Sam Saillot
Director of Virtual Design & Construction (VDC)
Rice Lake Construction Group
ABOUT Sam:
In middle school, I had a technology education teacher who introduced me to hand drafting, metal shop, and woodworking. I was immediately hooked and wanted to spend all day in that classroom. I went on to compete at the Technology Student Association Nationals in engineering and drafting events. At eleven years old, I didn’t fully understand that these competitions were connected to the world of engineering, I just knew they fueled my curiosity.
I was constantly exploring: How are bridges built? What shapes are most aerodynamic? What makes wheels spin? How do you draw a house in two dimensions? I was taking things apart and trying to understand how they worked. That wonder shaped the path ahead of me.
Those early interests grew into a desire to pursue an engineering degree. During my studies, I discovered a passion for water and wastewater infrastructure. It may seem like an unexpected focus, but by my senior year I knew that was where I belonged. I believe everyone deserves access to clean drinking water, and I am fascinated by how treatment plants can be both innovatively complex and elegantly simple. As communities grow and infrastructure ages, water facilities must evolve and I want to be part of building that future.
I began my career in the field on a pile driving crew alongside a group of seasoned tradesmen on the side of a highway, far from a water treatment plant. But that experience was foundational. I showed up every day ready to work, eager to learn, and determined to contribute. Over time, I earned the crew’s respect. The barrier of being “a woman in construction” faded. I became simply another member of the team.
The road was not without challenges. There were moments when I was underestimated or told I didn’t belong. Those moments were difficult, but they reinforced lessons my dad instilled in me: gender does not define capability. If you work hard and remain determined, you can achieve what you set out to do.
I continued working alongside the superintendent who had introduced me to pile driving, and together we transitioned into building water treatment plants. This was where most of his construction experience was rooted and where he preferred to work, so it turned out to be a great fit for both of us. I began creating three-dimensional models of the facilities we were constructing off the engineer’s two-dimensional plan sets so field crews could better visualize the complex structures. Those models improved productivity and profitability by helping teams solve challenges before they impacted construction. The middle school student who loved drafting had found her niche.
Today, I serve as the Director of Virtual Design and Construction at Rice Lake. I lead a team of modelers who now do what I once did on my own ten years ago. We collaborate closely with field teams to translate engineering designs into constructible solutions. Through detailed modeling and coordination, we work through complex challenges virtually before they become costly issues in the field.
Having worked in the field myself, I understand what it’s like to stand on a jobsite waiting for answers while the clock keeps ticking. That perspective drives my work. My goal is to deliver clear, deliberate, step-by-step drawings that eliminate uncertainty and give crews the confidence to build without hesitation. When we do our job well, the field runs seamlessly, like a well-oiled machine, and seeing that level of efficiency and coordination come to life is what makes my line of work truly rewarding.