Rapunzel Amador-Lewis

President and Principal Engineer, Amador Lewis, Inc.

President and Principal Engineer| Amador Lewis, Inc.

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Why Engineering?

My passion for Math and Science began at an early age, fueled by academic competitions in her birth town of Candelaria Quezon, Philippines. Together with my parents and two siblings, I immigrated to the United States at the age of 13. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake "shook" my interest to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural (structural) Engineering.
School Days

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural (structural) Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo. Later on, I earned a Master of Business Administration at California State University Stanislaus, in Turlock, to start my own structural engineering firm. Currently, I am a doctoral candidate in Organizational Change and Leadership program at University of Southern California.
Best Part

Using my engineering vocation for "service above self."
Proud Moments

I feed my spirits by giving back to my local and global community. I continue to use my civil engineering vocation as a vehicle to serve the world. In the last decade, I have led and executed Rotary International global grants that continue to serve the hundreds of thousands of lives across seven continents. Among these projects are the construction of water tank storage and distribution systems in ten remote villages in my birth town of Candelaria Quezon, Philippines. I am the recipient of numerous Rotary International Distinguished Service Awards and Vocational Leadership Award. I was also the recipient of 2014 Engineer Of The Year Award, presented by the San Joaquin Engineers Council.
Challenges

Starting my own structural engineering firm in 2005.
My Family

A family of black belts: I am married to a veteran of the U.S. Army. We have two daughters and a son. Our oldest daughter is a certified behavioral therapist and is graduating from San Jose State University in May 2020 with a degree in clinical Psychology. Our son is currently a police cadet and is pursuing a career in law enforcement while attending CSU Stanislaus. Our youngest daughter is a freshman at CSU East Bay, pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts in animation and character design.
Inspiration

I found my passion for teaching while mentoring youth engaging in engineering activities. Since then, I have provided Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) Curriculum and Instructions, and consulting services to School Districts and Non-Profit youth organizations throughout California. I have implemented and taught numerous engineering camps in my local community over a decade. I also serves as an Adjunct Professor at California State University Stanislaus. I have taught Mathematics, Operations Management, Accounting, and Finance, since 2015. I was the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Woman of Stanislaus County, presented by the Stanislaus County Commission For Women.
Hobbies

I believe in practicing the tenets of Taekwondo daily. I have earned numerous championship titles in traditional forms, weapons & combat weapons, creative forms & weapons, and extreme martial arts forms & weapons, in the Regional, State, District/National, and World events. I hold a 2nd degree black belt rank in Songham Taekwondo. My husband, George, and I ahve enjoyed teaching Taekwondo at summer youth camps held at Stan State and the local community for the past decade.

Rapunzel Amador-Lewis is the founder, President and Principal Engineer of Amador Lewis, Inc. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA in 1994. She began her career in structural engineering working as a design engineer for Varco-Pruden Buildings, a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc., where she would spend 5-1/2 years in responsible charge of pre-engineered steel building projects ranging in size, complexity, and budget. She obtained her Professional Engineer's license in California in 1997 and subsequently obtained P.E. registrations in eleven other Western States. After VP Buildings, she moved on to gain more experience in the conventional structural building design, consulting, and project management and joined several engineering firms and a construction company all located in Modesto, CA: JH Lawder, Inc., Structural Engineers, Complere Engineering Group, Inc., and Panelized Structures, Inc. With the dream of starting her own structural engineering firm, she returned to school and earned a Master of Business Administration from California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, CA in 2006. As a tribute to her ancestry, Rapunzel kept her maiden name and her private structural engineering practice was formed as Amador Lewis, Inc. in 2005. Today, Rapunzel attributes her successes to building strong relationships with her existing customers, which make-up 90% of her projects serviced. She remains an approved consultant to Bluescope Buildings, Inc. and serves both Varco-Pruden and Butler Builders in the Western United States (including Alaska). She continues to be one of the most sought after structural engineering consultants in the Metal Building industry with thousands of projects completed over a period of 25 years. In 2020, she begins her journey as a candidate at University of Southern California and plans to earn a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Change and Leadership in year 2022.