Oct 21, 2021

FOCUS Spotlight: CAD Services Team

By FocusAdm In Expertise, Projects, Team No comments

Our CAD Services team works hard to provide our clients—internal or external—with clear, detailed drawings and calculations for new single-family homes, remodels and additions, and townhomes.

Our commitment to customer service is top-notch. We deliver home site grading and drainage plans our clients can confidently submit to obtain building permits and build a successful project. Our post-construction grading evaluation protects builders from costly changes and homeowners from flooding, soil erosion, and foundation damage.

Learn more about our services and team below. Need CAD services? Contact us at info@focusutah.com or call (801) 352.0075.

JASON BARKER, CAD SERVICES DEPARTMENT MANAGER

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
Opportunity. No one gets held back. We all have the opportunity to be the best we can possibly be. It is really hard work, but worth it.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
People. Both teammates and clients. I have been able to develop some really great relationships.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
We have a great sense of teamwork and a desire to help one another succeed.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I have worked on thousands of different projects in my career of all different shapes and sizes. Picking one is too difficult. I am proud of every project I have worked on that was successful for my clients.

TUI SILIVA, PROJECT MANAGER

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
My favorite thing about working at FOCUS is the great environment. We have great people who are willing to learn from each other and help one another grow.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy training and mentoring others. I’ve always had a passion for teaching and passing what I know to others.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
I enjoy my team’s great personalities. Everyone is outgoing, mostly positive, and are a hardworking group of people.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
No specific project. I’m proud of all the grading plans that we’ve done since they were all unique in their own way. I’m most proud of what we’ve learned from each of our different projects. We learned how to calculate retention ponds, install retaining walls, learn new city requirements and consult & provide better and effective ideas to clients.

NATALIE PEREZ, JR. PROJECT MANAGER

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
FOCUS is a company that really cares about its people and the success of its people. FOCUS is constantly pushing its team to be the best version of themselves.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy the variety of work that I do. One day I’ll be measuring up a home for a remodel, and the next day I’ll be setting up plans for the structural team.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
I think it’s awesome that our team gets to work closely with so many different departments, and I see new people all the time coming over to ask the home site grading plan team a question! It’s a great way to meet other people who are a part of the FOCUS team.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
Garvin Remodel. The client completely changed the look of the home. It went from a standard ranch home to a contemporary home with a unique roofline and modern windows.

SCOTT DAWES, SR. CAD DESIGNER

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
I like working in a team to complete an objective. FOCUS cares very much about teamwork and we do meetings and teachings on how to work better as a team. I like that FOCUS cares very much about my personal life, and they give us freedom to do what needs to be done to succeed not only in the workplace, but also in our personal lives.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy seeing really unique architectural plans and figuring out how the building is going to work structurally. I also really enjoy the IT stuff that I have been doing. I have always been interested in IT and couldn’t find another career where I was using all of my interests together at the same time until now.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
I like that we are trusted to get done what needs to be done and I like that we help out other departments. We have opportunities to work with multiple departments in our company. I like the versatility of our department, and I am excited to see where it goes.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I work on fun and challenging projects every day. I don’t know if I could give you one that is more fun/challenging than the others. One of the interesting projects I have worked on was more recently. I worked on a surgical center that had really cool architectural aspects and challenging structural aspects. This project was done in Revit so I was able to see the 3D model and add the structural elements in the 3D model. Those are always challenging but they are also usually fun.

Another one I worked on in Revit that I enjoyed a lot was a remodel for a church. There were some really cool things in there as well.

ANTHONY MUSIMBI, CAD DESIGNER

Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.
I found the job via LinkedIn. I spent most days on LinkedIn when I was job hunting, and that’s how I came across this opportunity.

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
The fact that management sees employees not just as employees but as people first. My favorite would be people in general—people at FOCUS and especially management. They make you feel wanted and welcome.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
The freedom and responsibility that FOCUS provides. I enjoy working in a team of people who really care about my success at FOCUS and are always willing to help so I keep on getting better.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
They listen and are willing to make changes for everyone in the team so they can feel comfortable while staying efficient.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
My favorite project so far has been the Ridge with Toll Brothers. It is my favorite because I was able to see the actual house when I went down for a site certification. It just felt good to see the footprint we design coming to life.

ASHLEY EATOUGH, CAD DESIGNER

Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.
I ended up at FOCUS after I had graduated from the University of Utah. When I graduated I knew I wanted to go into a field where I could use AutoCAD often. Being at FOCUS has been an amazing part of my life even in the short amount of time that I have been here. I love being at a company that wants to watch its employees grow both in and out of the office.

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?
As I was looking for a new job I looked thoroughly at a lot of different companies. What drew me to FOCUS is that I could tell they want their employees to succeed. As I have worked here for the past two months I have been shown this in more ways than I thought that I would have. Through a variety of training, education, and development programs, I can truly tell that FOCUS only wants what’s best for its employees and wants to facilitate an environment of growth.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the work. I enjoy doing structural drafting and being able to have the opportunity to learn different programs. I have also enjoyed being able to learn the technical side of buildings and how they come together structurally.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
I love how close we are. We all are there to support each other and build each other up. We are truly a good group that works well together.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
The project that I am most proud of is the Haven Parkway 3 series. There are many townhomes that go into this development and the CAD services team has been working hard to get them all out on time. We have completed five buildings so far. It has taken Christian, Tui, Jason, Joel, and I to make sure that these are getting done efficiently and accurately to make it to the client in a timely manner. This project has been a rough one, but we have all worked hard and put in effort to make it happen. This is why it is the one that I am the most proud of.

JULIAN MCNEIL-JONES, CAD DESIGNER

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? 
I really appreciate how much the company cares about its employees/clients. Also, the people are genuine, hard-working, and easy to work with.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy the company & team I work with, and it’s pretty cool working with CAD and designing the grade around clients’ homes.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
Everyone on our team is pretty easygoing. I appreciate how much they care about the work they do and how easy it is to work with them. They all have pretty awesome personalities and are easy to get along with.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I’d say the Canyon Point Subdivision for Toll Brothers. I think they design some pretty classy homes and am proud to be a part of seeing that beautiful project come together. I dream to live in a home as nice as some of those homes one day.

JAMIE ESJAY, CAD DESIGNER

Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.
After finishing my major at the University of Utah and a summer internship I was on the search for a drafting job which lead me to FOCUS.

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?
The importance of the team and the culture. The professional yet intimate environment.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
The team members that I work with and their tolerance for my learning curve and endless questions. Being able to do the same for future team members is what I look forward to.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
Everyone is a hard worker and enjoys their job, making me feel invited and helped along the way.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
As a brand new member of the team, the Fuhriman Residence remodel is the only project I’ve done so far. It has definitely been a learning curve and I am so happy to watch existing paper drawings turn into renders.

 

CHRISTIAN BROBERG, INTERN

Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.
I have always been interested in home design. Though I am finishing my degree in a different field, I sought an opportunity to follow my passion for architecture and design. I heard through a friend that FOCUS was looking for people to join the CAD Services team. After going through the rigorous hiring process, I was offered an internship and the promise to receive training in AutoCAD and Chief Architect. I have poured myself into learning these softwares and have loved my time here thus far!

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?
Though the hiring process was rigorous, it was clear to me that this company has a passion for hiring great people. I wanted to be a part of a great team, and offer what I could to strengthen the company. Having worked here for some time now, I can attest to the greatness of the people at FOCUS. I am very impressed with their commitment to learning and growing as individuals and as a company, and know this is the right place for me.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
My favorite part of my job is drawing homes from the ground up. I love implementing requests for remodels, or helping someone to discover their custom home. Drawing and creating these spaces excites me! It is one of many reasons I love coming to work every day. I look forward to taking on larger project as I learn more.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
One of the strengths of the CAD Services team is our commitment to giving our best. In order to do this, we are not scared to have crucial conversations and give direct feedback when needed. In our team this is balanced nicely with everyone’s positive attitude and willingness to work together to provide the best product we can to our clients.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I have loved working on the McClellan remodel. I loved working on this from start to finish. I accompanied a team member to the site visit where we measured up the existing home. I worked hard to draw up the existing home to match what we saw. The remodel process was equally enjoyable. More than anything, this project has challenged me and pushed me to learn and grow. This is one of many reasons why it has been so rewarding.