Xavier joined Carpenter Marty about a year and a half ago, after graduating from The Ohio State University. When Xavier isn’t spending his time on the Roadway Team here at CM, he has many hobbies and passions that keep him busy. He loves outdoor activities, and during the cold months, he likes to watch TV and is a big PC gamer. He loves to play Cities: Skylines, which is very fitting for a civil engineer! Music is also a huge part of his life. Not only does he like listening to music, but he creates it, too – he plays the baritone, steel drum, and even composes music on the piano.

Ever since he was a kid, Xavier has been very artistic and loves to build things. His ideal career path changed a lot while growing up, including wanting to be an architect at one point. By the time he went to college, he knew that civil engineering was the right path for him. When asked what helped him choose this career, he admitted that his love for a certain game heavily influenced his decision – Minecraft. In his childhood, Xavier became very skilled at the world-building game and created detailed, realistic buildings, and eventually began to design roads within the game. He did this on an online server, populated with people passionate about politics, city planning, and engineering. Xavier knew he was interested in the built-world around us, and wanted to be a part of making a positive impact on people through civil engineering.

When asked what his favorite project is that he has worked on so far, the Polaris Parkway project stood out in his mind. This was the first project he felt he had an impact on design-wise, and he was able to use skills he learned in college. He was even able to develop new skills, such as client interaction. Polaris Parkway was the first project he got to do some 3D modeling – “It felt like second nature, and I loved every minute of it,” he said. This project also allowed him to work with others. “I love interactions where we can collaborate and find a solution together.” Xavier also excitedly mentioned a current project in Montgomery County. This project may be a close contender for his favorite project, as he was able to design even more details and have more of a personal impact on the project.

Xavier shared some valuable advice for those pursuing a career in engineering. “Make up your mind as soon as possible.” He also explained how important it is to find mentorship and people that you can trust to have serious conversations with and confide in about your intentions for career growth. Future civil engineers should also be aware, research their options, and make sure they choose what is right for them.

Xavier has had a lot of growth in his year and a half here at CM. At the beginning of his career, he knew nothing about 3D modeling in OpenRoads Designer, but now he is proficient in it. In college, he didn’t have a chance to learn as much as he would’ve liked about the decision-making process, and how it works from the beginning of a project to the end. “I’ve learned how the real-world of transportation works,” he says. During his time at CM, he has greatly improved his communication skills. Now he is more knowledgeable about how to communicate the right things to the correct people. He has also had the opportunity to take on exciting roles such as being the PR director for ASHE.

When asked what his favorite thing about working at CM is, he was quick to answer – “the people.” He believes that everyone in the office works well together. CM also allows the freedom to work the best way that you see fit to complete tasks and meet deadlines. He enjoys being able to choose his work style and appreciates that the management is communicative and open to feedback.