Project Manager Earl Ming is celebrating his 10th anniversary at Alberici this month. In honor of this milestone, we asked Earl to share some thoughts about his experience.
In your time at Alberici, which project was your favorite and why?
I have enjoyed all of the projects that I have worked on, but if I had to name one, it would be the Holcim Ste. Genevieve Cement Plant project. On this project, I worked with the engineers to develop lift plans for the critical crane picks, and I also coordinated the erection of the stacks and fly ash silos. With over 2,000 tradespeople on site, successful coordination of the work was quite challenging.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
I am currently managing the building envelope scopes of work on the Monsanto project, and I am enjoying being exposed to scopes of work that are challenging and new to me. I also enjoy interacting with all of the different people associated with the project.
What are you most proud of in your time at Alberici and why?
I am proud of the fact that I have had the opportunity to work on one-of-a-kind projects such as the Holcim Ste. Genevieve Cement Plant and the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility project.
You’ve worked in a number of different markets in your time at Alberici (Building and Healthcare, Energy, Heavy Industrial). How has that breadth of experience influenced you?
Working in different markets has exposed me to all types of construction and has made me more adaptable. One thing I have learned is that you cannot assume that what works for one project will work for another. Each project, especially across the different markets, is uniquely different. I have also had the opportunity to work with many people across the company, so I have many different resources to turn to when I run into an issue.
What do you like most about working at Alberici?
I like the fact that I have had an opportunity to see all sides of the business and that there is no such thing as a routine work day. We create a routine structure for each day, but the work that takes place each day is always different because the projects are always evolving as they progress from start to finish.
How has the construction industry changed since you started?
I have been in the industry for 12 years, and each year the technology we use becomes more advanced. When I started with Alberici, anytime there was a drawing change, I had to print a copy of the change and distribute it by hand to the affected trades. Now many of our superintendents and subcontractors carry iPads with access to the current set of documents. As documents are updated, superintendents and subcontractors just have to sync their iPads to the server to ensure that they are working from the latest drawing.
What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting in the construction industry?
There are so many different aspects to this business and it is impossible for one person to know everything. When you are new to this business, sometimes the assignments you get can seem overwhelming because you aren’t really sure how to proceed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We have all been there, and everyone you work with is a resource. As you grow in this business, you will realize that you will always need help.
If you were a piece of construction equipment, what would you be and why?
I would be a crawler crane. The majority of crawler cranes can be configured for a number of situations. They are a versatile piece of equipment and can adapt to the situation as needed.