PITTSBURGH, PA Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that Danielle Smith, PE, has joined the firm as Transportation Department Manager in the Denver, Colorado, office. With Smith's hiring, Michael Baker strengthens its regional transportation practice to further deliver innovative, complex solutions to enhance the state's transportation network across the Denver metro region.

In her new role, Ms. Smith will draw on more than 20 years of professional experience in the public transportation sector to manage and mentor the firm's growing Denver transportation practice and will focus on delivering projects which solve clients' most complex challenges. Her past experience includes program management, stakeholder coordination, project controls, and design for highway, light rail and traffic-related projects.

"Significant population growth projected in the state over the next 20 years places a renewed emphasis on the need for improved connectivity and varied transit options for commuters," said Jeff Baker, PE, Michael Baker International Senior Vice President and Mountain Region Director. "Danielle's extensive experience will be a valuable asset to the team as we partner with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and other agencies to demonstrate how We Make a Difference by delivering projects that enhance safety, restore aging infrastructure and improve mobility."

Previously, Smith served as the Regional Transportation District's (RTD) deputy corridor manager for Jacobs Engineering Group's FasTracks project, a multi-billion dollar comprehensive transit expansion program. She also has played key roles on large-scale public transportation projects, including the $1.67 billion Transportation Expansion (T-REX) program, which is the preliminary design for the I-225 Corridor and roadway for the Denver Union Station, among others.

Smith is an active member and leader of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), Colorado Chapter, where she served as secretary, president, Northwest Regional Council Chair, and member of the International Advisory Board from 2014-2016. She also was recognized as the 2015 WTS Colorado Member of the Year.

She holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Colorado in Denver and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder.