Construction management student finds niche in leadership roles

From the time I was young, I’ve always loved working with my hands on various construction projects with my dad. He taught me at an early age that the sky is the limit in construction and the only limit to what you’re able to achieve falls upon you. I’ve carried this belief into my career and love the challenge that construction management constantly provides me. 

But perhaps the thing I love most about construction management is it puts you in a position to work not only in a professional office environment but also out in the field. Unlike many engineering careers, construction management bridges the gap between office and field work. To me, this industry is so rewarding because once I complete a project, I can step back and see the result of all the hard work which gives me a huge sense of accomplishment. 

For my first co-op I worked with Danis Building Construction. I was at The Christ Hospital Liberty, a new $44 million hospital and medical office building project in Liberty Township, Ohio. I was tasked with figuring out how to resolve the following issues: labs and sterilizing rooms pressurization issues (positive/negative); the grounding issues with the MRI equipment; and the boiler's doors overheating and starting to warp. I received a large exposure to mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems on this first co-op. 

I stayed with Danis for my second co-op and worked on a $4.2 million cancer treatment center fit-out and linear accelerator project. I performed daily safety walks and "box walks" verifying any MEP layout and installation within the walls as well as blocking for cabinets/grab bars. I captured daily progress photos as well as weekly 360° photos. 

I had lots of personal help with finding the co-op companies that would be a good fit for me. I would like to shout out Jill Flood, associate professor and co-op adviser, and Brianna Karelin for helping me realize what I wanted in an employer. The Construction Student Association (CSA) holds an event twice a year called Construction Connections and that’s where I found all my co-ops. 

I am a very visual and hands-on learner. For me, co-ops allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom to actual scenarios. This is especially useful in a field as hands-on as construction management. Co-ops served as a great complement to our formal education and really helped put everything into perspective. Co-ops also help you explore your passions within the field. 

I have been on multiple competition teams throughout the years and the experiences you gain during these competitions are invaluable. I would like to shout out Dean Mandy Albrecht for making these competitions possible. I have competed and placed in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Commercial Estimating Team, earning third place in 2018, first place in 2019 and second place in 2020. 

Serving as team captain for a competition team is difficult, but it is even harder when you are the only returning member. The ASC team in 2019 and 2020 were comprised of individuals who were new to the ASC competition. I believe I served as an effective leader and helped our team place in the top three both those years. 

I served as the New Builders Competition coach this year. I was the coach for a group of five individuals who had never competed in a competition before. I taught them the basics and helped them put together a professional competition proposal. 

I am proud of juggling presidential responsibilities of two organizations, Construction Student Association and Sigma Lambda Chi, while working part-time with Maxwell Construction and completing a full-time senior year amidst a pandemic. 

I plan to work with Maxwell Construction as a Project Manager. After graduation, I hope to maintain involvement in professional organizations such as Allied Construction Young Professionals and serve as a mentor for the next generation of construction managers. 

Featured image at top: A group of workers viewing a construction site. Photo/Scott Blake/Unsplash.