Meet Dorian. He started at Summit as an intern while attending the University of North Florida and was then hired as an assistant superintendent. With an education in construction management and hands-on experience in the field, Dorian is now a multifamily project estimator in Summit’s corporate office.
We asked Dorian to tell us about his career path at Summit and what he likes about the industry – here’s what he had to say:
I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Since I was young, I was surrounded by architecture and loved to construct things out of Legos, wood, or anything I could put together. I also used to tear apart my toys just to see how they were made.
My brother is an architect and watching him make sketches, helping him and learning from him really inspired me to go into this field. In Venezuela I majored in Civil Engineering before moving here to the States to attend UNF in Jacksonville. I started at Summit as a field intern while finishing my degree in Construction Management.
I enjoy the challenge of estimating a job, getting it to the end line, then watching it being built. I like to see progress pictures of jobs I worked on; it is rewarding! Getting all the bids in time and fitting all the pieces together is very exciting. I enjoy the fast-paced environment. I like the diversity of jobs I get to work on from garden style to high density, HUD and senior living.
The camaraderie of the office and the field and the life-long friendships and bonds I have been able to build here. I pride myself on being employed by such a successful company like Summit, and appreciate the recognition that we, the employees, receive. Clients will often reach out to me personally to thank me, too.
Always be ready to learn something new. Construction is multifaceted and ever evolving. Not everything you learn from textbooks in school is applicable or useful. Real hands-on experience is what provides the best knowledge for the job. There is no shame in asking questions: If you don’t know something or are unsure, always ask!
My wife and I just had a baby girl in July, and we have a 5 year old rescue dog. I enjoy spending time outdoors fishing, hunting, riding bikes, and I love a good horror movie!
Getting all the bids in time and fitting all the pieces together is very exciting. I enjoy the fast-paced environment.