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Bridget

I’m passionate about putting the pieces together to create a building and watching what’s on paper come to life. Every day is a new challenge and a new opportunity for you to learn and grow in your career.”

BRIDGET
Assistant Superintendent

After co-oping with Brasfield & Gorrie, Assistant Superintendent Bridget knew construction was the right career choice. She enjoys taking on complex challenges and bringing a project from paper to completion.

How did you get into construction?

I graduated from Mississippi State University in civil engineering and participated in Brasfield & Gorrie’s co-op program. Before co-oping, I had no idea which direction I wanted to go after college. Within the first couple of weeks on a jobsite, I knew it was the right career choice. I enjoyed working face-to-face with trade contractors and solving problems with my team.

What does your day-to-day look like?

Our job involves renovating tenant space in an older, fully functioning hospital. This has presented challenging existing conditions where we need to be creative from a planning perspective. I was very fortunate, especially as an assistant field manager, to learn and experience the many roles and responsibilities of a superintendent. My day consists of problem solving, conflict management, running schedule and safety meetings, as well as learning how to plan and run work without disrupting the day-to-day functions of the parent hospital. While all of those are important, my favorite days are spent running power tools, especially ones new to me.

Woman operating heavy equipment on a josbite. The dirt is piled high

What do you like most about your job and construction?

I love the fact that I get to learn something new every day. I was blessed to be a part of such a great project team for Children’s of Mississippi and learn what a project looks like from the ground up. Now placed on a smaller renovation, I’ve gotten the opportunity to travel, work with team members from various offices, and experience different approaches to running a job. Every single day presents new challenges and opportunities to grow. Learning how to take a project from design to construction has been an incredible experience, and I wake up every day thankful to work for this great company and have a small hand in building new and more advanced hospital systems for the communities that need them. Also, I love any chance I get to operate equipment!

How has your career grown at Brasfield & Gorrie?

Being a co-op over the span of three years, I was able to touch on preconstruction, project management, and field operations. I realized how communication at all three stages plays an integral role in a project’s success from start to finish. Working full-time in the field has been an extremely humbling experience for me. I’ve been challenged to grow as a leader within my team, as well as become more outspoken with the trade contractors I deal with daily. The biggest takeaway so far is gaining knowledge and learning how to fit all stages of construction together to build the complex structures this company is known for.

What is a valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that no matter what obstacles may lie in front of me or how uncomfortable I may feel stepping into a new role, I shouldn’t be afraid to speak up and try new things. The best advice I can give and always try to remember is, “Whatever makes you uncomfortable is your biggest opportunity for growth. Comfort is the enemy of progress.”

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