Patty Mamola, PE, currently serves as the Executive Director of NVBPELS. With 4.5 years in this role and nine years previously spent as a board member, Mamola brings extensive experience to her position. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, specializing in civil engineering.
Mamola shares that she had to take the Professional Engineer (PE) exam twice before passing. “Regrettably, I failed it the first time – just missed the mark,” she says. However, her perseverance paid off when she passed on her second attempt.
As for her responsibilities on the Board, Mamola finds working with her “ever-changing 9 bosses” to be her favorite part. She emphasizes the importance of the Board’s role: “The Board regulates engineers and land surveyors to protect the public. Our responsibility to the public is very important to me.”
Her pursuit of professional licensure was influenced by advice during college and job requirements: “Because I was told during college that it was important to get licensed. I was required to be licensed for my first job.”
Among various projects throughout her career, Mamola highlights the construction of SR 160/Blue Diamond Road in Las Vegas as her favorite project. This initiative involved transforming an old two-lane road into a four-lane roadway with new drainage structures.
Mamola also shares a personal anecdote about her early college days: “When I first started college, I wanted to be an architect. I hated engineering school so much so that I flunked out my freshman year second semester.” Despite these challenges, she eventually graduated with good grades.
