Spotlight on Recent Graduate
Catching Up with Sarah Calugar (BSCE '07)
Where are you currently employed and what do you do there?
"I'm currently working for The Lane Construction Corporation, which is headquartered in Cheshire, Ct. I work out of the Crafton, Pa., office. I am an associate engineer, and my primary responsibility is to keep track of current contracts by managing the budget, corresponding with clients, preparing necessary paperwork and submittals, and supporting our estimating staff."
Why did you choose this line of work?
"Because I love it! I also did my co-op at Trumbull Corporation, which handles contracts in the heavy/highway sector, and I really enjoyed it. Lane has a long history of doing quality work, and I became interested in Lane because it has a broad spectrum of projects all along the east coast in the roadway construction sector. What I like best about my job is that I'm doing a mix of things. I get to experience the whole process of how projects go from plans on paper to actually getting to see how projects are constructed in the field. I am in a training program that allows Lane's young engineers to see all of the different types of projects that they do throughout the company, which is most beneficial to someone who is entry-level like me."
Do you do any fieldwork?
"Yes, I actually love going out to the site when we are paving or pouring concrete to see the process. It is really necessary to see the construction side in order to understand the engineering side. In supporting the estimating staff we may also need to go out and do field measurements or go to the proposed site to observe existing conditions which aid in the process of preparing a proposal or bid."
What's next for you?
"I'm interested in career growth at Lane, and hope to move into more of a management position in my current division."
Looking back at your Pitt engineering degree, how did it prepare you?
"My Pitt degree in civil engineering really provided me with an understanding of the theories and design methods and the ability to problem-solve. Although I don't necessarily use the design methods on a daily basis, the base of knowledge and the method of problem-solving that my Pitt engineering degree provided continues to be a daily asset to my professional life. I also had the opportunity to travel abroad, and learned a lot about how our industry affects the world around us."
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