BWE, Inc. Promotes Mara Cordon, SE, to Principal Associate
SAN DIEGO, CA – September 2, 2025 – BWE, Inc. announces the promotion of Mara Cordon, SE, to Principal Associate. The promotion recognizes her exceptional leadership, commitment to sustainable design, and significant contributions to the firm since joining in 2020.
“Mara has consistently stood out for her exceptional work ethic and technical skills, earning the immediate respect of everyone on our team,” says Charlie Colvin, President of BWE. “She has the ability to start with any of our projects, ascertain the needs of the client through excellent communication skills, and lead the project to success.”
Cordon’s approach to engineering blends meticulous attention to detail with exceptional communication, enabling her to transform complex architectural ambitions into constructible realities. Inspired by the motto of her colleague Jeff Densley, “If there’s a load path, there’s a way,” she has embraced an adaptive mindset that has earned the trust of her clients and project teams.
An advocate for sustainable design, Cordon leads BWE’s Sustainability Committee and serves as Embodied Carbon Champion for the firm’s SE2050 Commitment. Under her leadership, BWE is implementing performance-based concrete design strategies to reduce embodied carbon and adopting eco-conscious practices in its daily operations.
“Mara’s ability to take on any project, understand client needs through clear communication, and lead it to success is remarkable. She leads by example, setting a high standard for our team, and generously shares her expertise to support and mentor our young engineers. Her contributions to the department’s leadership have been invaluable,” says Charlie Colvin.
Cordon is currently contributing to several high-profile projects such as the ongoing Fontana City Hall Phase 2 Renovation, San Ysidro Health’s Kimball Highlands PACE Clinic, and the San Diego County Administration Center’s major, multi-phased renovation.
“I find it very fulfilling to be able to see my projects in the real world, watching them transform from ideas, to drawings, to real buildings,” says Cordon.
Cordon was exposed to the world of design from a young age, growing up in a family of petroleum, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers. She earned both her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, becoming a third-generation Berkeley engineer. As she grows her own family today, Cordon is a role model to her peers, successfully balancing a thriving career with family life. “Separating work and home life is a key part of the balancing act of being a mom and engineer,” she explains. “When I finish work for the day, simply seeing my daughter’s face helps me decompress.”
In her new role as Principal Associate, Cordon will continue to mentor emerging engineers and expand her role in business development. She remains committed to continual learning, keeping her code knowledge sharp, leading projects, and making bigger impacts.
About BWE, Inc.
Based in San Diego, California, BWE, Inc. has provided structural engineering, civil engineering, and land surveying services for construction projects across Southern California for more than five decades. Known for design excellence and responsive service, the firm’s engineers and surveyors are trusted partners in the built environment. BWE is also committed to fostering professional growth, offering mentorship, training, and support for licensure and professional association membership. To learn more, visit bwesd.com.
Media Contact
Athena Borrego
Director of Marketing & Business Development
aborrego@bwesd.com
(619) 299-5550