Email - Counseling@midlandstech.edu

Educational Preparation:   Associate in Civil Engineering Technology - Midlands Technical College
Bachelors in Spanish - College of Charleston 

What are the typical duties of someone in your position? I oversee the estimating department, compiling cost data and supplier/subcontractor quotations, and reviewing all blueprints and specifications for each project.  I review quantities that the estimator has compiled.  I oversee the bid day operations assuring that the final price is submitted correctly.  I do conceptual estimates, cost breakdowns, strategic planning, training, preliminary project schedules, bid schedules, analysis of bids and costs.

How did Midlands Technical College help prepare you for your career field?  The Civil Engineering Technology program at MTC prepared me by teaching estimating, project scheduling (the critical path method), construction materials and the various other courses and labs in the CET program.  These courses were very specific to may career which, I believe, is what a company is looking for when they hire graduates.

What things do you find rewarding about your profession? The thrill of winning the bid is very rewarding but to see a project come together from beginning to end on schedule and within budget is the most satisfying.

Are there aspects of your profession that you find stressful? The most stressful part of my job is "Bid Day" because you have a lot of numbers and a lot of vendor bids to bring together in a short period of time.  We average 6 Bid Days per month.  Hundreds of subcontractor and supplier bids are received on that day and have to be sorted, organized, and analyzed in a short period of time.  You have to meet the deadline or your bid can be thrown out.  You also may have more than one price to be submitted at the same time.

What do you see as the most important personal qualities someone considering going into your profession should have?   The person should have good communication skills because you are dealing with different vendors everyday.  The person should be willing to work more than 40 hours per week - many weeks we work only 40 hours but other weeks are more.  The person should have a good attitude, be willing to help other employees if they get overloaded, and be willing to learn everything about the business.  In this business you never stop learning - there's always something new.

What advice do you have for students at Midlands Technical College who might be interested in entering your profession? Try to get some field experience first because it is critical to understand exactly what it is you are pricing/estimating.  It is also critical that you understand how to read blueprints and how to do take offs (which is determining quantities).

Is there any other information you would like to share with students? 
A good attitude and hard work will take you a long way in any business.