Breta Horton

Job Title: Senior Electrical Engineer

Company: Burns & McDonnell

Location: Kansas City, Mo.

Age: 29

Years on the Job: 7

Interests: Spending time with her husband, two-year-old, and newborn baby, and playing with her family outside or dancing

With no family members in the industry, Breta Horton discovered her career path in the electrical field on her own. Circuits quickly became her favorite subjects in school because they were both challenging and rewarding.

“I loved the problem-solving side of it and how every project felt like a puzzle to work through,” said Horton, who was born and raised in Columbia, Mo. “That interest continued to grow the more I learned about how electrical systems impact the way people experience buildings and spaces every day.”

She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architectural engineering from the University of Kansas. Her master’s program focused on power systems and renewable energy, and while in graduate school, she researched hydrogen fuel cells in vehicle applications and took her PE exam.

“Looking back, I’m really grateful for the variety of experiences and opportunities I had during school because they gave me a strong technical foundation and sparked my interest in continuous learning,” she said.  

By studying architectural engineering, she gained exposure to multiple disciplines — structural, mechanical, construction management, and electrical — rather than focusing on just one.

“That broader perspective has helped me better understand how projects come together as a whole and how important coordination is throughout the design and construction process,” she said.

As a senior electrical engineer with Burns & McDonnell, she is working on airports and federal projects for the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. In her role, she said she enjoys exploring ways to better use technology to improve workflows or overall quality.

“Technology is incredibly important in today’s electrical industry,” she said. “The right tools can improve efficiency, reduce human error, and help teams produce more accurate and coordinated designs. I’m always excited about opportunities to help our team work smarter and continue improving.”

In the future, she hopes to continue supporting innovation, mentoring others, and helping to improve both design quality and safety within the industry. She is especially passionate about creating designs that make construction and maintenance safer and more efficient for everyone involved.

“I plan to keep growing by staying curious, continuing to learn, and always doing my best in whatever role I’m in,” she said. “I also think it’s important to stay grounded, maintain balance, and focus on making a positive impact where I can.”

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