Tell me about your experience here at KCP&L. What has been your most memorable moment or event with the company?
I started an internship at KCP&L through INROADS after my first year of college, and continued every summer and most winter breaks through graduation. In general, the most exciting and intense moments of my work come after all the engineering, planning and construction come to an end. The excitement happens when the "switch is flipped" on the final product. It is thrilling to see the transformation of drawings and plans into reality. At no other point in the project is this more evident than when it’s time to start it up and let it roll.
What skills have you found to be most dominant with your career? And why?
I have found analytical and communication skills to be my most dominant skills at this point in my career. As engineers, it’s our job to analyze and solve problems. However, it is not enough to conceptualize solutions in your own mind; you have to be able to convey your thoughts and answers to the other stakeholders. That’s where the communication skills come into play. It’s difficult to leverage your analytical skills if you are unable to effectively communicate your ideas.
Have you had any special projects, served on a task force or received a promotion?
Currently, in my new job I’m a contract manager on a monumental construction project at our Iatan Generation Facility. At Iatan, we are retrofitting an existing generation unit with environmental control equipment while simultaneously building a new larger generating unit with advance environmental controls. In this capacity, I work to help specify, procure and manage construction and material supply contracts.
KCP&L believes in the importance in volunteerism as a tool for community improvements. List some of your volunteer activities.
There are many opportunities to get involved in companyrelated activities particularly volunteering. Although most of my work is spent on the outskirts of the city at our generation facilities, I have been able to periodically participate in volunteer activities and Toastmasters International.
Why did you choose this specific field?
Like most engineers, I was fairly comfortable with mathematics and I considered myself a problem solver. I was one of the kids that always wanted to know how something worked, and engineering has gone a long way to satisfy that desire.
What advice would you give a college student that is considering employment with KCP&L?
There are many opportunities on a college campus to prepare yourself for the workforce. In school I mostly concentrated on grades because I knew that would be the first thing a college recruiter would want to know. Now, I appreciate the importance of the softer skills that are learned in the classroom. Over time you’ll find that the skills that you acquire from active involvement in organizations will outweigh the grade you got in calculus. For instance, the ability to motivate yourself when there aren’t any hard deadlines, and your ability to build rapport with a diverse team of personalities, are just some of the important soft skills that will be beneficial.
|
