Say hello to Valerie, an A&E Production Manager in Professional Services, working in the Eastern region on the Engineering team. Come along as she shares her journey of ten years, starting as a Project Coordinator to where she is now!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATH AND WHAT LED YOU TO YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I started working for Advantage Engineers (acquired by Network Connex in 2021) in 2015 as a Project Coordinator, working on wireless modification and new build projects. Since then, I have worked in various roles, departments, and offices. I’ve been working on the Engineering team since 2019.
WHAT KINDS OF EDUCATION OR ON THE JOB TRAINING HAVE HELPED YOU BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR CURRENT JOB?
My degree is in Political Science and Sociology. Although it doesn’t apply directly to what I do now, the communication, critical thinking, and data analytics skills I learned in college have been a solid foundation for my career.
WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU THINK ARE NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR ROLE?
I believe the most important trait to possess in a corporate environment is curiosity. It’s critical for your career development to ask questions and seek to learn more about the projects you work on, technological advancements, and industry trends. Don’t be afraid to think critically and make suggestions about ways to improve how you and your team members operate.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
The Engineering team works on a broad range of projects across the country; some are under the umbrella of our project teams and others are A&E-only, which means we handle all aspects of the project within our team. My role involves project, client, and workflow management for the Engineering group. In a typical week I may work on a variety of tasks, including site/project/workflow creation, tracking workflow progress via trackers and reports in Sitetracker, client communication, drafting proposals, managing project finances, and auditing Sitetracker for data integrity.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
I work with a great team. Work is much more enjoyable when you get to do it with good people.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK?
My husband and I live in Maryland, where we grow a vegetable garden each summer. This year we have multiple varieties of cherry and plum tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, and herbs. Thanks to the rain and hot weather we’ve been having, our plants are thriving.
TELL US A FUN OR SURPRISING FACT ABOUT YOU!
I love books and usually read over 100 each year. If you need a recommendation, ask me!