Beltrami County History Center to host ‘Designing the Future: Women in Engineering’

The Beltrami County History Center will celebrate Women’s History Month with Designing the Future: Women in Engineering on Saturday, March 15, at 10 a.m. The free event will highlight the achievements of women in engineering and feature a panel discussion with local engineers shaping the region’s infrastructure and innovation.

Panelists include:

• Brit Rohloff, Automation Engineer, TEAM Industries
• Jenna Roberts, Assistant City Engineer, City of Bemidji
• Laura Carlson, Design Team Lead, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Although historically underrepresented in STEM fields, women have significantly contributed to engineering, overcoming systemic barriers to lead groundbreaking projects. The panelists will share their career journeys, discuss the industry’s evolving landscape, and highlight their work at the local and state levels.

Women in engineering are not new to Beltrami County. In 1931, Dorothy A. Blesi broke barriers as a single woman serving as Beltrami County surveyor—a role dominated by men at the time. Nearly a century later, women are vital in shaping the region’s built environment.

“This event is an opportunity to honor the achievements of women engineers, past and present, while also inspiring future generations to pursue careers in STEM,” said Emily Thabes, executive director of the Beltrami County Historical Society. “We especially encourage young people curious about engineering to attend, ask questions, and connect with professionals who have built careers in this exciting and impactful field.”

The event is free and open to the public.