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INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL, from page 7
MA: My favorite part of working on public projects is the opportunity to serve the educators, students, and commu- nities who will benefit from the work we do. Some of my childhood friends now work at the schools we’ve designed, or have children who attend them. In my experience, the public owners, whether school superintendents or govern- ment officials, have the same passion for serving their com- munities and providing them with the best facilities possi- ble. They have great pride in their projects, and being able to help themmake their dreams become reality is extremely rewarding. TZL: What drove your decision to become an engineer in the first place? Was there ever a different career you wanted to pursue? MA: Being an animal lover since I was a child, my heart was set on becoming a veterinarian, until I realized I’d have to face the reality of not being able to save every animal. Al- though soccer was a huge part of my youth, I think the prac- tical side of me recognized that I was probably not going to have a lifelong career on the pitch. I loved art, but was also partial to the challenges presented in my math and science courses. Architecture seemed to be a perfect balance of my regard for both the left and right brain activities. However, I also had a mentor from an early age who is still the most passionate structural engineer I’ve ever met. He guided me through science fair projects about coefficients of friction and the thermal properties of wood, took me along on job sites, and most importantly, believed that I could become an engineer in a male-dominated field. His passion, along with my parents’ constant encouragement and support of whatever I chose to do in life, helped lead me to engineer- ing. TZL: What’s the most important thing you’ve ever learned from a mentor? MA: While I have many great mentors in the industry who help me with everything from technical knowledge to work- place confidence, my greatest mentors have been my par- ents. They’ve taught me to believe in myself like they do, and have led by example in their own careers and in their roles as parents and life mentors. At a young age, I learned from them that there were two things I could always control – my attitude and my effort. This advice guides me in my profession and in all other aspects of my life.
in me, and I want to do all I can to pass that along. Plus, many of the activities simply bring great joy to my life. Soc- cer is and always has been one of my greatest passions, and I treasure any chance I get to share the love of the game with the next generation. I get to watch them build that camara- derie, learn the life lessons that come with playing sports, and develop relationships that may last a lifetime. Mentor- ing high school students is also very rewarding, as I’ve al- ways enjoyed school and learning, and now get to contrib- ute to helping these students grow their passion. Ultimate- ly, I want to make the world, or at least someone’s world, better in whatever time I’m given. I want to serve, love, and encourage as many people (or adorable animals) as I can. “I know I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without the mentorship and encouragement I received from my parents, friends, co-workers, professors, and coaches who took the time to help me grow, and who continue to help me today. I am incredibly grateful for those who have invested in me, and I want to do all I can to pass that along.” TZL: TETER has crossed the 100-employee threshold and recently opened new offices in Modesto and San Luis Obispo. How has growth affected you specifically and the firm in general? MA: Growth presents more opportunities for staff, includ- ing myself, to stretch ourselves and take on new roles. It also allows for more in-house development opportunities, like mentorship and training, which betters both our em- ployees and our firm. TZL: It seems like you have developed a specialty work- ing on projects for public clients. What are the pros and cons of doing design work for public owners?
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THE ZWEIG LETTER March 18, 2019, ISSUE 1288
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