9.18.19
Jessica Lynn
“When Life gives you lemons, you make lemonade”. A proverbial phase clearly marking my transition from Kiewit to Mortenson. I have had lemons thrown my way, sometimes right at me hoping to knock me squarely off my feet.
From my days working as a welder to a project engineer, the transformation has been a whirlwind. The past two years on the West Coast were some of the hardest. I remember my first night in Point Richmond right outside San Francisco, California. Nothing more than what I could load up in my SUV with my pupper Suki. This was the moment in my life I truly understood what it meant to be alone. Completely isolated in an unfamiliar city with no personal contacts. My new home a small closet size studio with a yoga mat and some random “bed” frame the previous tenant had left behind. Fear and excitement grasped my chest. Walking down the street, into the unknown, with no idea where it led. As Suki and I walked desperately searching for a tiny patch of grass for her to relieve herself. Truly, a concrete jungle with houses on top of houses, all of which were cut up to accommodate multiple residents.
Cherne was tumultuous, days would pass I truly questioned if I would make it through and survive the hell seeming to be encased at the Chevron Refinery. The leadership was dreadful. My beacons were the few trade partners and laborers along with my Canadian Superintendent. Frenchie (Canadian Superintendent) confirmed my abilities and was the only one who encouraged me to keep going. Even though each day it seemed hard to breathe; he had a way to be there when I needed him. When I went through my PIP (Personal Improvement Plan) he reinforced I was great at my job, with quality communication with crews, and a large array of tools at my disposal. When I had a Pipefitter Foreman threaten me, Frenchie was the first to request his removal. I was lucky to be surrounded by some good humans, specifically a Laborer who would regularly check in on me. What a woman. She not only was inspiring but kept it real with me. Oodles of positivity and encouragement. We both had our days, some worse than others. Together it seemed a little less horrific.
After much persistence I finally broke through and was hired on with Mortenson in July 2018. Finally, I could breathe again. Elated to move to Portland, Oregon and to break free from prison (no joke we wore orange jumpsuits called nomex). This felt like one of my biggest wins.
Now, in September 2019, I sit back reflecting on my construction management career. The apartment I have leased in Minneapolis has been used well. A haven for my mom to reside and a place for me to call home when I got the chance to break away from the West Coast. Full circle, I continue to reflect on the instances I experienced working for Kiewit/Cherne and Mortenson. The relationship I gained then lost, tools developed, and connections made. In two years, I have been able to grow my reputation in the industry, providing an opportunity for me to come back to Minneapolis. Mortenson has been a blessing, regardless the difficulties faced on NB6. The opportunities to develop, and relationships with remarkable people, continue to grow. I am so elated to be where I am now. The future holds so much promise.
Today I reflect on those times and difficulties realizing they were incredibly obnoxious and unnecessarily tough, but have helped me grow and be who I am today.
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