VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Beach native is making history in her city. Toni Utterback is the first woman to ever fill the City Engineer role in Virginia Beach.
“It’s kind of neat to drive around the city and say, ‘I was a part of that project,” she said.
Utterback wants to help create a stronger future in Virginia Beach. She’s worked for the city since 2009 and had big dreams.
“I wanted this to be where I retired from and I thought I wanted to be someday, the City Engineer,” she said.
Now, she’s achieved that goal. In fact, she became the first woman to ever hold the City Engineer position.
“It’s an honor and it’s also a huge responsibility,” Utterback said.
Utterback assumed her new role in November following the retirement of Phillip Pullen, who previously held the position. A licensed professional engineer in Virginia, she has more than 20 years of industry experience in leadership roles. She oversees seven divisions that are responsible for planning and constructing roads, bridges, and highways.
“They count on the city engineer to provide guidance and resources to make sure that they can get their job done,” Utterback said.
She also oversees stormwater and coastal infrastructure projects. One of them includes the Marsh Restoration Project in Back Bay.
“This project is going to construct over 30 acres of marsh island habitat," she said.
Utterback said about 20 women engineers work in the city’s office. She said only a few hold senior positions. It’s a career she encourages other women to join.
She said she hopes to leave her mark on Virginia Beach.
“My legacy is to see projects constructed in the City of Virginia Beach that will make it more resilient in the future.”
Utterback said her ultimate goal is to make sure all new city construction can withstand future sea level rise. She recently served as the Stormwater Engineering Center Administrator, overseeing the design and construction of stormwater infrastructure worth over $1.1 billion, including leading the execution of the City’s Flood Protection Program.
Other positions she's held within the City’s Department of Public Works include Engineering Services Administrator, and Project Support Office Manager.
“Toni brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role that will greatly benefit the City of Virginia Beach,” said LJ Hansen, Director of Public Works for the City of Virginia Beach. “Her active involvement with regional organizations such as the Coastal Resiliency Committee and boards like the Flood Prevention Bond Referendum Oversight Board demonstrates her commitment to resilience for the entire Hampton Roads area.”
Prior to her employment with the City of Virginia Beach, Utterback was the Site Civil Group Manager for Woolpert, a premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG), and strategic consulting firm.