Discussion Thread

Occasionally, some of us find ourselves traveling through work. For others, travel is a normal part of their job requirements. 

I'm curious to learn about some of the more interesting places that others have traveled for work. This could either be for project-related matters or for volunteering on behalf of your company somewhere. 

My own experiences in this regard are limited but I'm happy to start the topic.
When I was in high school, I volunteered to go to New Orleans and help repair some of the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina. While there (and interviewing for jobs about 10 years later) I got to swap experiences with other engineers whose companies had sent teams there to assist with the recovery effort as well. 

Locally, I also enjoy volunteering at local trash clean ups around Philadelphia via one of my company's clients and also through other entities. These volunteering days have been great ways to get out and meet cool people, see new parts of the city, enjoy (good and bad) weather, and make a direct impact in a local community.

Finally, I was fortunate to get sent to a training event in Cleveland Ohio a few years ago. It was a really interesting experience and gave me the chance to experience a really cool smaller city that I probably would not have been to otherwise. 

Have you either worked or volunteered anywhere interesting?

------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------

As a senior engineer and supervisor/"manager", we would travel up to Crystal City, VA for meetings on several occasions. 

The company I worked for sent several of us to Shock and Vibration Symposiums in Minneapolis, MN and Virginia Beach, VA; recruiting trips with Human Resources.

While all the trips were fun, the most exciting part of it all was the first notice that I would be traveling off-site to a meeting with the government; being asked to travel, filling out the paperwork to go (and upon returning) and receiving my 1st business credit card. As a newbie, you spend years watching co-workers leave for those off-site meetings; wondering when will they send me. It was only travel, but I was on cloud nine. As a shirt & tie guy during regular work, I was able to wear a suit during those big meetings. 

Nothing can replace the excitement of that first trip representing the company.

------------------------------
James Williams P.E., M.ASCE
Principal/Owner
POA&M Structural Engineering, PLC
Yorktown, VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2022 08:17 PM
From: Christopher Seigel
Subject: Work and Volunteering-Related Travel Experiences

Occasionally, some of us find ourselves traveling through work. For others, travel is a normal part of their job requirements.

I'm curious to learn about some of the more interesting places that others have traveled for work. This could either be for project-related matters or for volunteering on behalf of your company somewhere.

My own experiences in this regard are limited but I'm happy to start the topic.
When I was in high school, I volunteered to go to New Orleans and help repair some of the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina. While there (and interviewing for jobs about 10 years later) I got to swap experiences with other engineers whose companies had sent teams there to assist with the recovery effort as well.

Locally, I also enjoy volunteering at local trash clean ups around Philadelphia via one of my company's clients and also through other entities. These volunteering days have been great ways to get out and meet cool people, see new parts of the city, enjoy (good and bad) weather, and make a direct impact in a local community.

Finally, I was fortunate to get sent to a training event in Cleveland Ohio a few years ago. It was a really interesting experience and gave me the chance to experience a really cool smaller city that I probably would not have been to otherwise.

Have you either worked or volunteered anywhere interesting?

------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------

I am fortunate to work for a company that has multiple offices across the western half of the country.  I have worked for our California, Washington (state), Hawaii, and Colorado offices.  While travelling for a short period is exciting, I have thoroughly enjoyed living in different parts of the western US.

For a short-stay, I enjoyed my one-week tour of our Hawaii operations.  I was more excited to see the high-rise projects and to work closely with our field team, but it was also exciting to see the island for the first time.

I have traveled to Las Vegas for the World of Concrete conventions on multiple occasions now.  I was excited to see and learn about different or new products to make our company's operations more efficient.  I also enjoyed the classes that they offered ranging from field operations, to project management to engineering.

Finally, my family thoroughly enjoyed our time living in Orange County in Southern California.  We enjoyed the mild weather year-round, the close proximity of multiple beaches, and all kinds of attractions for the kids.

------------------------------
Jefferson Thao P.E., M.ASCE
Engineering Manager
Thornton CO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-20-2022 06:31 PM
From: James Williams
Subject: Work and Volunteering-Related Travel Experiences

As a senior engineer and supervisor/"manager", we would travel up to Crystal City, VA for meetings on several occasions.

The company I worked for sent several of us to Shock and Vibration Symposiums in Minneapolis, MN and Virginia Beach, VA; recruiting trips with Human Resources.

While all the trips were fun, the most exciting part of it all was the first notice that I would be traveling off-site to a meeting with the government; being asked to travel, filling out the paperwork to go (and upon returning) and receiving my 1st business credit card. As a newbie, you spend years watching co-workers leave for those off-site meetings; wondering when will they send me. It was only travel, but I was on cloud nine. As a shirt & tie guy during regular work, I was able to wear a suit during those big meetings.

Nothing can replace the excitement of that first trip representing the company.

------------------------------
James Williams P.E., M.ASCE
Principal/Owner
POA&M Structural Engineering, PLC
Yorktown, VA

Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2022 08:17 PM
From: Christopher Seigel
Subject: Work and Volunteering-Related Travel Experiences

Occasionally, some of us find ourselves traveling through work. For others, travel is a normal part of their job requirements.

I'm curious to learn about some of the more interesting places that others have traveled for work. This could either be for project-related matters or for volunteering on behalf of your company somewhere.

My own experiences in this regard are limited but I'm happy to start the topic.
When I was in high school, I volunteered to go to New Orleans and help repair some of the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina. While there (and interviewing for jobs about 10 years later) I got to swap experiences with other engineers whose companies had sent teams there to assist with the recovery effort as well.

Locally, I also enjoy volunteering at local trash clean ups around Philadelphia via one of my company's clients and also through other entities. These volunteering days have been great ways to get out and meet cool people, see new parts of the city, enjoy (good and bad) weather, and make a direct impact in a local community.

Finally, I was fortunate to get sent to a training event in Cleveland Ohio a few years ago. It was a really interesting experience and gave me the chance to experience a really cool smaller city that I probably would not have been to otherwise.

Have you either worked or volunteered anywhere interesting?

------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------

I quite enjoy traveling and am actually on a quest to run a half marathon in every state - it's a goal that has helped me visit every state, something I've long dreamed of. (s/o to @Charles Mumford for hosting me in my final state visit in April! A person I wouldn't know if not for ASCE). I travel frequently for work - usually around Mississippi and Louisiana - and it's nice to get out of the office for a bit but it can make for long days.

I think the most interesting place I've visited for work is the United Kingdom for a coastal engineering conference or Norway for a coastal ecology and engineering conference​.  For volunteer work, it was Simwatachela, Zambia for EWB.

My favorite place to visit for work, though? That would have to be any day in the field or visiting my company's headquarters in Ocean Springs. :)

------------------------------
Jennifer Sloan Ziegler Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Ridgeland MS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2022 08:17 PM
From: Christopher Seigel
Subject: Work and Volunteering-Related Travel Experiences

Occasionally, some of us find ourselves traveling through work. For others, travel is a normal part of their job requirements.

I'm curious to learn about some of the more interesting places that others have traveled for work. This could either be for project-related matters or for volunteering on behalf of your company somewhere.

My own experiences in this regard are limited but I'm happy to start the topic.
When I was in high school, I volunteered to go to New Orleans and help repair some of the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina. While there (and interviewing for jobs about 10 years later) I got to swap experiences with other engineers whose companies had sent teams there to assist with the recovery effort as well.

Locally, I also enjoy volunteering at local trash clean ups around Philadelphia via one of my company's clients and also through other entities. These volunteering days have been great ways to get out and meet cool people, see new parts of the city, enjoy (good and bad) weather, and make a direct impact in a local community.

Finally, I was fortunate to get sent to a training event in Cleveland Ohio a few years ago. It was a really interesting experience and gave me the chance to experience a really cool smaller city that I probably would not have been to otherwise.

Have you either worked or volunteered anywhere interesting?

------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------

Thank you for the idea of volunteering, which will also give us learning when we got there. I always think that volunteering is not possible but I will give it a try since our city engineering offices knows me from my OJT and guess they will love it too (because maybe I'm a bothersome).

------------------------------
Llala Chrishaye Ocampo Aff.M.ASCE
Student
City of General Trias Cavite
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2022 08:17 PM
From: Christopher Seigel
Subject: Work and Volunteering-Related Travel Experiences

Occasionally, some of us find ourselves traveling through work. For others, travel is a normal part of their job requirements.

I'm curious to learn about some of the more interesting places that others have traveled for work. This could either be for project-related matters or for volunteering on behalf of your company somewhere.

My own experiences in this regard are limited but I'm happy to start the topic.
When I was in high school, I volunteered to go to New Orleans and help repair some of the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina. While there (and interviewing for jobs about 10 years later) I got to swap experiences with other engineers whose companies had sent teams there to assist with the recovery effort as well.

Locally, I also enjoy volunteering at local trash clean ups around Philadelphia via one of my company's clients and also through other entities. These volunteering days have been great ways to get out and meet cool people, see new parts of the city, enjoy (good and bad) weather, and make a direct impact in a local community.

Finally, I was fortunate to get sent to a training event in Cleveland Ohio a few years ago. It was a really interesting experience and gave me the chance to experience a really cool smaller city that I probably would not have been to otherwise.

Have you either worked or volunteered anywhere interesting?

------------------------------
Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
------------------------------