Port Employees Receive Women of Influence Honoree

Mar 30, 2021

Two Port of San Diego employees have been selected by the San Diego Business Journal as Women of Influence in Engineering. This prestigious designation recognizes progressive and cutting-edge women who advance their organizations’ or companies’ goals and lead high-level projects to fruition.

The Port is proud to announce that Perla Goco, capital project manager, and Ani Mehra, an associate engineer, both in the Port’s Engineering & Construction Department, were selected for the recognition amongst several nominees within the region. They are featured in the San Diego Business Journal’s March 29 special report on engineering and construction.

“We are fortunate to have women like Perla Goco and Ani Mehra on the Port’s Engineering & Construction team,” said Joe Stuyvesant, Port of San Diego President and Chief Executive Officer. “Both of them have worked on major cost-saving infrastructure projects around San Diego Bay that have improved the quality of life for our visitors and residents. Congratulations Perla and Ani!”

Perla Goco has more than 31 years of experience in the engineering field, 21 of those at the Port. She has designed more than 50 capital and major maintenance projects around San Diego Bay. These include LED retrofitting projects on all streets and in public parks within the Port’s jurisdiction, which helps save the Port approximately 280,000 kw of electricity and $60,000 in utility costs annually. Goco managed the design and construction of the photovoltaic installation at the Port’s B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal, which was recognized with an Honor Award by the American Public Works Association in 2017, as well as the photovoltaic installation of the Port’s General Services Building in National City. Other top projects she managed were the Kellogg Beach Sand Replenishment Project, the Seaport Village Maintenance Project, and various pavement replacement projects within the Port’s jurisdiction.

Ani Mehra joined the Port of San Diego in 2019 and has more than 12 years of experience in the engineering field. Her projects at the Port include leading the Preliminary Engineering Program, in which she completed more than 20 preliminary engineering reports within her first year of employment. She is also a project manager for the Port’s Major Maintenance projects. Mehra also leads the Port’s Reintegration and Reopening Committee where she helps plan and implement safety protocols and procedures that are mandated by the State and County COVID-19 health orders to safely bring staff back to the Port of San Diego’s facilities. Prior to joining the Port, she worked for AECOM Engineering Company for approximately five years as a consultant to the San Diego Regional Airport Authority. While there, she successfully completed the Taxiway Refurbishment Project, a Federal Aviation Administration Project for the San Diego International Airport, one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world. Throughout her career, she has worked on multi-million-dollar engineering projects in both the private and public sectors. These include a $30 million project to refurbish air passenger boarding bridges, and a $12.2 million project to replace a vehicular service road to make drainage improvements.

The San Diego Business Journal’s publisher, researcher and editorial staff determined eligibility for the Women of Influence in Engineering recognition based on accomplishments in the nominees’ specific fields of expertise that added value to San Diego in terms of economic impact, leadership, ingenuity and entrepreneurship.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO The Port of San Diego serves the people of California as a specially created district, balancing multiple uses on 34 miles along San Diego Bay spanning five cities. Collecting no tax dollars, the Port manages a diverse portfolio to generate revenues that support vital public services and amenities.

The Port champions Maritime, Waterfront Development, Public Safety, Experiences and Environment, all focused on enriching the relationship people and businesses have with our dynamic waterfront. From cargo and cruise terminals to hotels and restaurants, from marinas to museums, from 22 public parks to countless events, the Port contributes to the region’s prosperity and remarkable way of life on a daily basis.

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