Continuous growth means continued learning. There are many ways to achieve that growth: book learning, new skill development or understanding of new software.
Another way that some Walbridge employees grow is through cross-training: a chance some departments utilize to put employees in the field or in the office to gain new expertise.
“It helps you see the company from different sectors and better understand the way the company operates as a whole,” said Mitch Bohr, a current Estimating Coordinator.
Bohr spent time in the field as a Project Engineer, working at the University of Michigan’s Edward Henry Kraus Building renovation and addition. He spent time tracking material from submittal approval to the jobsite, processing RFIs and submittals, specifically concrete, steel and MEP.
“I was fortunate enough to work on the same project when it was still in the budgeting and bidding phases, and then how it transitions to when we actually begin construction,” Bohr said.
Kyle Abdallah worked on three automotive projects during his cross-training as a Senior Project Engineer. Now Abdallah has returned to the estimating department but said there were many takeaways from his experience.
“You have to knowledgeable in every aspect of the project down to the minute details,” he said. “The most successful and seasoned project engineers are at least five steps ahead of the actual construction schedule to ensure material and shop drawings are approved and arriving on site when needed. Organization is key and that is probably the most important skill I developed in my cross-training.”
Walbridge intern Elise Lewandowski spent last year on the field but this year is learning the ins and outs of design management while at the Detroit Headquarters, which means utilizing different skills.
“Although I enjoyed being out in the field, I knew I wanted to try something different before I graduated, and now I know I enjoy the engineering department as well,” she said. “I can visualize the drawings and understand topics discussed in meetings because I remember experiencing them on site last summer, which has aided my full circle learning experience.”
She would suggest it to anyone.
“Everyone within Walbridge has something important to offer, and this experience gave me the opportunity to interact with many different employees,” she said. “If I had stayed out in the field for another summer, I would not have gained the knowledge I learned from all those I have met in the office so far.”
Bohr agreed, encouraging anyone who is asked to participate in cross-training to take the opportunity.
“It can take a while for some to figure out what they enjoy doing, whether it be operations, marketing, scheduling, or estimating, and I think cross-training is a great way to get that kind of exposure early on,” he said.
In the construction industry, it’s important to gain a wide-swath of experiences. Having an ability to relate projects to what is seen on the field or understand specific processes that were followed during estimating, can provide a great benefit to the team.
“The famous Japanese saying Genchi Genbutsu ‘go look and see’ applies to our industry perfectly,” Abdallah said. “You can only learn so much from studying 2-D drawings.”