Barry Isett & Associates is proud to announce that Kathryn Lucy Paretti, PE, was selected as a 2020 Forty Under 40 by Lehigh Valley Business. This awards program recognizes the Greater Lehigh Valley’s most accomplished young professionals who have been making contributions to their field and who share a dedication to business growth, professional excellence and community service.
Ms. Paretti joined Isett in 2013 after a three-year career providing electrical design with another Lehigh Valley-based firm. In 2017, she took on the role of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) & Fire Protection Department Head. When Ms. Paretti assumed the role of Department Head, the MEP Department had just six members operating independently within the organization. Since that time, the department added team members to grow its capabilities and simultaneously built bridges with other Isett departments, particularly the Structural Engineering Department, to provide better inter-office and client communication.
While growing the MEP Department, Ms. Paretti’s team has welcomed several dozen shadow students from local high schools and colleges who are interested in learning about careers in engineering. The team has hosted several college interns who are “test-driving” their careers in engineering by offering them real-world experiences, visiting job sites with engineers and allowing them to assist with project design in supervised settings.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Ms. Paretti dedicates her time to the variety of service programs organized by fellow Isett associates and supported by the firm’s shared value of Service. Ms. Paretti has been a several-year member of the Volunteer Challenge team that has worked on improvements at the Salvation Army’s Hospitality House in Allentown. In addition, she has served as a MATHCOUNTS volunteer, an engineering initiative to promote math skills in middle school students. At Isett, Ms. Paretti helped establish the Emerging Leadership Group to promote and support the next generation of company leaders.
Outside of Isett, Ms. Paretti has a very full personal life; she is married to a fellow engineer and is the proud mom to two active, healthy children under the age of five. She is a regular volunteer at her church’s community clean up days, served on a playground construction crew at an urban elementary school and frequently helps with Mission brunches.
Ms. Paretti credits the shared values of Isett in enabling her to live such an abundant life. “I credit Isett’s flexible workplace philosophy along with the support of my husband, for superior support in helping me achieve my success,” she said.
Lehigh Valley Business will be recognizing the 2020 Forty Under 40 on Thursday, July 16.