Adena, Sr project manager at John A Martin & Associates: Advize Career Interview

A career in structural engineering, as detailed by a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin & Associates, offers a dynamic path combining technical expertise with strong interpersonal skills.

A journey starting with community college and culminating in a Master's degree, this individual's career highlights the importance of internships, particularly in construction, and the value of strong academics and professor relationships.

The daily work is varied, encompassing project oversight, budget management, proposal writing, hands-on engineering, client interaction, and even on-site visits.

Success in this field requires a solid foundation in math and physics, complemented by exceptional communication and organizational abilities. The most rewarding aspect?

Contributing to public safety and seeing projects come to life, while the biggest challenge involves fostering effective communication within a team.

The interview emphasizes continuous learning, the value of humility, and the importance of asking insightful questions – qualities that propelled this individual to success, overcoming challenges as a woman and immigrant in a male-dominated industry.

The advice offered provides invaluable guidance for aspiring engineers, including the pursuit of leadership roles in engineering groups.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Adena Geiger

Sr project manager

John A Martin & Associates

UCLA 2013

UC Berkeley masters of science

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Engineering - Civil

Construction

Operations and Project Management

Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student

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Career Path of a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin And Associates

Adena's career path began with community college, followed by UCLA for civil engineering, and then a Master's at Berkeley, all while securing internships at firms like KPFF and John A Martin & Associates (JAMA). This culminated in a nine-year progression at JAMA, starting as a structural designer, achieving professional engineering (PE) and structural engineering (SE) licenses, and ultimately leading to their current role as a Senior Project Manager, marked by increasing responsibility and promotions.

Career Path of a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin And Associates

Main Responsibilities of a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Adena's main responsibilities as a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin & Associates include "overseeing other project engineers," managing project schedules and budgets, and ensuring timely completion. A significant portion of the role also involves "billing," proposal writing for new and additional services, and contributing to business development by actively seeking new projects.

Main Responsibilities of a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

A Day In The Life Of A Senior Project Manager At John A Martin And Associates

Adena's role as a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin & Associates is dynamic, encompassing "scheduling for the engineers," proposal writing, and even hands-on engineering work like calculations and detailing when deadlines demand. This involves on-site visits, client and team meetings, model coordination, and responding to contractor queries during construction, showcasing a versatile and impactful contribution to the project lifecycle.

A Day In The Life Of A Senior Project Manager At John A Martin And Associates

Most Important Skills for a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Adena, a senior project manager, emphasizes a strong foundation in "math and physics," specifically statics, as crucial for the role. However, the interview also highlights the increasing importance of "people skills," effective communication, and strong organizational abilities for career advancement and client satisfaction in the field.

Most Important Skills for a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Adena's passion for structural engineering stems from the unique nature of buildings and the rewarding feeling of "seeing it come to life," a sentiment further enriched by the strong relationships built with colleagues and other disciplines throughout their career.

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Biggest Challenges For a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Adena, a senior project manager, identifies effective communication with clients and colleagues as the biggest challenge in her role, noting that "a lot of engineers are not great communicators," preferring individual work over collaboration. This communication skill, however, is key to success, requiring overcoming inherent shyness to work effectively within the structural engineering field's problem-solving demands.

Biggest Challenges For a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Structural Engineering Industry As A Senior Project Manager

Adena, a senior project manager at John A Martin & Associates, finds the most fulfilling aspect of her career is the knowledge that her work contributes to "saving people's lives," ensuring building safety during earthquakes and under everyday conditions. This focus on public safety is clearly a significant source of job satisfaction for Adena.

Favorite Parts Of Working In The Structural Engineering Industry As A Senior Project Manager

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Engineering Industry According To A Senior Project Manager At John A Martin And Associates

Adena, a senior project manager, highlights the importance of strong communication and interpersonal skills alongside engineering expertise for success in the industry, stating that "the people skills puts you...over the top and separates you from the rest of the engineers." This emphasis on soft skills, in addition to technical abilities, reveals a key aspect of career advancement in their field.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Engineering Industry According To A Senior Project Manager At John A Martin And Associates

What An Instructional Designer Wishes They Knew Before Instructional Engineering

Adena, a senior project manager, learned that the field is a continuous learning process; "you're always learning," a realization that initially surprised them, making the career path both challenging and exciting, while simultaneously promoting professional growth beyond a designer-level role.

What An Instructional Designer Wishes They Knew Before Instructional Engineering

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Structural Engineers

Adena, a senior project manager at John A Martin & Associates, recommends that undergraduate students interested in structural engineering seek construction internships "in the first year or second year," building foundational knowledge before pursuing structural engineering internships in their third year or later once they have completed design courses. The firm prioritizes interns from UCLA, but Adena emphasizes that experience in the broader construction industry is highly valuable.

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Structural Engineers

Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

Adena, a senior project manager, identifies "being humble and... saying 'I don't know it'" as the most significant career lesson learned. This approach, coupled with actively "asking the right questions," facilitated continuous learning and growth, a practice Adena still employs daily, emphasizing that expertise in structural engineering is a journey, not a destination.

Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates

How College Helped a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates Succeed

Adena, a senior project manager, credits strong academics and "a really good relationship with professors" for launching their career, securing an internship through a professor's connection. They highly recommend student involvement in engineering groups like ASCE, noting leadership roles in projects like the concrete canoe competition offer invaluable experience, stating that "people really value that."

How College Helped a Senior Project Manager at John A Martin and Associates Succeed

How Identity Has Influenced a Senior Project Manager's Career at John A Martin and Associates

Adena's career journey as a woman and immigrant in the male-dominated engineering industry involved overcoming challenges like being underestimated by contractors who "sometimes don't take you seriously," and navigating the initial difficulties of "not knowing what to expect" as a newcomer to the United States and the industry. Consistent effort and building strong relationships ultimately allowed Adena to advance, demonstrating that perseverance and self-belief can lead to success despite facing significant obstacles.

How Identity Has Influenced a Senior Project Manager's Career at John A Martin and Associates

Advizer Personal Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adena-geiger-se-a32b2065