HOUSTON, TX – TGC is excited to welcome Madeleine Hirsch, PE to the team! Madeleine joins us in the TGC Houston office to champion thoughtful planning, robust technical analysis, inclusive engagement strategies, proactive public administration, and comprehensive engineering principles. Get to know Madeleine by reading the Q/A below and learn more about TGC services, our team, and our mission to connect capital to communities.

Q: What inspired you to pursue your career?

A: I was sitting in my introduction to transportation class while pursuing my bachelor’s in civil engineering at Texas A&M University, and it dawned on me that this was the type of engineering that was best suited to my skillset. Traffic engineering is an art and a science. There’s a people aspect to traffic engineering and urban planning, and it’s not always about following standards and best practices. Each community and project has its own characteristics and challenges, where that “by-the-book” solution might not always be the best solution. I love that kind of challenge and way of thinking.

Q: What’s unique about your approach to your work, and how has it contributed to your success?

A: I love listening to the public’s opinion because I truly believe they are the experts when it comes to the roads they drive, walk, bike, or roll on every day. They know all the nuances and patterns that data alone doesn’t always reveal, and they are the ones who will be living with the solution or improvement going forward. I think being able to combine that with traffic engineering and urban planning knowledge is a powerful combination.

“Each community and project has its own characteristics and challenges, where that “by-the-book” solution might not always be the best solution. I love that kind of challenge and way of thinking.”

“I love listening to the public’s opinion because I truly believe they are the experts when it comes to the roads they drive, walk, bike, or roll on every day.”

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and how has it influenced your professional journey?

A: Just keep going – nothing special, but it reminds me that you’re stronger and smarter than you think. You typically give up because you want to, not because you have to. This advice has helped me a lot professionally and personally because I’ve told myself that once I commit to and start something, I finish it. And this has helped me believe that I can do those hard things when I put my mind to it.

Q: What motivated you to join TGC, and what are you most looking forward to achieving here?

A: I remember first noticing TGC because I saw the TGC logo and staff names everywhere! I noticed that TGC was taking on tasks across the entire project process which was unlike anything I had seen before. I noticed the staff’s commitment to their clients, the way they stood up for what was right – even when it wasn’t easy – and their dedication to the greater good. I knew they were good, hardworking people, and those are the kind of people I want to surround myself with. I’m excited to be that person for clients who need an expert on their side – someone they can trust to do what’s best for them and the public.

For additional information or questions, contact TGC to learn more about our services, our team, and our mission to connect capital to communities across Texas and beyond.

Staff Spotlight: Madeleine Hirsch