Ingenuity Magazine Spring 2019

Pond Ingenuity Spring 2019 13 redlined drawings, meticulous measuring and labeling, and printing. Kevin recalls that the co-op program proved to be a great way to learn CAD and plan production prior to graduation. He also learned design and office skills and built relationships with other members of the Pond team. Kevin thinks fondly of his days of balancing his classroom and practical educations. “I considered the co-op program to be a nice break from constant studying at school and the Pond team got some relatively cheap labor,” Kevin says, laughing. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to co-op with Pond. The program was vital to the start of my career in engineering.” Prior to graduation, Kevin met with the transportation group director and was offered a full-time job starting in January of 2000. He was able to jump right in to his position, already knowing the people, processes and software, and having just earned his Engineer-In-Training certificate. Kevin talks enthusiastically about how he received regular training and mentoring. Several experienced engineers were willing to invest time and trust in him over the years and their guidance helped the transportation group grow to a significant program within the firm. Project Management training was a critical part of Kevin’s development as well; he believes that sometimes the best managers are those who have been designers themselves. “It has been awesome to see Kevin develop into both a leader at Pond and a leader in the industry. His hard work, commitment and integrity are second to none, and as such, he is a great manager and mentor,” said Senior Vice President of Transportation Ron Osterloh. “Kevin cares about the projects, the clients and, just as importantly, his fellow coworkers. This passion has been a big part of the success and growth of our transportation services; from our first project with the Georgia Department of Transportation in 1997 to the multi-million-dollar program he has helped Pond develop.” His 23-year tenure at Pond has allowed him to experience firsthand the company’s tremendous growth, both within existing programs and into new fields. He’s watched Pond open new offices and acquire smaller firms to gain expertise across all disciplines of engineering, all while maintaining the same spirit that brought him to Pond in the first place. These days Kevin can be found overseeing office management and business development, as well as handling project oversight. He enjoys meeting with current and prospective clients, writing proposals and mentoring the younger staff. “I would highly recommend the co-op or internship program. I consider Pond the best employer ever because they value strong work ethic and individual leadership,” said Kevin. “My career has been challenging, fun and incredibly rewarding – I can’t wait to see what is in store for the company in the future.” To learn more about Pond’s co-op and intern program, check out https://www. pondco.com/careers/students.  Staff writer “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to co-op with Pond. The program was vital to the start of my career in engineering.”