Civil commercial projects require a detailed eye to understand their unique needs in the realm of accessibility, overall complexity, and smooth functionality. FOCUS’s Civil Commercial team is a creative, solutions-focused group that works seamlessly together as they navigate client needs and their technical coordination with architect and consultant teams. Their work is thorough and inspiring, and they are without a doubt a value add to FOCUS as a whole.

Travis Benson, Department Manager

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
FOCUS works hard to determine who is the right fit and make sure everyone understands the expectations and the opportunity that come with being on the FOCUS team. A lot of resources are directed towards people development, with these efforts continuing throughout the employee’s tenure with FOCUS.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
The challenge of building a team and the freedom to build. FOCUS has provided me the opportunity to build a team that exceeds industry norms, is focused on customer service, and brings passion to what we do.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
I have a great group that I work with who are extremely passionate about what they do and want to be the best they can possibly be. I love the drive they all have for growth and to provide the best possible experience for our clients.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I am so proud of the work we have done at Traverse Mountain in Lehi. We have had several projects with multiple developers – neighborhoods with single family homes, townhomes, and apartments. These projects were extremely challenging due to the the mountainous terrain and the various challenges the this type of terrain brings.

What is your favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby is fly fishing. I don’t spend nearly enough time doing it, but cherish the time that I am able to carve out.

Wade Edwards, Project Manager

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
One of my favorite things about working at FOCUS is the purpose of FOCUS: to build a better place. Not only are we striving to design better communities, FOCUS is building its people to be better through constant improvement and growth. At times this is difficult, but we rise to the challenge and are better for it.

What do you enjoy most about your job? Your team/department?
I enjoy being able to work on the wide breadth of projects that come to the commercial department.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
One project that I am proud of is Timp Point apartments. I am proud of this project because I have been able to see it move from preliminary/concept design all the way through the construction process. This has solidified the purpose of building a better place in my mind as I go through the entire process.

What is your favorite hobby?
Playing tennis/pickleball, and when the occasion presents itself, building large sand castles.

Adrian Moreno, Junior Project Manager

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
What I love about FOCUS is the core ideology of becoming something greater than what we are. I have worked in firms where the main focus was to get the work done and nothing else. FOCUS pushes us to be the best version of our selves and to help our client feel the impact the core ideology makes in ourselves.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy working with the people around me and growing together. We have a great team where we all work together. I love that we can disagree and still continue to have a great work culture.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
What I love about my team is that whether we are new or more experienced, we work together to get to the right solutions on our projects. We continually are searching product and new information to make us better. I like that we all have the same vision of growth for our department and are all working conjunctionally to make our vision a reality.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I would say that the project I have worked on that made me the most proud was Commerce Way office building. I am proud because even though it had some challenges to overcome, we as a team worked very closely with Mint Architecture to come up with solutions for the owner. We also worked closely with the city of Spanish Fork to move quickly and swiftly through the approval process. Overall I feel it was a great example of what we can do here at FOCUS for our clients.

What is your favorite hobby?
I love to play golf; if I could, I would play everyday.

Cameron Taylor, Junior Project Manager

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
My favorite part about working at FOCUS is the emphasis on personal and interpersonal development. FOCUS claims to be about people, and it lives up to that claim. There are constant efforts to improve technical and non-technical skills/practices on a personal, departmental, and company-wide level.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy my job because I get to work on real world products that are a challenge to complete, and help countless people afterwards. I enjoy the level of coordination that goes into each project and that each project requires a unique and personalized approach. I also enjoy that this job allows me to be part of a team and contribute to its immediate and long-term growth.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
I enjoy the fact that my team gets along very well and has each other’s backs in crucial work situations. I like that my department is very growth/progress oriented and that our work is very fast paced.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I am most proud of my work on The Orchard townhomes and duplexes. This particular project has combined various elements of single-family and multi-family projects while simultaneously having a higher than normal interest from Sandy City due to its location on 700 East. Furthermore, I was presented with challenges and critical feedback directly from our client, DAI. Being able to overcome these factors makes The Orchard one of my proudest projects.

What is your favorite hobby?
I really enjoy lifting at the gym and usually go about 4–5 times a week. I also love shooting my guns and working on art (drawings/pastels/digital etc.). I also enjoy traveling, road trips, and camping.

Sean Alt, CAD Designer

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS?
The people here are pleasant, and the work scratches the creative itch for me.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Designing difficult sites. I like puzzles, and fitting a 1000-foot-long flat building on a steep site is one hell of a puzzle.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
The people here are really motivated to be better and learn. Our group is really smart and their ability to pick up new concepts or work through problems they have never seen before is impressive.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
This is the Place Monument has been my favorite so far. There was no city review process, so we were able to spend all of our time as a design team on the aesthetics and functionality rather than checking the right boxes with the city. The project went from concept to construction in 2 months. There were a lot of cool details like a large outdoor heated pavilion for events, and a 3-story visitor center that required some creative grading to get working.

What is your favorite hobby?
Playing guitar!

Carolina Ortiz, Design Engineer

Tell us a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.
I was looking for a company that treated employees with respect and nurtured personal growth. I came across a FOCUS ad during my relocation to Utah to be closer to family. The rest is history.

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?
I really enjoy working with my team. FOCUS has created an environment that I can thrive in. I am drawn in by the amount of effort FOCUS invests into us as people. I’m enjoying how it affects my personal life for the better.

What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you most look forward to in your new position?
I love the challenges and opportunities to overcome obstacles and learn new aspects of my job. My position allows me to be creative and practical in finding lasting solutions that contribute to the overall product. I look forward to working hard, being a contributing member of the FOCUS team, and continually making clients happy and successful.

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
The commercial team has many talented people. Each person brings unique qualities that allow me to be successful with my responsibilities. Everyone is very knowledgeable, reliable, and offers great support. I can only hope that I, too, offer useful talents to help my teams’ success.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
Alrig Spanish Fork, a quick-lube retail location. Being able to start a project and see it progress with hard work and communication is something that brings me satisfaction.

What is your favorite hobby?
I enjoy hiking and painting in different mediums.

Jevaughn Richardson, Intern

Kaige Roberts, Intern

Tell me a little bit about how you ended up at FOCUS/in your current role.
My mom originally worked here, so I knew a lot about FOCUS. Since I was planning on being an engineer, FOCUS seemed like it would be a good fit!

What is your favorite thing about working at FOCUS? What drew you to FOCUS as an employer?
I really like how a big goal is for self growth and everyone becoming the best version of themselves.

What do you enjoy most about your job? What do you most look forward to in your new position?
I enjoy getting to work with all the awesome people in the department and look forward to growing and learning from all of them!

What do you enjoy most about your team/department?
Everyone in the department is always willing to help one another and are awesome teachers.

Of what project that you’ve worked on are you most proud? Why?
I feel like the Rush Creek industrial complex has been one of the more challenging projects I’ve worked on, so I’m proud to be able to be a part of it now.

What is your favorite hobby?
I really love to go shooting and hunting!