Joanna Chang

Life/Culture at Degenkolb

What’s unique about Degenkolb?
Degenkolb’s commitment to its employees immediately catches my attention. Our life-long learning program encourages employees to attend seminars and participate in professional organizations. Growth of both technical and non-technical staff is an important goal of the firm. And that’s something I appreciate.

At work, I am surrounded by great people who are willing to answer my questions and guide me through my career here. But it’s more than just a place to work – it is also a place to have fun and learn from others. Here, I was introduced to rock climbing, new shopping spots, and a bit about flower arrangement.

Your Career:

I began interning at Degenkolb in July 2006. I started with more administrative tasks and then began to do design. Since joining the Degenkolb team and becoming a Designer, my responsibilities have definitely grown. I have been working on various projects – from equipment anchorage to new building design – and I am constantly learning from every project. The people here are great mentors, and that motivates me to be a good one too.

Your Passions:

I recently joined the ACE program as a mentor to high school students. From this program, students have a more hands-on experience and work as a team to transform an idea into reality. They take on the role of architects in designing a structure, contractors during the construction of their models, and engineers when making their models stand.

On the Job:

There is no typical day on the job, but that makes it exciting. One minute I’m planning to finish off detailing. Then in five, I could be heading to the job site with some co-workers. The best part is that I get to choose. Degenkolb allows a flexible schedule, and that adds to the equation.