Kienen Koga
- Project Manager
- Nordic PCL Construction
School Information
School: University of Washington
College Major: Engineering
Years at College Works: 2013
Career Information
Working For: Nordic PCL Construction
Title: Project Manager
Industry: Construction
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
As an Engineer I, I am a part of the job site management team with responsibilities in construction surveying and layout, in place quantity verification, submittal processing, document maintenance, and more.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Being able to graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering in only three years with my job lined up post graduation.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting taught me how to persevere through any circumstance and has prepared me for life after college better than school itself.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
After interning at College Works Painting, I interned at Kiewit, one of the largest construction firms in the nation. Being only 19 years old, I was able to run construction operations meant for those with many years in the industry. My mentors were shocked with the amount of confidence I had in my abilities and consistently praised me about my maturity for my age. Being 20 now, I am finishing my last year of college with a job already lined up thanks to the skills I learned from College Works Painting.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
Ingrid Hanou, I enjoyed our talks about all the different boats you could hear near Magnolia and all the stories about your children. I still have the energy rock you gave me, I keep it on me at all times!
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Giving up is never an option. If you use your failures to improve your future, that is how you will grow.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
Because everyone who completes the College Works Painting program works extremely hard together, it is very easy to keep those friendships alive. I also have a very good relationship with my VP and DM.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
College Works, but experience thrives.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
You are going to be doing things none of your peers are. You are going to be working 10 times as hard as your peers. If you are willing to make the sacrifices to set yourself up for a successful future, you will do well in College Works Painting.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
In order to enter the construction industry, experience is key. I learned more during my summer at Kiewit about construction than I did in a year of school. College Works Painting helped me build my character that is perfect for the construction industry, and I think my employer saw that too.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
The construction industry if a fast paced industry that requires having a thick skin. You have to be able to adapt to situations easily and be able to take criticism.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
When we went white water rafting!
Last words of wisdom?
Chris Heerdegen, the man who hired me, told me this in one of my interviews: “College should not be the best four years of your life.” I’ve carried that phrase with me ever since he said it. For all the college kids out there, now is the time to prepare yourself for a successful and happy future. It would be very sad to live life after college thinking that your best years are over. By doing internships and getting experience, you help yourself create the best possible future for you, and that is what will matter in the long run. Your college degree cannot do as much for you as it could 10 years ago. Pretty much everyone has a degree, but not everyone can say they ran a $60,000 business while going to school.