for yourself to get there?

In ten years, I see myself serving in a strategic role where I am not just chasing the future of transportation infrastructure but actively defining it. My goal is to leverage my background in alternative delivery to shape policy and procurement models that allow us to build smarter, more equitable communities faster. I want to be the person connecting the dots between complex engineering solutions and tangible quality-of-life improvements for communities.

On a personal leadership level, I see myself as a visible mentor for the next generation of women in engineering. I want to have established a legacy that proves high-performance executive leadership and active, present parenthood are not mutually exclusive, creating a more inclusive path for the leaders coming up behind me.

How do you maintain a work-life balance?

In my role, work-life balance is less about perfect equilibrium and more about energy management and intentional presence. I am diligent about prioritization, with the understanding that my family comes first. Clear communication around deadlines and travel expectations is critical, and setting those boundaries allows me to be fully engaged both at work and at home.

What is a piece of advice you’d like to share with other young professionals in this industry, or those coming up behind you?

My biggest piece of advice is simple: remember why you enjoy going to work every day. Early in your career, it is easy to get buried in the technical details, the calculations, and the immediate deadlines. But the leaders who truly shape this industry are the ones who can look up from the plans and articulate how a project will improve a community.

In my role in business development and alternative delivery, I’ve learned that we aren't just selling engineering services – we are selling a vision of a better future. The sooner you can connect your technical expertise to that human impact, the faster you will grow. Finally, don’t be afraid to bring your full, authentic self to the table. Being genuine builds trust with clients and colleagues, and professionalism does not require leaving your personality behind.