What I Do I work as a part of a team to budget and plan construction projects. I work as the link between the architect designing and the operations team that will be on site every day implementing the work. Before my job in estimating, I worked as an assistant superintendent renovating UGA Sanford Stadium. As a superintendent, I planned, implemented, and organized the different trades (electricians, plumbers, etc.) to make sure that the project was on time and installed correctly. There was a lot of time spent problem solving how to build the job because while architects give you blueprints that show you the finishes product, they don't tell you how to build it.
Why Engineering? I got involved with my high school robotics team my sophomore year and fell in love with the problem-solving process. To me it was an outlet for my creativity and "think outside of the box". I have also always been more of a social butterfly than most of my peers and while there are a lot of engineers that are more introverted, I have found that I like to get involved with projects that let me collaborate with and meet new people.
School Days I went to Sparta High School in NJ. After graduating I attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA to get my Bachelors in Civil Engineering. In high school I was the captain of the robotics teams and drum major of my marching band.
My Day At Work Most days I work in the office with my team and work on budgets and plans for new projects. However, I frequently travel to job sites (the Atlanta Zoo, Atlanta Airport, UGA Sanford Stadium, etc) to review their progress and make note of what is going well and what we need to consider for the next project.
Best Part The people are the best part. We build buildings for people to use and enjoy and make their lives better. Every day I also get to interact with a wide array of people from architects to electricians and learn about them and what they do.
Proud Moments I am always the proudest of when I get the opportunity to share what we do with others. I have given many job tours and talks and presentations about construction, STEM and engineering.
Challenges I was diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia in college. While it was incredibly difficult for me to pass certain classes because of that, I believed that it helped me excel in other classes and has certainly helped me in my career. I believe that it has forced me to frequently think outside the box in order to accomplish my goals which as served me well. I was also frequently the only girl in my classes in college, which was intimidating at first. However, I am happy to report that I had very few conflicts and untimely some of those boys are still some of my best friends.
My Family Now a days mom and brother live in NJ, my dad lives in Florida, and my fiancé's family lives in VA. So, I spend a lot of my time traveling up and down the East Coast to see them all. My mom is from Ireland and my dad is from Cuba so on occasion we take the opportunity to visit. My fiancé and I spent last Christmas in Galway, Ireland visiting my cousins.
Dreams and Goals Short term I want to travel to every continent with my fiancé and some of our close friends. I am very fortunate that engineering has more than paid for my ability to travel. Long term I would love to have kids and build a house in the Blue Ridge Mountains wile maintaining my career.
Inspiration My grandmothers. Both of my grandmothers came over from Cuba/Ireland with young children and under $10 in their pocket. They have sacrificed a lot for the success and happiness of their family and are both now happily retired.
Want to be an Engineer? Don't set limits for yourself. As I said earlier, I have ADHD and dyslexia and dyscalculia meaning I have never been a great math student (and I still can't spell all that well at 25 years old). However, being a little bad at math doesn't mean you can't be a great engineer. I would also say to embrace your creativity. The best engineers I know are multifaceted people who play instruments, paint, and enjoy their artsy side.
Hobbies My more outdoorsy hobbies include riding my motorcycle on the weekends through the mountains in North Georgia. I also enjoy scuba diving in Florida when I visit my dad. On a regular weekend I like spending time writing, reading, and painting.