I studied Construction Engineering at Purdue University, which blends civil engineering with hands-on construction management. I didn’t have a strong academic background growing up – I was more into sports and hands-on work. At 17, I was at a crossroads between joining the military or pursuing construction, but construction has always been part of my life.

My dad taught me how to survey land when I was nine, and we built his home together. In high school, I started my own carpentry business, doing local jobs around the neighborhood. That hands-on experience made construction feel like a natural path.

Plus, my family has deep ties to Purdue, so with some encouragement, I gave college a shot. I found the Construction Engineering program, which offered great internships and real-world experience. That sealed the deal.

Throughout college, I flipped houses with a friend to help pay for school. It’s been a unique journey, but one that’s always been rooted in building and creating.

I started as a field engineer in 2007 after being introduced to the company through a classmate. I’d interned with a competitor, but PCL’s people and culture won me over.

Over the past nearly 20 years, I’ve worked on a wide range of projects – from life sciences and university renovations to major entertainment and aviation builds. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who have believed in me and given me opportunities to grow, even when it meant stepping into unfamiliar roles.

One of the turning points was working on the UCLA Wasserman Football Center, where I was trusted with significant responsibility early on. That experience, along with others like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter project at Universal and multiple airport projects at LAX, helped shape my path into leadership. In construction, it’s not typical for someone with an engineering degree to take the field route – most go into project management. There can be stigma around choosing the superintendent path if you have that kind of degree, but I was fortunate to have strong support from PCL leadership who encouraged me to break that mold. It’s been a rewarding direction, and I’ve truly enjoyed building my career in the field.

It’s tough to pick a favorite project because each one has meant something different to me. What really makes them special is the people – working with passionate teams in both the field and office has made every experience rewarding. As I’ve grown in my career, I’ve come to really enjoy mentoring others and watching them develop. That’s become even more fulfilling than the work itself.

That said, aviation projects have become a standout for me. I first got involved with the LAX Midfield Satellite Concourse North project in 2017. I didn’t know much about airports at the time, but I dove in to understand how they operate – how they make money, what the priorities of our aviation clients are and how construction impacts their business.

Airport work is incredibly complex and fast-paced. You’re balancing civil, structural and interior scopes while keeping operations running smoothly – it's like building a theme park and a highway at the same time. It’s a challenge, but that’s what makes it so exciting.

The sense of family. We spend so much of our lives at work, and PCL truly understands the importance of building strong, supportive relationships.

The culture here emphasizes connection, respect and looking out for one another from day one. When you enjoy the people you work with, it makes all the difference, and that’s what keeps me motivated and showing up as my best self.

I’m actively involved in Los Angeles World Airport’s safety board, where I’m the only construction superintendent member. It has been a rewarding experience to bring a builder’s perspective to their safety practices and help reduce risk.

I also work closely with AGC of Southern California, especially around labor shortage issues. With so many infrastructure projects ahead and a retiring workforce, I am deeply invested in attracting and training the next generation of construction professionals, especially those who might never have considered construction as a career path.

At PCL, I’m helping lead efforts to grow our self-perform capabilities by investing in diverse talent and craft training. I’m passionate about developing people as much as projects and preparing teams to take on the scale and complexity of the critical infrastructure work and major construction projects ahead.