For National Engineers Week 2026, we’re sharing stories from Providence’s engineering talent to learn more about what sparked their passion for the field. From childhood curiosity to hands-on experiences, each journey is unique—but all share a common thread: a love for problem-solving, design, and making an impact through engineering.
Meet Ben Heckert, PE, Project Engineer, Mechanical in our York office.
Growing up, Ben had a unique combination of creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills, even before he started school. Instead of following step-by-step Lego instructions, he and his siblings worked from a large bin of random pieces and imagined what they could build without directions. He also loved figuring out how things worked. One of his favorite memories is taking apart an old corded telephone his uncle no longer needed, exploring the components inside and seeing how they worked together.
As he moved through school, Ben gravitated toward math, science, art, and woodshop. These were the classes that helped him better understand the world around him and gave him the opportunity to create and build. After taking a career aptitude test, engineering stood out as the perfect fit. It combined his curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills into a career he could put to use every day.
Meet Barry Foreman, PE, PEng, Executive Vice President at Providence Engineering.
Growing up, Barry was introduced to building at an early age. His grandfather was a carpenter, and Barry spent time helping with projects around his house, learning firsthand how things came together. He also loved building with his Erector set, creating steel beams and columns and assembling his own miniature structures. It was the perfect “engineering” toy and an early glimpse into the career he would one day pursue.
When it came time to choose a path, Barry knew he wanted to design buildings. He also knew his strengths were in math, which naturally led him toward engineering. As he explored programs, he discovered architectural engineering degrees offered at a few colleges. They provided the opportunity to design buildings with a strong emphasis on engineering, while still incorporating some architectural coursework. It was exactly the right fit.
Meet Annette Dearolf, PE, Senior Project Manager, Structural and Branch Lead of our Doylestown office.
Annette’s interest in buildings started early. When she was in third grade, her parents were building their family home, and she was fascinated watching it take shape from the ground up. As a kid, she played with Legos and Lincoln Logs, built sand castles, dug in the dirt, and spent hours outside with her neighbors playing with trucks. Building was simply part of everyday life.
Her dad was always working on a project, too. He built their in-ground pool, an entry addition to their house, baseball and softball fields, dugouts, and press boxes. Looking back, it’s easy to see where her interest in construction began.
Annette was always drawn to architecture, but she jokes that she doesn’t have an artistic bone in her body. She excelled at math, and after learning about engineering, she discovered architectural engineering. It combined her interest in buildings with her analytical strengths. Problem solved!
Meet Garrett Ulrich, EIT, Design Engineer, Structural in our Lewisburg office.
Garrett has always loved building things and understanding how they’re put together. From a young age, he was curious about how structures worked and what made them stand the test of time.
In high school, he gravitated toward construction and shop classes, along with drafting courses that allowed him to turn ideas into detailed plans. Outside the classroom, he worked as a carpenter throughout high school and during college breaks. That hands-on experience deepened his appreciation for construction and gave him a practical understanding of how designs come to life in the field.
Math and science came naturally to Garrett, and he found himself enjoying those subjects more than any others. Engineering became the clear path forward, combining his strengths in the classroom with his passion for building.
Meet Kieran Bell, EIT, Design Engineer, Structural in our Pittsburgh office.
Kieran has loved building things for as long as he can remember. He grew up playing with Lego and tackling custom builds, always enjoying the challenge.
In school, Kieran was drawn to visual arts, math, and physics, subjects that combined creativity with problem-solving. This led him to pursue a degree in structural engineering with an architecture minor, a path that allowed him to explore all three passions while preparing for a career in structural design.
Today, Kieran enjoys turning ideas into real-world structures, combining creativity and technical skill to help bring projects to life safely and efficiently.
Engineering is about more than calculations and blueprints. It’s about curiosity, creativity, and the drive to solve real-world challenges. For Ben, Barry, Annette, Garrett, and Kieran, those early sparks of interest grew into careers dedicated to designing solutions that shape the communities around us.
As we celebrate National Engineers Week 2026, we are proud to recognize their journeys and the many engineers whose work makes a lasting impact every day. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire the next generation to explore, create, and imagine what’s possible, because every great career starts with curiosity and the courage to transform your future.
