Career Path Of A Construction Project Manager At Los Angeles World Airports
Sebastian's career path began with a civil engineering degree and a pivotal internship at Turner Construction on LAX's Terminal 4 connector project, a "really big engineering challenge" that ignited their passion for infrastructure projects. This led to six years with Turner on various LAX projects, followed by pharmaceutical and life science work, culminating in a current role as an owner's representative at LAX—a testament to the importance of networking and building relationships, as "you never know when those opportunities come around."
Project Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Networking, Career Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sebastian Potes
Construction Project Manager
Los Angeles World Airports
USC
MBA UCLA Anderson
Engineering - Civil
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Architecture, Construction & Design
Operations and Project Management
First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Sebastian's career path highlights the importance of internships in securing a full-time position. His internship at Turner Construction led to a full-time role after graduation.
2. His experience working on diverse projects, from airport infrastructure to pharmaceutical facilities, showcases adaptability and broad skill development.
3. He emphasizes the value of networking and building relationships, demonstrating how professional connections can lead to unexpected career opportunities.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
Sure, I'd be happy to. I'll start with my current position. I'm a construction project manager and owner's representative at LAX. My role involves managing general contractors who are building major projects at the airport.
I majored in civil engineering for my undergraduate studies. The summer before graduating, I interned with Turner Construction, a large general contractor. You might recognize their work; they built the US Bank Tower, the Wilshire Grand Hotel with the spike on top, SoFi Stadium, and are finishing the Clippers Arena. They're known for significant projects that greatly impact the city's skyline.
I did my internship with them in 2014 as an undergraduate at USC. My first project at LAX as an intern was the Terminal Four Connector. This project connected Tom Bradley International Terminal to the American Airlines Terminal Four. It was technically interesting because it involved connecting three existing structures.
A unique challenge was that the levels on each structure didn't align. This presented a significant engineering problem, which made the project very engaging. I learned a great deal and it sparked my interest in infrastructure engineering, major capital works, and working in that type of environment.
After graduating, I started full-time with Turner Construction, returning to the airport. At the time, Turner had many projects on the LAX campus. I spent about six years there with Turner Construction, working on various projects.
These projects included general improvements throughout the Central Terminal Area (CTA), which is the horseshoe-shaped area where passengers are dropped off. I also worked on extensions to major terminals and some ground-up construction, along with general infrastructure upgrades.
Then, I had the opportunity to work on projects outside of aviation. For a couple of years after leaving LAX but still with Turner Construction, I worked on pharmaceutical and life sciences projects.
This past summer, in August, I received a call from an owner's representative at LAX I had worked with during my time at Turner. He invited me to come work for him at the airport. It's important to realize that relationships are key when you're starting your career. You never know when opportunities will arise, so it's always important to network and build those connections.