In our September Women In PHCP spotlight, we invite you to meet Sabrina Randall, CPD! Randall is a plumbing and fire protection designer who has been active in the industry for more than eight years. She has worked on many different types of projects, including healthcare, labs, office and university buildings, and even highly specialized marine systems work. Some of her responsibilities at SmithGroup include designing plumbing systems, problem solving, understanding and staying current with code updates, and client interface. She is also a member of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), ASPE Young Professionals, and Women Of ASPE — and was recently selected as the recipient of the 2024 ASPE Convention & Expo Scholarship. When she is not designing, Randall is an avid outdoorsperson who enjoys exploring nature and appreciating the natural beauty that the world has to offer.

PHCPPros: How and why did you decide to enter a career in the PHCP industry? 

Randall: My path into the PHCP industry has been quite unique. Initially, my creative passion drove me, and I pursued a degree in interior design and architecture. However, I discovered that I excelled in addressing technical systems challenges. This realization sparked my interest in connecting the realms of architecture and systems engineering. Since joining the industry as a BIM modeler, I've embraced this journey wholeheartedly, eventually advancing to a role in plumbing and fire protection engineering and obtaining my certification in Plumbing Systems Design.

PHCPPros: What have been some of your career highlights? 

Randall: Some of my biggest accomplishments have been transitioning from building information modeling (BIM) to plumbing and fire protection drafting and design, working my way up into a mid-level plumbing and fire protection designer role, and finally studying and obtaining my CPD after years of dedication. 

There are two projects that stand out as favorites and career highlights for how they challenged me and helped me to grow. The first was the Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, which was a fire recovery project (the first and only of its kind that I have worked on). The other is the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Quissett Facility, which is a three-story fabrication shop and makerspace for marine research. It was a very unique opportunity and unlike any other project I have worked on.

PHCPPros: What are your experiences with women mentors or mentees? 

Randall: I worked with Karen Bowes, PE, CEM when I began my journey in the plumbing industry as a BIM modeler at BVH Integrated Services. She taught me so much about the construction industry and process and did so with patience, kindness and grace. I will be forever appreciative of the time we worked together and all that I have learned from her.

I worked with my peers at SmithGroup to train Aya El Abdallah on the basics of plumbing and fire protection design during her three-month internship at the company last summer. As part of my mentoring, I had the pleasure of giving her a tour of one of the most challenging and unprecedented projects I have worked on to date, the fire recovery project at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital that I mentioned earlier. 

PHCPPros: What do you think the PHCP industry can do to better recruit and retain women?

Randall: There should be more school outreach at younger ages to attract women to the field and create interest in the industry. Ensure that when there are women who have talent and passion for the industry, they are elevated to leadership roles to transition us away from the male-dominated industry of the past. The more representation we have within male-dominated industries, the more girls will say, “This is what I aspire to be someday,” and have confidence that there is a pathway to that goal.

PHCPPros: What advice would you give to a woman entering the PHCP industry? 

Randall: Be confident and ready to learn. Do not be afraid to ask questions. When you find a mentor with patience and a teaching mentality, learn as much as you can from them — but make sure to get more than one perspective, as there is always more than one way to think about a problem. Be open to different ideas, and go into each situation with a growth mindset.

Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity. 

Do you know someone you would like to nominate for our Women In PHCP newsletter series? Email PHCPPros Digital Strategy Manager Nicole Meyer at nicole@phcppros.com!