About Us
Portrait of an Oakcrest Graduate
Suzanne “Suzy” (Royden) Rivet ‘07
St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
Suzy (Royden) Rivet ‘07 is leading the way for women and mothers in the construction industry. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, Suzy works at Kiewit Corporation in the Project Controls and Finance Department, where she is currently working on the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement. She and her husband, Dave, live in Colorado and welcomed their first child, Vaughn, in November of 2023.
A trailblazer for women in the construction profession, Suzy expressed gratitude for her Oakcrest education in preparing her for professional life: “Oakcrest also gave me the drive to pursue a career in a male-dominated industry by equipping me with confidence, tools, and perseverance. Throughout my career – whether on construction sites or in formal office settings – I’ve always felt empowered to hold my own,” Suzy stated.
After graduating from Saint Joseph's University with a Business Management degree, Suzy began her career at BAE Systems before transitioning to the construction industry. In 2014, she moved to Lexington, Kentucky to work for Bechtel Corporation on the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant as a Project Controls Engineer, and she fell in love with the role. Since 2018, she has worked at Kiewit Corporation in the Project Controls/Finance department.
“The construction world is dynamic and fast-paced, requiring quick thinking and making sound financial decisions that benefit not only the project but also my company and our clients. My career has taken me to incredible projects in Seattle, WA, Salt Lake City, UT, Phoenix, AZ, Mobile, AL, Vancouver, British Columbia, Las Vegas, NV, and now Baltimore, MD, where I’m working on the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement,” Suzy said.
“I find the challenges of this mega-project both thrilling and rewarding,” she continued. “While it can be uncomfortable being in a learning environment for this size of a job, it’s been exciting to collaborate directly with the project engineers, construction schedulers, and estimators, and to contribute to such impactful infrastructure work.”
Suzy has called Colorado home since March 2017, and discovered a love for travel along the way. Some of her favorite destinations include Italy, Brussels, Vancouver, California, and Mexico. Suzy met her husband, Dave, shortly after moving to Colorado. They were married at Holy Rosary Church in Washington, D.C. in 2021. As a family, Suzy, Dave and their son, Vaughn, enjoy reading, taking walks with their two Dalmatians, and exploring new adventures together.
During her time at Oakcrest, Suzy was an active participant in year-round sports, playing varsity soccer, basketball, and tennis. “Balancing academics with co-curricular activities gave me an outlet for personal growth and the chance to connect with students from other grades, creating strong, lasting bonds,” Suzy recalled. “I also cherished being part of the yearly Oakcrest play—though I might not be volunteering for any solo singing roles anytime soon!”
Suzy reflected that Oakcrest was instrumental in shaping her faith and values: “With the availability of daily Mass and confession, I learned to integrate my faith into every aspect of my life. This foundation has guided me to approach all tasks with purpose and integrity.”
Many Oakcrest teachers had a profound influence on Suzy. “Teachers like Bonnie Hanssen, who nurtured my spiritual health and love for Jesus, Caroline Heeter, whose guidance in sports instilled confidence and discipline, and Mrs. Deeb, who opened my eyes to STEM being an area I wanted to apply myself in, left a lasting impression on me,” Suzy recalled with affection.
To graduating seniors, Suzy’s advice is to fall back on and trust in what they have learned at Oakcrest, and to be fearless in blazing their own trail. “Keep in touch with your teachers, don’t hesitate to seek their advice, and fully dive into your interests—no matter the field or whether you may be a minority in it,” she said. “If you don’t have someone similar to look up to, be the example for others so that future classes can follow the trail you’ve blazed.”
Suzy’s advice echoes the words of St. Josemaria Escriva: “"Don’t let your life be barren. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the light of your faith and of your love.” (The Way, 1.)
Suzy encouraged Oakcrest graduates to set their goals high and trust in God. “You can accomplish incredible things once you set your mind to it, and always wait in hopeful trust, knowing that Jesus has your path beautifully set.”
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A trailblazer for women in the construction profession, Suzy expressed gratitude for her Oakcrest education in preparing her for professional life: “Oakcrest also gave me the drive to pursue a career in a male-dominated industry by equipping me with confidence, tools, and perseverance. Throughout my career – whether on construction sites or in formal office settings – I’ve always felt empowered to hold my own,” Suzy stated.
After graduating from Saint Joseph's University with a Business Management degree, Suzy began her career at BAE Systems before transitioning to the construction industry. In 2014, she moved to Lexington, Kentucky to work for Bechtel Corporation on the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant as a Project Controls Engineer, and she fell in love with the role. Since 2018, she has worked at Kiewit Corporation in the Project Controls/Finance department.
“The construction world is dynamic and fast-paced, requiring quick thinking and making sound financial decisions that benefit not only the project but also my company and our clients. My career has taken me to incredible projects in Seattle, WA, Salt Lake City, UT, Phoenix, AZ, Mobile, AL, Vancouver, British Columbia, Las Vegas, NV, and now Baltimore, MD, where I’m working on the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement,” Suzy said.
“I find the challenges of this mega-project both thrilling and rewarding,” she continued. “While it can be uncomfortable being in a learning environment for this size of a job, it’s been exciting to collaborate directly with the project engineers, construction schedulers, and estimators, and to contribute to such impactful infrastructure work.”
Suzy has called Colorado home since March 2017, and discovered a love for travel along the way. Some of her favorite destinations include Italy, Brussels, Vancouver, California, and Mexico. Suzy met her husband, Dave, shortly after moving to Colorado. They were married at Holy Rosary Church in Washington, D.C. in 2021. As a family, Suzy, Dave and their son, Vaughn, enjoy reading, taking walks with their two Dalmatians, and exploring new adventures together.
During her time at Oakcrest, Suzy was an active participant in year-round sports, playing varsity soccer, basketball, and tennis. “Balancing academics with co-curricular activities gave me an outlet for personal growth and the chance to connect with students from other grades, creating strong, lasting bonds,” Suzy recalled. “I also cherished being part of the yearly Oakcrest play—though I might not be volunteering for any solo singing roles anytime soon!”
Suzy reflected that Oakcrest was instrumental in shaping her faith and values: “With the availability of daily Mass and confession, I learned to integrate my faith into every aspect of my life. This foundation has guided me to approach all tasks with purpose and integrity.”
Many Oakcrest teachers had a profound influence on Suzy. “Teachers like Bonnie Hanssen, who nurtured my spiritual health and love for Jesus, Caroline Heeter, whose guidance in sports instilled confidence and discipline, and Mrs. Deeb, who opened my eyes to STEM being an area I wanted to apply myself in, left a lasting impression on me,” Suzy recalled with affection.
To graduating seniors, Suzy’s advice is to fall back on and trust in what they have learned at Oakcrest, and to be fearless in blazing their own trail. “Keep in touch with your teachers, don’t hesitate to seek their advice, and fully dive into your interests—no matter the field or whether you may be a minority in it,” she said. “If you don’t have someone similar to look up to, be the example for others so that future classes can follow the trail you’ve blazed.”
Suzy’s advice echoes the words of St. Josemaria Escriva: “"Don’t let your life be barren. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the light of your faith and of your love.” (The Way, 1.)
Suzy encouraged Oakcrest graduates to set their goals high and trust in God. “You can accomplish incredible things once you set your mind to it, and always wait in hopeful trust, knowing that Jesus has your path beautifully set.”
