My Work Experience
and Expertise
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Structural Engineering Internship
Company: IMEG, Quad Cities, IL Dates of Employment: May 2024 - August 2024 Brief Explanation: IMEG gave me a very in depth look into the world of Structural Engineering. This internship was heavy on the use of design tools such as the RISA suite of products, and Tedds for various structural analysis situations. The main projects I had involvement in were a multistory office space/bank and various school renovations or new builds. The multistory office gave me experience in developing a design criteria, determining beam and gridline layouts, and working with Architects early-on in the design phase. Various school projects I was involved with helped greatly grow my understanding of masonry design. Some of these projects also gave experience in Job Site Outings along with contractor-engineer communication. Some other skills that came from this internship involved experience in reviewing shop drawings and developing design spreadsheets based off applicable codes. |
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UIUC CEE 300 - Formal Lab Report
The CEE 300 class at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is known for its exciting labs followed by gruelingly detailed reports. I really enjoyed this class for the labs which involved testing of various material in bending, compression, tension, torsion, and impact. Beyond the labs, I gained very valuable technical writing skills through the lab reports that followed or lab sessions. The best representation of my technical writing skills can be viewed in my 60-page formal report attached on the right below the stress strain curve. |
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Project Engineer Internship
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Company: Alberici Constructors, Quincy, IL
Dates of Employment: May 2023 - August 2023 Brief Explanation: This summer internship placed me on an active jobsite where I shadowed Project Managers/Directors, Engineers, Architects, Superintendents, Safety personal, and Executive Vice Presidents. In addition to that I had freedom to roam the jobsite and soak up all the information I could from subcontractors and laborers. This has helped set my career path in the direction of Construction Management and hopefully even higher executive roles if things work out. |
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Concrete Research
Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dates of Employment: August 2022 - May 2023 Brief Explanation: In this role, I assisted with concrete 3D printing and Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) research. Specifics on 3D printed concreted involved mix design that enabled proper extrusion and optimum setting time for multilayered construction. I also performed minor calculations to determine printing rate and extrusion velocity. The UHPC research was performed for the Illinois Department of Transportation with a goal of finding the most viable combination of concrete ingredients for high compressive strength with practical mixing processes. Our mixes were designed to obtain minimal shrinkage with maximum durability and strength. Both research groups helped grow my understanding of concrete, specifically various add-mixtures that enabled these cutting edge concrete practices. |
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Systems Engineering 101 Class Modeling Project
This class went through the basics of utilizing BIM to design structures as well as how to sketch from different perspectives. Our semester-long project had myself and 3 other group members recreate a building on our campus with BIM modeling. We were given the blueprints and access to tour the facility in person. Then told to use Revit and sketchup to make a replica of the building.
To the right is a link to our final report and design sheets. |
Links
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Cabin Design and Fabrication
Company: Family Project
Dates of Employment: Summer 2022 Brief Explanation: Working alongside my grandpa, I completed many finishing touches on a cabin that he designed. My grandpa is a retired Civil Engineer and an excellent mentor, therefore, I consider this experience an internship of sorts. When not laboring on the construction side of things, my grandpa gave me mini-lessons on other projects he was currently working on. This cabin project has exposed me to many aspects of engineering and general contracting (CAD design, electrical work, drywall, masonry, finishing carpentry, the list goes on...). |
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LeClaire Manufacturing
Company: LeClaire Manufacturing
Dates of Employment: Summers of 2018 - 2021, occasionally over holidays Brief Explanation: This is an aluminum casting foundry where I performed various jobs on and off the foundry floor such as refurbishing an aluminum casting machine, grinding large castings, and assembling machine monitoring devices. My primary role was in the finishing department, preparing parts for further machining or assembly. Being exposed to an industrial environment has opened my eyes to the hard labor that people must perform to support their families. I have great respect for those workers and understand the value of the work that they do. |
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Bollen Baseball Complex
Company: Geneseo Youth Baseball and Softball
Dates of Employment: Part time/Seasonal: 2018 -2021 Brief Explanation: As head groundskeeper I was tasked with maintaining 4 separate baseball diamonds with myself and 2 other people. Doing tasks such as mowing, spraying weeds, and prepping fields before games. I was in a position of leadership here where I coordinated game schedules with coaches, other employees, and myself. At the end of my tenure I was inducted into the Groundskeeper Hall of Fame! (pictured on the right) |
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Farmhand
Company: McAvoy Farms
Dates of Employment: August 2020 - November 2020 Brief Explanation: Aided with cleaning grain bins, pulling grain wagons through crop fields, and tractor maintenance. This was an excellent way to gain insight on the farming industry that is all around me in Northwestern Illinois. |
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Personal Projects
Here I have a small collection of non work-related projects that I have created throughout my life.
Keep in mind that some of these projects date back to when I was in my early
high school years, so don't be too judgmental.
Keep in mind that some of these projects date back to when I was in my early
high school years, so don't be too judgmental.
Front Patio Railing ~ Summer of 2024 ~ Tolerance for sub-par work on this railing was low. There was no room for rough cuts or poor baluster spacing. Everything had to look professional because this railing was the first thing anyone walking up to the house would see. With this project I undertook the challenge of improving curb appeal and safety for the owners.
Very satisfying project that allowed me to use a wide range of skill sets. First I applied my knowledge of concrete anchors and pullout strength learned during my internship with IMEG to decide how I was going to affix the post feet to the concrete deck. Next I welded the steel post feet to ensure the railing would have almost zero wiggle. After that I fabricated every wooden element and pre-assembled the railing to ensure proper alignment. Then I disassembled the railing to stain and seal every wood element. Finally I reassembled the railing and installed the balusters and post caps.
Very satisfying project that allowed me to use a wide range of skill sets. First I applied my knowledge of concrete anchors and pullout strength learned during my internship with IMEG to decide how I was going to affix the post feet to the concrete deck. Next I welded the steel post feet to ensure the railing would have almost zero wiggle. After that I fabricated every wooden element and pre-assembled the railing to ensure proper alignment. Then I disassembled the railing to stain and seal every wood element. Finally I reassembled the railing and installed the balusters and post caps.
Indoor Log Railing ~ Summer of 2022 ~ To make this, I harvested the wood straight from the surrounding forest and notched the logs so that they would fit together as snugly as possible.
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Outdoor Log Railing ~ Summer of 2022 ~ The log posts pictured came from a logging scrap wood pile. My grandpa and I harvested them for use on his cabin. I shaped the logs with a chainsaw and mounted them on what would become an outdoor patio. The completed railing has a glass screen and metal rails.
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In wall lighting ~ Summer of 2022 ~ This is just one example of electrical work that a am capable of performing. Throughout my life I have been involved with all sorts of electrical projects (outlets, switches, lights, and fuses). Despite my grandpa's lack of "official electrical certification," has essentially taught me everything I know about wiring. Which has built my confidence up enough to where I am comfortable working with electricity on my own.
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Exterior stairway ~ Summer of 2021 ~ Here is a picture of just one of the many staircases that I have built. I used a square, a really sharp pencil and power-saw to hand mark and cut the stringers. It's hard to tell from the picture but the stairs are built on a soft soil hill. Which meant that the use of extra bracing and reinforced footers was necessary. This project took place in Idaho with the help of my grandpa, cousin, and brother.
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Multi-Landing Staircase ~ Winter Break 2021 ~ This was my first real world application of Revit Software! Measurements for these stairs were taken in November of 2021 by me, from those I designed the staircase remotely in December of 2021 while at college. Then I went home, bought the materials and built these stairs for my grandparents. I ended up being able to build this project with just my younger brother in under a week thanks to efficient planning and organization made possible by Revit. Pictured to the right is the finished product!
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Finished Product! These stairs are built in a confined back corner of my grandparents' barn. They are used everyday to help my grandparents get from the ground floor up to the hay loft. The stairs have taken the place of an old, unsafe ladder that my grandparents previously had to climb.
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Epoxy-Top Bar ~ May 2020 ~ This Bar lives in the basement of my house. Complete with: native lumber, my dad's collection of tickets (within the epoxy), under glow, and a microwave. It was the one thing that our "man cave" was missing. The most challenging part was coating the entire top with a quarter inch of epoxy (something I had never done before). I had to come up with an elaborate set of frames to contain the epoxy while it hardened.
The main support logs of this Bar came directly from the forest surrounding my house! 
Exterior, Elevated Patio ~ June 2020 ~ This is yet another project I created for my grandparents. Probably my first experience with project management because I was tasked with designing, buying materials, and allocating work to my brother and cousin. We built this patio from the ground up, without ever having done something like this before.
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Custom Built 212cc Go-Kart ~ Summers of 2019 - 2020 ~ Like all go-karts, this is a project that never stops evolving. I started out with a cheap go kart frame and decided to cut that in half and weld on extra material so that adults could fit. After that, I needed more speed and power than the 5 hp engine it came with had to offer. So I swapped to a 10 hp engine that I built up to a 12 hp engine.
Almost every time I drive it I decide it needs more improvements. Whether it be changing gear ratios, adding new brakes, rebuilding it, or something else. Always fun to have a project like this waiting for me at home. 
Rolling Interior wall ~ March 2021 ~ My aunt commissioned me to build her an "aesthetically pleasing" rolling wall that she could use to section off an area inside her design studio. The structure of the wall is similar to what you might see inside a house. However, I added extra bracing to account for the load being directed fully on the ends of the wall. I was eager to show off my artistic side by creating a herringbone pattern with faux barn wood.
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