Senior electrical designer is setting new benchmarks in electrical design
Senior Electrical Designer
AKF, Member of WSP
Years with company/firm: 6
Years in field: 12
Years in real estate industry: 12
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
My greatest professional accomplishment has been completing the ELA (Emerging Leadership Academy) program through my firm. This program has provided an enormous amount of education by opening all kinds of new doors for communicating, designing, and leading a team.
How do you contribute to your company and/or the industry?
I contribute to the industry and my company by having a “client first” attitude. That may be going the extra mile to help them fully understand a design or situation or meeting them on-site last minute to walk through design issues or complications.
I also contribute by being a mentorship ambassador and helping to link mentors and mentees together within our firm.
Who or what has been the strongest influence in your career?
The strongest influence on my career has been the countless mentors I have developed a friendship with over the past 12 years. Not every skill you need for this profession can be found in a code book or design guide but instead must be learned from someone who has been where you are trying to go.
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in, about your current position and why you choose the field/profession you are in today:
I began my career as a CAD drafter, picking up markups for more senior staff. As time went on, I was drawn toward electrical design. I’ve always had an interest in how things work and how structures are built.
What unique qualities and or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profession?
While my trade focus is electrical, I make it a point to learn everything I can about other engineering disciplines. In doing so, this gives me the advantage of being able to field questions or concerns outside of my discipline and better understand how my work can affect those disciplines.
What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today?
Communication and organization. It can be difficult to communicate using the right tone especially when there are high stakes and client relationships at risk. Always read your emails one last time before hitting that send button. Organization is the key to success with multiple priorities, projects, and timelines all needing attention. Accurately budgeting and planning out your time ensures you finish projects when they need to be done and prioritize them accordingly.
What outside activities do you enjoy during your free time?
For the most part, I enjoy anything having to do with the outdoors from kayaking and fishing to hiking and camping.
What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young executive graduating from college today?
Don’t wait to start honing your leadership skills through coursework and reading materials. It can be more difficult to break leadership bad habits further into your career.
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