Connecting with… Eric Bogumil
Eric Bogumil, PE
Name: Eric Bogumil
Title: Project Manager – Suburban Land Development
Started at christopher: 2014
Current Town: Moved to Arlington, VA last week!
Alma Mater: The Pennsylvania State University
Favorite DC tourist destination: United States Air Force Memorial
Favorite app: Waze, because I will likely never get used to Northern
Virginia traffic
If I had three wishes: I wish traveling was free, the New York Mets were competitive and the Iron Man suit could reach mass production
If I had to eat one meal for the rest of my life: Mom’s Homemade Stuffed Shells
On Saturday you can find me: Developing youth basketball players and refereeing with the Eastern Loudoun Basketball League (ELBL) or traveling to see friends and family
Eric’s life at christopher
Name a project you have enjoyed working on and why?
EB: The Facebook Data Center campus near Richmond, VA. This project was a beast! Where do I start… I enjoyed that we were involved with this project from day one. We assisted the client with providing feasibility studies for numerous properties in southeast Virginia. Once a site was chosen, we hit the ground running by preparing multiple plans at the same time: one for “targeted industry” expedited permit review by Henrico County and one for inclusion in design development plans for the contractors. Our 3D capabilities were tested, as we were tasked with modeling all onsite utilities for implementation in the BIM (Building Information Modeling). Currently, Buildings 1 and 2 are complete, and we continue to provide construction administration in the form of weekly BIM meetings for Building 3 to vet out any potential conflicts prior to going to construction, as well as periodic site visits. Seeing our designs come to life is the most rewarding part of my job.
Hiking in the Rocky Mountains, CO
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
EB: I wear many hats within the company and in the industry, so this one’s hard to answer! It really depends on the day. Mondays are filled up with project coordination calls and internal team meetings to lay the framework for the rest of the week. Tuesdays through Thursdays are usually reserved for the heavier design work and making sure deliverables are completed, checked, packages compiled and out the door in a timely manner. I like to have Fridays be on the lighter side, so I can be flexible to respond to quick turnaround end-of-week requests from my clients, so I can get those items to them as soon as possible.
Aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier, San Diego, CA
What keeps you at christopher?
EB: This one’s easy. It may sound cliché, but I don’t care. For me, it’s the people I work with. I look around the office and can’t help but to think I’d be nothing without the camaraderie and support of the people around me. This doesn’t end when the clock hits 5PM either. Whether it’s John Levtov giving me a ride to and from my Lasik surgery on the weekend, Paul hosting poker night at his house, going to local bluegrass concerts with Tucker or refereeing on Saturdays with Gene, there are just too many instances to note. When you become a part of christopher, you truly become part of a family, and this PA transplant feels right at home in VA.
What is your favorite company event, and why?
EB: The March Madness Chili Cook-Off! Although I’ve never won (or even come close). Great way to get together and talk brackets while chowing down on delicious (and spicy!) chili.
What is the best piece of advice you could offer someone considering a career in civil engineering?
Washington Capitals game
EB: A degree in civil engineering will give you a solid foundation of what to expect for a career, but there’s no substitution for the hands-on “problem-solving” experience you will get while on the job. I would suggest entering this field with an open mind and a strong work ethic, absorb as much as you can from the senior leadership experience and expertise a company like christopher has to offer, and we’ll teach you the rest.
