“Working in one of DRMP’s satellite offices, has allowed me to work on a variety projects that have not only helped me grow my technical skills, but also leadership skills.”
What inspired you to choose your career path?
Growing up, my fascination with roller coasters led me to studying engineering. In college at Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!), I realized there weren’t many opportunities to design roller coasters, but luckily, I developed a passion with civil engineering. Although there won’t be any loops or sudden drops, I like to think there are similar elements when designing roads versus designing roller coasters.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love working in one of the smaller offices. It has given me the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and become a well-rounded engineer. With our office in North Carolina, I’m excited to be a part of a team that is exploring new markets and developing new client relationships as we continue to grow in the Mid-Atlantic region.
What are you most passionate about?
Traffic. I absolutely hate traffic. Any time I’m in the car (especially when stuck in traffic), I’m constantly analyzing that road to figure out why it was built that way and what I could do to improve its functionality.
What is your greatest challenge?
What I enjoy most about my job is also my greatest challenge. As we continue to grow and explore new markets in the Mid-Atlantic region, we also have to take the time to figure out the client’s expectations. We cannot rely on an old project as a reference because each new client has their own way of producing a set of plans. We have to use any resource we can to ensure our submittals meets our client’s needs.
Name an important "lessons learned" moment you have experienced.
My first job out of school was working on a roadway widening project in CEI (Construction Engineering & Inspection). The construction plans called for several things that just couldn’t be built. I realized that it’s easy to simply draw something on a computer, but it takes great effort to visualize how to build that design in the field. I’m now able to apply my construction skills into the office and design a simple, cost-effective and practical set of roadway plans.
