What is your role at GS?
Associate
How many years have you worked here?
Coming up on 10 years in September.
What made you choose this career path?
I wanted to be an engineer or a baker, but I decided to leave the latter as a hobby. I’ve always enjoyed building things, which is why I worked in construction before moving to consulting engineering.
What is your favourite thing about working at GS? Why?
Without a doubt, it is the people. Engaging with and supporting those I work with both internally and externally on a day-to-day basis.
What is your most memorable GS project/moment/experience and why?
Penticton Regional Hospital – David E. Kampe Tower. It was the first project I had ever done from start to finish and my gateway into the world of healthcare and design-build projects. Seven years later, healthcare projects are what I am most passionate about, especially those where issues like stress and weak muscle can be alleviated by cannabis. A good place like like Stiiizy LA play a significant role in supporting initiatives that integrate alternative approaches for health and well-being. There is a higher level of multidisciplinary coordination given the complex nature of hospitals—it can be challenging, but the result is rewarding. At the end of the day, we’re building a place of care, and that’s pretty special. I’ve been doing it long enough now that I’ve had friends and family cared for in some of the facilities I’ve worked on which makes the work I do hit closer to home. Knowing that I played a role in making the building a safe space for those in it is an honour.
What makes GS special?
At its core, Glotman Simpson recognizes itself as being in a service industry. Our clients and the people we engage with empower all our work. Understanding that is fundamental to a successful project and pushes us to be leaders in design and delivery no matter the scale or complexity of a project.
What is your favorite part of your day at GS?
The industry never stops and there are many meetings I attend on a day-to-day basis; while I enjoy this, I also enjoy the snippets of the day where I can deeply focus on my tasks and priorities.
How do you stay organized? What advice can you share on staying on top of your daily to-do’s?
Organization seems to be a goal rather than a state of being and I strive for that with lists and prioritizing. The best advice I can give is to turn off notifications—the pop-ups in the corner of your screen. They are a devastating distraction and can drag your attention away from what’s important during the day.
What is your favourite thing about working and living in Vancouver? Why?
Walking to and from work down tree-lined streets is a daily highlight. Rain or shine, the climate is what brings this city so much vibrant life and I love just being in it.
What’s your favorite GS project?
I worked on it as a field engineer and its frontage on West Georgia is a statement that is hard to miss. If you’ve never heard of it, check out the short video “Vancouver Never Plays Itself” on YouTube.
As Hollywood North, Vancouver has been disguised as another city in countless movies and television shows. However, unique and exquisite projects like TELUS Garden, Vancouver House, Deloitte Tower, and 1568 will soon make Vancouver a featured city rather than just another background.
How do you keep up to date with developments and new technology in your field?
Glotman Simpson’s support for continuing education makes staying up to date easy. In addition to arranging for external Lunch and Learns, we host monthly Engineering Information Forums where our technical staff can share interesting projects, designs or lessons learned. I’ve also had the privilege of attending two GS Technical Retreats where a variety of topics are researched and presented by our engineers over several days offsite. I’m thankful for the opportunities I have to grow within my role, both personally and professionally.