Nellie was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, but she and her family fled Afghanistan in the early days of the Soviet invasion and came to the United States as refugees. She was raised in the East Bay. Having a close relationship with her family, when it came time to choose a college, Nellie decided to stay close to home and attend San Jose State University. She started off as a computer engineering major, but found she was not excited by her courses, so she switched gears and pursued a degree in civil engineering instead. After graduation, she worked for a year for a general contractor who specialized in tenant improvements, but soon thereafter she found a home at BKF and has worked in our San Jose office for 17 years.

Nellie’s favorite thing about working at BKF has been the team of people she has gotten to know well over the years. “They are caring, smart, capable, and always willing to offer their support, knowledge, and invaluable experiences, both professionally and personally.”

After experiencing a world-wide pandemic with the Covid-19 outbreak, these days Nellie is most thankful for her physical and mental health and well-being as well as that of her loved ones, who include her husband and their two children, Zoey and Zayn. She and her family enjoy going on adventures and having activities outside, including amusement parks, nature hikes, beach days, and road trips.