Pub. 1 2018-2019 Issue 3

27 Why did you choose construction as a career? Prior to my Junior year of high school, I was offered a summer job working for a barricade company. The work was hard, the days were long, but the outcome was financially rewarding. I was paid a fair wage and was able to meet all my financial needs during my nine months of school from only three months of summer work. I did this for three summers until I entered college. At that time, I was again offered a position striping roads and parking lots and from this work, I paid for four years in the field of business. I discovered that with hard work and dedication, the pay was far greater than my financial needs. After graduation, I stayed in the construction industry and started my own business, as well as partnering with others. My “field experience” led to greater understanding in college. My college experience lead to greater understanding in construction business. What is your current position?What do you do? I am the President and co-owner of Morgan Industries. We oversee three division of asphalt-related work called Morgan Pavement of Utah, Morgan Pavement of Arizona, and Nu Rock Asphalt Coatings. What do you like about it? I like the people I work with. The construction industry brings people who love to work and who love to make a dif- ference with the work they do. At the end of the day, there is a good feeling of accomplishment with an asphalt job well done. What is the best advice you can give to someone looking at this field as a career choice? It is not easy at first. Time and sacrifice are required. But there is so much to learn and so many areas to grow. A good person can plant a seed, and this is the industry that can help it to grow. DEAN GARETT, PRESIDENT, CO-OWNER - MORGAN INDUSTRIES Why did you choose construction as a career? My neighbor recommended I apply at the local power plant for a summer job prior tomy first year of Engineering. I was interested in how numbers can describe the working of everyday things – depth, width, and length. The power plant was building its third unit. I was responsible for assisting in sampling, testing, and updating as-built drawings. At that time computers filled rooms and all the computations were completed on paper. This experience placed me outside with those who built the plant from the ground up to the distribution of power. Those 3.5months I experienced the joy of mathematics and gettingmy boots muddy. What is your current position?What do you do? I am a licensed professional engineer working as an airport pavement engineer. Responsibilities include monitoring budget, schedule, project manager, determine funding requirements for airport pavement preservation, and review project plans and specifications. What do you like about it? I enjoy the people, the use of engineering statistics for project recommendations, onsite visits, reviewing geotech reports and the satisfaction of seeing a project through from design to completion. What is the best advice you can give to someone looking at this field as a career choice? Really, I think finding a mentor. A person who can guide and advise. Learn from others in the field and get as much education as you can in the field of interest. CRAIG IDE, PAVEMENT ENGINEER & PILOT, UDOT