Chastain-Skillman is excited to celebrate National Engineers Week 2022 by recognizing our talented & dedicated engineering staff. Each day in #EWeek2022, we’ll highlight members of our team on social media and in our blog. Today we’re chatting with Andre Rives, EI!
Andre Rives, EI works as an Engineer II and will be approaching his two-year anniversary at Chastain-Skillman (CS) this summer. Before joining the CS team in Lakeland, Andre graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSCH).
Andre has been a part of the development of several CS projects including designing equipment for the City of Bartow Water Reclamation Facility; assisting in construction, testing, and design for the City of Lakeland’s English Oaks Force Main; and working on geoprocessing, CAD Drafting, and WaterGems modeling for the City of Auburndale Water System Model.
To mark the third day of National Engineers Week 2022, we talked to Andre about his experiences, fulfilling aspects of his job, and what some of his favorite projects have been during his time at CS.
Read more below:
Describe your typical day: What do you do as soon as you get to the office? What takes up most of your time? What is your favorite part of the workday?
The first thing I do when I get into the office is check emails and complete my timesheet from the previous day. I typically spend most of my time working on projects. My favorite parts of the workday are any opportunities I get to work in the field.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? When did you realize you wanted to become an engineer?
I grew up wanting to be a doctor like my father. In my first year in college, I realized I didn’t enjoy the medical field, so I changed majors to chemical engineering.
What has been one of your favorite projects to work on?
Bartow WRF. Although it has been a very complicated project, it has provided me with a lot of opportunities to gain knowledge and experience.
What, in your opinion, is one of the most underrated skills to have as an engineer?
The ability to multi-task and have a strong short-term memory. We work on a variety of projects, and we keep track of and manage multiple people and projects simultaneously.
What is one of the most fulfilling aspects of your job as an engineer? Why have you continued to be an engineer all of these years?
I am still very new to engineering, however, one thing that keeps me motivated is seeing tangible improvements to my knowledge and abilities on a weekly basis. I am always impressed by the knowledge of the senior engineers, and I hope to one day be on that level.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in engineering?
This is general advice, but within the past few years, I’ve discovered how much a positive attitude and mindset influence my perception. A strong mindset is key for managing stress and adapting to the ever-changing circumstances of engineering.
“A strong mindset is key for managing stress and adapting to the everchanging circumstances of engineering.”
– Andre Rives, EI
