This month, WT Group is shining a spotlight on members of our engineering team. Each one exemplifies the essence of engineering - a blend of technical expertise, creative problem-solving, and the satisfaction of seeing ideas materialize into reality. With a passion for innovation and a dedication to excellence, they continue to make significant contributions to their engineering fields.
Q&A with Adrian Martinez, Project Engineer, Civil Engineering
Walk through your educational background:
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Illinois University, specializing in Renewable Energy. While I currently do not hold any certifications, I am actively pursuing my Professional Engineer (PE) license and anticipate achieving it by the end of this year.
What do you like about Engineering?
My favorite part about engineering is the blend of math and physics involved in shaping the world around us that often times go unnoticed. This includes not just civil, but all engineering fields.
Describe your career path:
My journey to becoming an engineer began later than most, as I was uncertain about my career path. I initially enrolled in engineering as a freshman at Southern Illinois University due to proficiency in math and a general interest in science. After leaving SIU to pursue general education courses at Elgin Community College, I picked up an interest in computer science. Upon transferring to Northern Illinois University, I contemplated switching to Computer Science but never made it to the appropriate office to make the change! Ultimately, I chose mechanical engineering for its broad applicability and diverse career prospects. Little did I know it would lead me to a career in civil engineering, but I'm grateful for the path I've taken.
What exciting projects have you worked on?
A couple of exciting projects I have worked on include larger sites than we typically have. The bulk of our projects are developments that are somewhere between 1 to 3 acres in size, ranging from a small drive-thru restaurant to a gas station & carwash development. Recently I have been working on a substantial project at a carwash site in Rockwall, Texas spanning over 6 acres. The site encompasses additional lots and a sizable stormwater detention system that required a drainage study of nearly 22 acres. Another large site I am currently working on is a residential subdivision in Carpentersville, Illinois over 8 acres in size with a drainage study of about 20 acres. The larger developments often present their own unique challenges providing continuous opportunities for learning and growth, which is precisely why I enjoy working on them.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing projects progress from an idea on paper all the way to the completion of construction. It feels good to know we are doing our part to mitigate flooding and other possible stormwater issues that can come along with developing new sites all around us.
The WT Group provides clients with a single-source engineering solution to help maintain the integrity of all projects from start to finish. With over 50 years of experience, WT Group’s highly skilled engineering, design and consulting teams ensure consistency, clarity, and accuracy in the most cost and time-efficient manner.
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