CDI Engineering Solutions

I was hired because the two new Business Development Directors wanted to “upgrade marketing” but they didn’t have budget for an entire staff. My ex-boss from Fluor recommended me due to the fact I was versatile and well-versed in pretty much all the skills they needed.

CDI was such a fun run…we grew the Houston office from ~60 to over 600 people in 4 years, and we expanded the division overall from about 1,300 to over 3,800 in that same time. In addition to gaining more EPC/Design-Build project experience, I learned more about how to sell and run large managed staffing programs, which really got me into recruiting and workforce management.

And I had the good fortune to also be the field contracts manager (while maintaining my marketing and communications role) when Sarbanes-Oxley rolled out. I was also able to help build and maintain the culture across our four core engineering offices in Houston and Beaumont, TX, Baton Rouge, LA and South Charleston, WV.

Most importantly, CDI was where I first learned to manage people, having the opportunity to officially hire and manage two (and unofficially manage one in another location).