Kate Coffaro

Life/Culture at Degenkolb:

Why did you pick Degenkolb from other firms to work for?
I came to Degenkolb straight out of college, and I chose to work here based on recommendations from college classmates who were already employed by the firm. They had only good things to say about the office and their work, and everything they told me has proven true. I really enjoy the tasks I am given, the people I work with and the overall office environment. As an employee, Degenkolb makes an effort to not only make you feel welcome when you first start your job but also to ensure that you feel like you are a part of the company as your career continues.

What makes Degenkolb stand out from other structural engineering firms is the willingness of its employees to mentor young engineers. I work directly with the principal and associate principal in charge of my project, but there are also many younger engineers who can answer my “silly” questions. I would feel comfortable asking any of my coworkers for help on a task, and I think this is essential for learning and progressing as an engineer.

Your Career:

How does Degenkolb support your career/career goals?
Degenkolb encourages its employees to become involved with any industry clubs and organizations that catch their interest. When I began work at the firm, I immediately started attending SEAONC dinner meetings and became involved with its Sustainable Design Committee. The sustainability aspect of the field is something I have always been passionate about, and I hope to make this a part of my work as my career progresses. Degenkolb offers monetary support for club involvement and for continuing education in the engineering field. Employees are allowed to choose the workshops and seminars that interest them and are encouraged to attend as desired.

Your Passions:

What are some of your passions and how does Degenkolb help support them?
While Degenkolb has some of the best engineers in the industry, these engineers have many passions outside of work. This is important because it shows that the firm”s employees are not one dimensional and that the job allows time for interests other than engineering.

Degenkolb gives me the freedom to pursue my outside interests by allowing me to set my own hours and to accrue my paid time off. When not at work, I try to be active by going to the gym or taking a walk around San Francisco. I also enjoy food and love to cook or go out to a nice restaurant. My work schedule at Degenkolb is flexible, so I have the luxury of coming to work a little later if I want to exercise in the morning or leaving a little early to cook a big dinner at home. I am also an avid football fan and wouldn’t miss a Sunday of games, even for work! I try to travel when I am able, and I appreciate the firm’s willingness to let its employees take time off as they need, be it paid or unpaid.

On the Job:

I was given a lot of responsibility on my project from day one, and I feel that my project managers really trust my work and my abilities. In my six months of working for the firm, I have worked on only one project, the new design of a hospital, but I have been given a variety of tasks on the project. I wrote spreadsheets for an elaborate penthouse design, created small models for various special features on our building, updated our building’s gravity model, designed connection details, completed various aspects of a foundation design and responded to many plan check comments. I have had plenty of guidance along the way, and really feel that working for Degenkolb has been and will continue to be an incredible learning experience.