Ilya Espino de Marotta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ilya Espino de Marotta
|
|
|---|---|
Ilya Espino de Marotta in 2016
|
|
| Education | Texas A&M Galveston, Universidad Santa María La Antigua |
| Spouse(s) | Peter Marotta |
| Children | Marco G. Marotta Espino, Peter A. Marotta Espino, Andrea N. Marotta Espino |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Marine engineering |
| Employer(s) | Panama Canal Authority |
| Projects | Panama Canal Expansion |
Ilya R. Espino de Marotta is a famous engineer from Panama. She is best known for leading a huge project to make the Panama Canal bigger. This project was called the Panama Canal Expansion Project. She was the Executive Vice President for Engineering at the Panama Canal Authority.
Ilya Espino de Marotta got this important job in 2012. She was the very first woman in the history of the Panama Canal Authority to hold such a high position. Some people wondered if a woman could do the job. She famously said, "I wear the pink hard-hat to make a statement that a woman can do this job." She also called the expansion project "a dream job for any engineer." Besides making the canal wider, she also managed other big projects. This included new bridges and buying important equipment. During the expansion, she even flew in a helicopter every month. From above, she watched the work being done on the canal.
Becoming an Engineer: Ilya's Education
Ilya Espino de Marotta studied hard to become an engineer. In 1985, she earned a degree in Marine Engineering from Texas A&M. This type of engineering deals with ships and ocean structures.
Later, in 1996, she earned a master's degree. This was in Economic Engineering from the Universidad Santa María La Antigua in Panama City. She also studied management at a business school called INCAE.
In 2007, she became a certified "Project Manager." This means she is officially recognized for her skills in leading big projects. She is also a licensed public translator.
Ilya's Journey: Working at the Panama Canal
Ilya Espino de Marotta has always loved water. She says her interest came from scuba diving and learning about Jacques Cousteau. He was a famous ocean explorer who helped invent the aqualung.
She started working for the Panama Canal Authority in 1985. Her first job was in a repair workshop in Colón. In 1994, she moved to the Canal Accounting Division. There, she worked as a valuation engineer.
By 1998, she was coordinating big investment programs for the Maritime Operations Department. Since 2002, she has been involved with the canal expansion project. In 2007, she became an executive manager for resources and project control.
In 2012, a leader named Jorge Luis Quijano suggested she take over his role. He wanted her to become the executive vice president for the Panama Canal Expansion Project. This was a huge step in her career.
Ilya Espino de Marotta has received many awards for her work. In 2014, she was named "Outstanding Woman of the Year." This award came from the Panamanian Association of Business Executives. Forbes Magazine also recognized her. They included her in their list of the 50 most powerful women in Central America. She was even featured on the cover of the magazine!
