Describe your day to day responsibilities:
As a Project Manager, my responsibilities are about a two thirds one third split between design work and business administration. My design work responsibilities include layout, grading, utility design, stormwater conveyance and management design, and performing calculations for a wide range of projects such as institutional, residential, commercial office and retail. I am also responsible for delegating design work to junior engineers, designers, CAD technicians and reviewing their work. I provide the link between the Client, VHB’s project team and the reviewing authority to keep the lines of communication open. From a business administration perspective, I am responsible for marketing and developing new clients, maintaining existing clients, writing proposals, invoicing for my projects and keeping collections current.
How long have you worked for the firm and how have your responsibilities increased?
I have worked for VHB just over three years. When I first started with VHB I had the title of Senior Project Engineer. I was used mostly as a technical resource and spent the majority of my time designing projects and mentoring younger staff members. My responsibilities have grown to include managing other junior staff members, marketing VHB to potential clients, and preparing contracts. As I grow in my career, my time is slowly shifting from straight design work to more of a managing the design of the project by others and a business administration role.
What type of projects do you work on? • Commercial office buildings, medical office, and office parks
• Industrial sites and industrial office parks
• Institutional projects
• Multi-family residential projects
• Retail sites and large shopping centers
What types of activities, associations or memberships have you had that contributed to your career?
One of the responsibilities of project management is continually developing and strengthening relationships with peers and potential clients. I have found that active participation in associations is one of the most effective ways of getting to know new people and developing relationships. At this time I actively participate in the following organizations:
• HRACRE (Hampton Roads Association of Commercial Real Estate)
• ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers)
• SCUP (Society of College and Urban Planners)
Looking back to your college years, what types of internships or jobs did you have that helped your career path?
I spent the summer after my sophomore year on a field survey crew with a design survey firm in Virginia Beach. I spent time during my junior and senior years and summer vacations interning at a design firm in Blacksburg. I gained valuable experience about the field of Land Development and was able to “hit the ground running” upon graduation. I believe that pre-graduation design experience makes land development engineers much more valuable to employers upon graduation.
Will you be sitting for your PE exam in the coming future?
I have been a licensed P.E. in Virginia since January 2001 and a licensed P.E. in North Carolina since December 2006.
