Kevin (Senior Project Manager, LIEC)
What does a normal day in your role look, sound, and feel like?
I’m lucky to have a diverse array of work responsibilities, and my day-to-day can vary greatly. Some of my regular responsibilities include:
- Management of the design and construction of district energy utility infrastructure.
- Management of the day-to-day operation and optimization of the district energy utilities.
- Customer service and coordination.
- Long term technical and financial planning.
- Policy development.
- Business case development and analysis for new utility services.
- Presenting analysis and recommendations to our Board of Directors and City Council so they can make informed decisions about the future of our utility.
I get to enjoy a mix of field and office work, including time spent on construction sites and at our energy plants, but also in the boardroom and council chambers. It is a highly collaborative work space with lots of teamwork required. While many of my responsibilities are regular and well-defined, there is always opportunity for me to shape my own work and develop projects and strategy to help the utility.
In high school, my friends and I were interested in building/fixing things, spending lots of our free time tinkering with bikes, cars and (trying to) build anything our imaginations could dream up. This interest led me to pursue mechanical engineering at university, focusing on math and sciences courses in high school. Once in university, the wide array of available courses opened my eyes to the diversity of jobs in the engineering industry and my interests became more varied. After leaving university I worked for years in the construction industry for a contractor (mostly building roadway infrastructure) while learning the fundamentals of engineering design and project management. I then wanted to transition into a more mechanical role within the energy sector (more aligned with my educational background and interest) which led me to my current job, where I started as a project engineer five years ago.
What parts of your work inspire you?
I love seeing things that start as ideas come to fruition in the real word. I like the challenge of managing a project through this process. This can be as simple as installing a new section of underground piping to transport energy to our customers, or as complex as developing a new policy and business model for the delivery of a new services to our customers.
What advice would you give your Grade 9 self?
Don’t be afraid to dive into your passions more, inside and outside of school. Keep a balance, but make sure to focus on things you enjoy – it will serve you better in the long run.
Any words of encouragement for today's Grade 9 students?
Be curious, and harness the power of your curiosity to find things that you enjoy doing. I believe that people will excel at things they have a genuine interest and passion for.