Board Member December-January 2016-2017 Spotlight
As part of our new Board Member Appreciation Program we are showcasing a board member in our bimonthly Board Member Spotlight. Our board member spotlight recognizes board members of outstanding contributions to the profession and our local communities. For any questions regarding the program please contact the Past President at PastPresident@ymf-oc.org.
For the December and January spotlight we would like to introduce...
Gabreelle Gonzalez
We asked her to state his name, company and position in ASCE:
- Gabreelle (Gaby) Gonzalez
- Fuscoe Engineering
- University Outreach Chair
We also asked him a few questions about the following:
SCHOOL/EDUCATION/BACKGROUND
Where did you grow up?
Covina, Ca
What made you want to become an engineer? If you had to choose a different career what would it be?
I originally wanted to be an Architect; however, when I began to apply to colleges my dad asked if I had heard of civil engineering. I had never heard of it, so I decided to do some research. I looked into it and found that it was a profession I had a great interest in. If I had chosen another career path it would have been marketing.
What college(s) did you attend? Can you list your degrees, any honors, and involvement in engineering organizations during school?
I attended the University of California, Irvine and obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Transportation. I was a member of the Engineering Student Council Public Relations Committee. As for my involvement with ASCE UCI, I was Historian, Internal Vice President, and Concrete Canoe Mix Captain. As internal Vice president, I laid the foundation for the Mentorship program and am very happy to see the program continue to grow.
WORK & PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Describe your responsibilities and some significant projects.
Primary Role:
As a member of the Commercial Land Development team, I am involved with projects varying from churches to corporate head quarters. As a recent hire I have quickly been incorporated into a variety of projects including the Broadcom Campus, Festival of the Arts, and the Del Amo Financial Center. My experience at Fuscoe thus far has broadened my exposure within civil engineering.
What is your favorite part about being a Civil Engineer?
My favorite part of being a Civil Engineer is being able to contribute to projects that have a positive impact on the community.
What drew you to your specific career path? If you could start your career differently, what would you do differently?
I began my career doing public works projects and recently made a switch to Commercial Land Development. I began focused in transportation, but wanted to broaden my horizons and experience general civil engineering. If I were to start my career differently I would have taken the general civil engineering specialization at UCI. This route would have allowed me to take a wider variety of courses.
Describe a situation that was a great learning experience for you?
A great learning experience for me was a small improvement project for Costco.
The project’s small scale made it a great opportunity to put into practice grading tools in Civil 3D. It was one of my first projects at Fuscoe and it allowed me to improve my CAD skills while familiarizing myself with the company’s standards.
ASCE
How/Why did you get involved? Why did you choose to stay?
My senior year of High School my ceramics teacher gave me one piece of advice that stuck with me throughout my life. He said “When you start college be involved. Join as many organizations as you can.” I took his advice literally and made it a point to try all of the engineering organizations available at UCI. Although all the organizations had a lot to offer, ASCE was my favorite. The networking opportunities and long lasting friendships proved to be very valuable to me. This is why even after graduation I continue to be involved with ASCE and encourage current students to do the same.
How has ASCE impacted your work and/or what is your favorite benefit of your involvement?
ASCE has given me the opportunity to broaden my professional network while increasing my exposure to the field of civil engineering. Through my involvement in ASCE I have improved my public speaking, leadership, and time management skills.
What has been your favorite ASCE event since you got involved?
My favorite ASCE event aside from PSWC as a student is the OC Branch History and Heritage/Student Night. I enjoy this event because not only do we celebrate the history of civil engineering, but we give recognition to all the hard work the student chapters have done throughout the year.
PERSONAL LIFE
Favorite sport?
I enjoy watching Basketball, but my favorite sport would have to be gymnastics. I was a gymnast until my sophomore year in high school.
Hobbies and Interests outside of Engineering.
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-Food adventures
-Spending time with family
-Board games
-Disneyland
-Dirt Bike Riding
-Hiking
To view the archive of all past Member Spotlights click here.
