Tiffanie Toles, a project manager with Kwame Building Group, learned early in her life she liked “how to go about doing things.”
It was the first of many steps that led her into the field of engineering where she earned several degrees before launching an impressive career that has brought her accolades and honors from throughout the nation.
While in elementary school in the Riverview Gardens School District, she had strong grades in math and science, and she participated in its REACH program.
“It’s where I found out I liked engineering,” Toles said.
She would attend Westview Middle School, which offered Project Lead the Way, and had her first experiences using Auto Cad, which helped students design their “dream car.”
“We built that vision,” Toles explained.
Describing herself as “a small young woman with a small amount of resources,” Toles began her high school education at Lutheran North.
“My mom worked two jobs so I could go there. She gave so much of her life for my education,” she said.
Toles’ mom would lose one of her jobs and the decision was made for Toles to transfer to Hazelwood Central, which did not derail her journey to a future engineering degree.
“They understood my predicament and vowed to get me where I wanted to go,” she explained.
Knowing she would need scholarships to attend college, Toles and her mom feverishly researched and applied for numerous financial assistance opportunities. Before she knew what colleges to apply for, she realized that funding was the first priority.
The Gates Millenium Scholarship, which offered a four-year full ride to the college of choice, was among the many that Toles applied for.
“They choose one person per state; and I actually won,” Toles said.
With the glee of landing the illustrious scholarship came the realization that Toles was late in the college application process. Her perseverance paid off when the University of Missouri – Science and Technology in Rolla, recognized as one of the leading engineering schools in the nation, accepted her.
“Blessed with the Gates Scholarship, I now have three degrees, all from S&T,” said Toles.
In May of 2016, she received her bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. Two years later, she earned a master’s degree in engineering management with a project management certificate. She received a doctoral degree in engineering management with an emphasis in system engineering in May of 2023.
After securing her undergraduate degree and pursuing her master’s, Toles worked at Ameren as a reservoir gas engineer at the Johnston City (Illinois) Gas Storage Facility.
During her time researching her thesis, Tiffanie realized she could help small businesses increase sustainability efforts.
In Fall of 2018, she founded a catering business, Catering To A T LLC, alongside her family “to help build entrepreneurial skills for future generations.”
Now serving as a Kwame Group project manager, Toles says it is his responsibility “to make sure everything is buttoned up.”
“This is from concept to realization; from design to build up.”
Among the “cool projects” she is currently managing is the MetroLink Green Line.
“It is going to bring so much to St. Louis. We have so much diversity here, and the (future) Green Line will help bring it to the forefront.”
Toles enjoys meeting and networking with new people who share the same interests in the industry.
“It is an honor to work with colleagues and professionals who have seen our city continually change with the new developments that are happening,” she said in a recent AEC magazine interview.
For young people, especially Black women, who seek a career in engineering, Toles offers this advice:
“Believe in your potential and embrace unique perspectives. We are considered to be underdogs, and that’s just the way of the world. We know better. The thing is to believe that we belong.
“STEM fields thrive on diverse perspectives. Tackle challenges every day. You will succeed!”