Spotlighting Our XLers in the Field: Annie Herron

At XL Construction, we take pride in celebrating the incredible people who help shape our projects, our teams, and our industry. Our XLers In the Field series is a dedicated team member spotlight, offering unique insights into our projects and the people who help make them possible.

In this installment, we’re talking with Annie Herron, Sr. Project Engineer.

You’ve been with XL since you were an intern studying Engineering, what inspired you to pursue a career in the construction industry? What do you enjoy most about it?

I actually had planned to work in civil engineering, but I had a connection at XL, and they introduced me to construction as another career path. I wouldn’t say I was inspired right away; I just decided to give it a shot since it seemed like a practical job and a good opportunity. During my internship, I realized working in construction was more about working with people and teams, relying more on communication and people skills rather than the math and the technical skills that I was used to learning in civil engineering classes. I thought it was a really unique job since you actually get to be in the field, watching the construction firsthand, and it is so interactive! I had been inspired not only by my team but by everyone I had met at XL, and even by the trades onsite who had been teaching me about their crafts. By the time that summer ended I was super excited about my future in construction.

All those aspects are still the things I enjoy the most. I love working with people and building relationships with XLers, designers, trade partners, and getting to work with some of the same people on different projects. And I love that I am constantly learning new things about how to build! I also love the variety. My routine never stays the same for too long! The beginning of a new project is so exciting to me!

Your project hosted interns in the summer of 2026. As a former intern yourself, what tips or tricks did you share with current interns?

I was a Buddy (onsite mentor and guide for working with XL) for an intern summer 2025 and taught her the basics about the Project Engineer role, how to write RFIs, the submittal process, procurement tracking and even how to set up subcontracts and write Exhibit Cs. The same intern came back in 2026, and I got to teach punch list and project closeout!

As a former intern who was extremely new to every process, I know it can feel like learning a whole new language. So, I definitely tried to take my time in explaining things from the beginning for the first summer. But by the second summer, I was able to be more hands off and trust my intern to handle a lot more responsibility on her own!

Who’s someone at XL (or in the industry) who’s had a real impact on you — and how?

I immediately think of Brian Arseneau! He was my manager and coach for the past few years at both the Westfield and Elkhorn projects and has helped me grow both in my role and as a teammate. I was still very new in my role when I started working with him, and he has taught me so much about how to successfully manage a project and has also been an example of how to have a positive outlook and keep having fun on the job site. I definitely relied on him a lot and learned to use him as a great resource of knowledge since he has so much experience and really understands the intricacies of construction. I loved going on site walks around the job with Brian because he’d always find something new to teach me about! So thankful to have had such a good experience learning from him!

What does “We build to improve lives” mean to you personally?

I think our mission references how our projects are so impactful to our communities. In Sacramento, our projects are mainly being schools and hospitals, and the buildings are so necessary and important to people’s lives, and the environment is crucial to their well-being. It is an extremely rewarding feeling when you see kids on their first day at a new school or knowing the upgrades we are making to a hospital could potentially help save someone’s life or make it a more comfortable space to spend a crucial night.

But I also think it references the way we operate as an organization, and the way we collaborate with our clients, and design and trade partners. We are always looking out for everyone involved and not just ourselves. The character and actions of our teams create a company that others want to work with. The way we operate can improve the lives of all of those around us!

If you weren’t in construction, what would you be doing?

Growing up, I always thought I would be an elementary school teacher! If I hadn’t been persuaded to study Civil Engineering, I’m sure I would have gone that route. I had three women engineers in my family who pushed me towards engineering and I’m very thankful for their encouragement, it helped me end up here.

What’s one word your team would use to describe you — and do you agree?

My team didn’t agree on one word, so here are all the words I was given — Bubbly, sunshine, rainbow, lollipop, gentle, radiant!

Yes, I agree! I expected they would say “easygoing” or “positive” but they were much more creative than that, lol!

Stay tuned for the next installment of the XLers In the Field series!