Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Courtney grew up wanting to be a veterinarian – until Hurricane Katrina changed the course of her life. After attending numerous engineering and math camps, she left Louisiana to pursue degrees in civil engineering and mathematics at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.
She began a career in construction project management of heavy civil infrastructure projects that has included work at DFW International and Love Field Airports, highways, and local municipalities. Courtney went on to obtain a master’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in structures from SMU and a master’s degree in business at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. She is also a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas.