Hannah Engel
Our careers can often divert from the dreams of our youth, and I’m no exception. Studying civil engineering as an undergraduate at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, I had no idea where my degree would take me or that the aviation industry held potential for me. I knew I excelled at math and science, but I was unsure where that would take me. During interviews with companies, I was hesitant to answer the question, “What is your focus?” Because I felt I did not have a bounty of experience in a specific area, I replied that I was open to whatever opportunities were available.
I knew I wanted an internship with Hanson, because it is headquartered in my hometown, has a top-notch internship program that offers a scholarship opportunity and has a hands-on philosophy that resonates with me because my father is a plumber. He is my role model, as he embodies hard work and dedication.
Interning with the aviation team during summer and winter breaks from Bradley was a fantastic experience. I trained under many aviation professionals, learning about AutoCAD and the environmental permitting, bidding and construction processes. I informed all my colleagues at Bradley about my great experience, and now four of them have positions at Hanson in other offices. As a full-time employee, I still learn every day from technical and adaptive challenges — that is what makes my days interesting.
At Hanson, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to play significant roles in projects — from the beginning to the end of design and construction. By incorporating constructability into design, I am proud to learn from other disciplines and field experiences. My role is to increase my technical sharpness while building relationships with contractors, government agencies, clients and coworkers — opening doors to a variety of excellent career opportunities in the aviation industry. I am excited to further develop my professional and leadership skills at Hanson and cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me.