Each year during National Engineers Week, Girl Day shines a spotlight on the impact and opportunities within engineering for young women. At Sandman Structural Engineers, we’re proud to celebrate the women on our team who are helping shape the built environment every day.
This year, we’re highlighting Bretton Ronlund, Structural Designer on our Hospitality & Housing team in the Minneapolis office.
Bretton’s journey into engineering started with creativity.
“When I was younger, I drew a playhouse on paper, and my dad built it for me out of plywood,” she shares. “I remember thinking it was the coolest thing ever — that something I imagined could become real.”
That early experience planted the seed. As she grew older, she realized structural engineering offered the same opportunity — imagining something and seeing it come to life, but on a much larger scale.
“It’s the perfect combination of creativity and logical thinking,” she says. “You design something that’s practical and safe, but also something people rely on every day.”
At SSE, Bretton has found a culture that supports her development.
“The culture has been very supportive and collaborative. I’ve felt comfortable asking questions and learning from more experienced engineers,” she explains. “Being surrounded by people willing to share their knowledge makes it easier to build confidence and grow technically and professionally.”
One of her favorite parts of the job is how it changes the way she experiences the world.
“Now when I walk into a building, I think about how it was designed and how the structural members work together. I’m especially fascinated by older wood structures and how construction techniques have evolved over time.”
Looking ahead, she’s motivated by the lasting impact of her work.
“I’m excited for the day I can walk into a building and know I helped design it. The idea of having an impact on the skyline and on a community is really motivating.”
For girls considering engineering, Bretton offers simple but powerful advice:
“Stick with it. There may be times when you’re the only girl in the room. Ask questions. Stay curious. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
If you enjoy building, creating, or figuring things out, this field needs your perspective. Surround yourself with supportive people — and remember that you absolutely belong here.”
On Girl Day, we celebrate not only the engineers shaping our communities today, but the future engineers who will transform what’s possible tomorrow.
