About Me
Alma Mater: Florida International University College of Engineering & Computing, Bachelor of Science – Environmental Engineering, Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/TechnicianUF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Master of Engineering – Meng, Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician
Hobbies: Playing tennis with my wife, watching the Florida Gators play football (GO GATORS!), trying new restaurants, bars, and speakeasies, walking and playing with my dog, playing with my cat, building Lego, and I must include, mowing my lawn and tending to my plants!
Career Q&A
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I chose to pursue a career as a Roadway Engineer because…
I loved the idea of knowing the ins and outs of a City and being able to improve/develop their existing conditions. It is special to be able to physically see the upgrades and designs we all work on and to know the overall impact that projects have on the local communities – whether it is alleviating traffic, adding pedestrian facilities, or just simply being able to get somewhere through different routes… It is great!
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The thing I love most about my job is…
Being able to look future… in other words, knowing the upcoming developments and roadway projects of cities and communities.
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My favorite thing about TranSystems is…
The great mentorship. TranSystems has amazing staff, rich in knowledge and willing to spread the wealth. Regardless of how senior or junior my peers are, they are always approachable and have found a way to help me better understand odd situations and discrepancies I come across while working on a project or design.
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Since joining TranSystems…
I have expanded my modeling abilities ten-fold, all while working on my technical skills, engineering judgment, and work ethic. Every day I focus on learning new things, owning what I know, and being the best version of myself possible. In the words of Aristotle, “Excellence… Is not an act, but a habit.”
My Day
8:00 – 9:00 AM – Begin the Day
I’m usually in the office around 8am. The very first thing I do is turn on the coffee machine and make myself an espresso. While the coffee is brewing, I fire up my machine and check any outstanding Teams messages, emails, and notifications.
9:00 – 9:30 AM – Make Priority List
Next, I put together a priority list, itemized with the tasks on my plate and I open up the programs I use daily which include Google Earth, Project-wise, and ORD/Microstation. The day usually carries itself forward from that point.
9:30 – 11:00 PM – Work on Current Projects
Right now I’m working on SR 513 Project in Brevard County, and two I-75 projects in Broward County. I mostly attend internal coordination meetings with the project teams and occasionally meetings with District Project Managers and subconsultants.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Meet with Coworkers
I touch base with the Florida Roadway department daily (shout out to Abdul K., Charlotte R., Harold N., Rachael H., Roy M., and Varsha G.). I also have a special someone (*hint hint* my wife, Daniella Almanza) who works in the planning department… I guess I can include her in the people I work with/meet with on a regular basis.
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Lunch Break
It depends on my workload if I’m being completely honest… I try my best to meal prep and bring my lunch to work (eating out is sometimes too time-consuming and not the healthiest alternative), so I usually bring something with me and can either work through lunch or take a break and stop for lunch depending on how busy things get. The one “lunch” item I cannot go without is an afternoon espresso, which I make using a moka pot, and the Cuban techniques I picked up in Miami. It is definitely a must!
1:00 – 4:00 PM – Continuing Daily Tasks
Recurring items typically include keeping track of the status of my projects and the related submittals. Usually, those items get addressed first thing in the morning with a quick conversation with Matt Steen, who always knows the latest and greatest developments of a project.
4:00 – 5:00 PM – Check-in with Mentors
Matt Steen, Roy Monk, and Andy Nicol are a few of my mentors here at TranSystems that I check in with regularly.
5:30 PM – Sign off
I usually stop working at around 5:30 PM. I try my best to hit the gym after work but on days that I don’t, I usually tend to my yard, game with my friends, read books, listen to music, or just sit back and relax before starting to prep/cook dinner.
