Where are you from, and where did you go to school?
I’m originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, but moved to Virginia in 2005. I earned a Certificate of Applied Science from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, a B.S. in bio-mechanical engineering from the University of Guelph, a graduate certificate in project management from the Stevens Institute of Technology, and my MBA from the University of Richmond. Additionally, I studied abroad at the Institut d'Économie Scientifique Et de Gestion (IÉSEG) School of Management in Paris.
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
I was an integral member of a premier international team that developed and constructed one of the world’s largest radio telescope arrays, ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), at 16,597 ft on the Chajnantor plateau of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.
Where do you work?
Cabot Corporation is an American specialty chemical and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Cabot operates in over 20 countries. I work in Cabot’s Global Engineering division and have been lucky enough to work in 3 of them to date (Belgium, Canada, and the United States).
What do you love most about your job?
What I love most about my job is helping solve complex problems in an international setting. I enjoy travel, different cultures and ways of thinking, learning new things, and seeing engineered ideas come to life. Leading global projects helps me experience all of those, and it always keeps me energized and motivated for the future (or the “next” adventure).
Do you have a project story to share?
In July 2021, an extreme rainfall event triggered a series of flash floods, including flooding of the Vesdre River in the Liège Province of Eastern Belgium. This event submerged Cabot’s masterbatch and compounds facility in the region in over 12 ft of water. If there was ever a project to help demonstrate teamwork in the face of adversity, this would be it. I was privileged to have had the opportunity to contribute to the recovery and rebuild effort(s) to return our facility to operational status. It was a truly inspirational project and a lesson in resiliency.
What are your future goals and aspirations for your career? Did someone inspire you to be on this career path?
My future aspirations are really to mentor the next generation of project professionals and leaders. I was fortunate to have two project directors who shaped my early career and really inspired me to never stop learning, to always look for unique and challenging projects to manage, and to try to become a servant leader, as it will motivate and inspire your teams to levels you did not think were possible.
What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome? What’s been the favorite or most memorable moment of your career?
My biggest career challenge was intentionally developing my own leadership style, moving beyond just managing deliverables to inspiring team members. The most memorable moment of my career was leading a large, diverse, international team of scientists, engineers, and lab technicians to build a state-of-the-art array telescope.
Why did you join AACE?
I originally joined AACE at my first boss's recommendation to network, learn more about project controls, and pursue my CCP. While I have had my CCP for 20 years now, my recent decision to join AACE as a member was centered around re-engaging in a community of professionals who were passionate about the pursuit of project success and committed to improving projects via professional standards/practices.
What do you like most about being an AACE member?
I relish the opportunity to learn from other industry practitioners and seek out real-work examples of how others are solving complex and unique project issues. The AACE community also grants me access to a vast network of professionals who can provide advice and/or act as a sounding board to help test new ideas or applications.
What advice would you give someone who wants to enter the field?
I probably would not stray far from the advice I was given:
Stay curious, don’t stop learning, embrace the knowledge, experience, and expertise of those around you, lead with humility, and seek out unique and tough opportunities because they provide the best lessons.
Lifelong Toronto BlueJays Fan
Hiking: Durdle Door UK
Hiking: Highlands, New Forrest, UK