Jul 18, 2022

Construction Staking Team Spotlight

By Focus Engineering In News, Team No comments

Our construction staking team at FOCUS is trained in the best and most current technology to provide accurate staking and monitoring services, which sets up each project for success. We’re proud of the work this team puts out. Their skills in problem-solving, communication, and teamwork are a boon for both our firm and our clients.

 

Name: Connor Llewelyn

Title: Department Manager

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

The opportunities that I am given every day. I have learned a lot about myself and my team and the willingness we all have to keep our clients happy.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job? 

I enjoy working with like-minded individuals who are driven to constantly improve. I also love watching other people learn and develop and become better versions of themselves.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department? 

I love the ability that my team has to push themselves. I work with the most amazing individuals that are always reaching for the next challenge. They are always ready to take the bull by the horns.

4. Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?

I am not proud of any project specifically but that we are able to stake houses for Utah’s top homebuilders and help them accomplish the goals they have set.

5. What is your favorite hobby?

I enjoy competing with my wife and dad in a sport done on horseback called Ranch Sorting. I also enjoy hunting (ducks, deer, and elk).

 

Name: Cole Finan

Title: Assistant Department Manager

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

That I can help develop others and be developed personally by the people we have here. It’s always a great feeling to see people grow and become their better selves.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Being able to see projects go from start to finish and turn into communities.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department? 

That everyone is willing and able to take the time to ensure that we have an understanding as a group.

4. Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?

Overland. It’s been pretty incredible to see a massive piece of land slowly transform into a residential hub in Eagle Mountain.

5. What is your favorite hobby?

Outdoorsy things with good friends. Particularly camping, rafting, and off-roading.

Name: Carmen Saunders

Title: CAD Designer 2

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

My favorite thing about working at FOCUS is the sense of community. At no point have I felt that I couldn’t reach out for help or ask a question, even if I deemed it dumb. We truly want the best for one another and would do just about anything to help people to grow and succeed.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I most enjoy how different each day is. Each staking request, each client, and each project is different and it helps keep things interesting.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

I really enjoy how our department has figured out how to get things done well, while still making it fun. There are several times where we are problem solving, yet laughing about something to lighten the mood and ease the frustration.

4. Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?

I’m most proud of Kelton Apartments. We took over this project halfway through, so I have some slightly selfish FOCUS pride that our clients wanted us over the previous surveyors. In all seriousness though, this project has pushed me to build a client relationship that had been soured by a previous project back when I was rodman. I feel that we’re at a point where we trust each other now, and 2 years ago that was a one way street. In addition, I have been able to build relationships with an engineering/surveying firm that guns for the same projects we do. Because we stake several projects that FOCUS doesn’t design, I think building relationships with other designers is crucial to have successful staking projects.

5. What is your favorite hobby?

My favorite hobby is tied between two things: fishing and painting. I love them equally, but I do them depending on what the weather is and how much of a homebody I’m feeling that day, haha.

Name: John Partin

Title: CAD Designer 2

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

My favorite part about working at FOCUS is the fulfillment I get from accomplishing hard things.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I enjoy most is the people and the way we all uplift each other.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

What I enjoy most about my team is the growth — we push each other to be better every day.

4. Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?

I would say the Bridge to Backman project. It was not the smoothest project I have ever worked on, but it forced me to grow and learn more than any other project.

5. What is your favorite hobby?

My favorite hobby is currently a goal for me. I want to get a house with a garage so I can build a car for the drag strip.

Name: Ben Potter

Title: Intern 1

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

I really appreciate the workplace culture and emphasis on teamwork here at FOCUS. There are also many opportunities to learn and grow within the company.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy learning new things and constantly improving each and every day.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

We always have a positive and enjoyable work environment. We do what is necessary to finish projects and provide excellent customer service to our clients.

4. Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?

The Jenkin’s residence was the project that I am most proud of. I have not been with FOCUS for long, and most of the projects I have worked on are residential layouts. The Jenkin’s residence was a much larger house which was more of a challenge for me.

5. What is your favorite hobby?

I enjoy a variety of outdoor recreational activities, such as hiking and camping.

Name: Cory Thompson

Title: Sr. Crew Chief

1. Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.

I ended up a FOCUS when I was trying to get away from UDOT, and actually Trenton invited me to join.

2. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?

I love that we have a tight knit group that worries about each other—not just on a workbase but on a personal base. What drew me to FOCUS was a new opportunity and career choice, but my favorite thing about FOCUS is definitely with the team.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you most look forward to in your new position?

The opportunity to keep stretching even when I fail. I enjoy new challenges and make my self worth great. I feel like FOCUS really helps me with that. I look forward to new positions because it always comes with a new challenge and the better opportunities to grow and learn.

4. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

I think the thing I love about the department is we’re always the face of FOCUS, so we always get to represent and show people what FOCUS is really about. I feel like the CS team is kind of like the Marines. I love that we’re always trying to push the limits and boundaries.

5. What is your favorite hobby?

I’m a huge total war fan (it is a Computer game).

Name: Carson Griffin

Title: Crew Chief

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

It’s more than just a job. They care a lot about our personal progress!

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

Everyday is different. I love looking forward to different challenges.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

We are a family!

4.  What is your favorite hobby?

Just picked up golfing and it’s starting to become a favorite.

Name: Carson Griffin

Title: Crew Chief

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

I really like the culture. They are always open to hear new ideas.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

That it’s a different challenge everyday so it never feels repetitive.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

That we all help each other and we all get along very well.

4.  What is your favorite hobby?

Forging and video games.

Name: Wes Prime

Title: Crew Chief

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

Being able to have so many opportunities to grow and learn each day and to be surrounded by people that help push me to be better.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

Being able to aid in the construction process and to go back and see projects that I have staked and help resolve issues with and feel accomplished in the hard work that we do.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

The relationships that we have together. I think we all strive to build special relationships with clients and others because of the friendship and trust that we all have with one another.

4.  What is your favorite hobby?

I love to go skateboarding on the weekends when I don’t have homework!

Name: Chris Diaz

Title: Rodman

1. Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.

I wanted to look for a job according to my career and I found the opportunity with FOCUS through Indeed.

2. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?

I like the organization and the treatment of its employees, I have never been in a company that cares so much about its employees.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you most look forward to in your new position?

What I like the most about staking is that every day you have different things to solve and different work scenarios, it is not repetitive.

4. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

We have great teamwork and we all help each other.

5. What is your favorite hobby?

Cars, bikes, sports, dancing, and cooking a little bit.

Name: Zachary Wright

Title: Rodman

1. Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.

Found out about FOCUS at UVU.

2. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?

Working with a school schedule and learning about surveying!

3. What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you most look forward to in your new position?

I look forward to all of the great learning opportunities that FOCUS offers!

4. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

I like working and being outside!

5. What is your favorite hobby?

Basketball and MMA

Name: Bodhi Barney

Title: Survey Technician

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

FOCUS works hard to be great, and invests significant time and resources into helping team members be their best.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I really enjoy working outside, somewhere new with new challenges every day.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

I really enjoy that our team will do whatever it takes to ensure our clients’ success, both internal and external.

4.  What is your favorite hobby?

Skiing

Name: Isaiah Douglas

Title: Survey Technician

1. Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.

I have had a couple previous survey jobs in the past and really enjoy everything surveying entails. I took some time off due to personal reasons but when I started job searching I looked for a company that could help me grow personally and professionally. I found myself at FOCUS after the long interview process and I have come to appreciate the culture and the teamwork we have.

2. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?

My favorite thing about FOCUS is the teamwork we have. We really strive to work together towards our goals and each person contributes and works towards our goals. I was drawn to FOCUS because they really care for each employee and I have been shown that from the start.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

I love that I learn new things almost everyday. Even though I have prior experience, I am always amazed how much I don’t know. I am learning different staking techniques to different software features to how to work as a team. I love pushing myself to learn.

4. What is your favorite hobby?

Recently my favorite hobby has been drones. I used drones for surveying purposes at my last job and I have come to have fun with them in recreational use. I love capturing the beauty of Utah from the Air.

Name: Michael Miller

Title: Survey Technician

1. What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?

I love the culture and people I get to work with. The high level of focus and care for clients is strange and refreshing.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love being able to work with clients to analyze and solve problems.

3. What do you enjoy most about your team/department?

The opportunity to teach and learn from each other as well as the drive that each member of our team has.

4.  What is your favorite hobby?

Welding and metalworking.