Will Emery #5 - Wrapping Up the Semester

Things have been busy lately—but in the best way. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to work on a wide range of projects, each one pushing me in new and exciting ways.

One major milestone was seeing Bucktown Harbor go out to bid. It was a little hectic but rewarding to be involved in that process. Before it went out, I sat in on a meeting with the structural engineers to go over some final questions about my shrimp boat model and the construction documents. I was honestly a little nervous, but being able to answer their questions made me realize I’ve learned a lot along the way.

We also took a site visit to Perkins Road Community Park, which is now entering the early stages of redevelopment. It was cool to walk the site with Joey, who actually worked on the original design 20 years ago, and reflect on how the space—and the community’s needs—have evolved. I even got to meet some of the crew from California Skateparks, the team behind the skatepark there. Their work is super specialized, but they clearly take pride in doing it really well.

I’m currently helping pull together the RFQ for Perkins Road, which has been another great learning experience. In between all that, I’ve been refining and rendering updates to the Madisonville Riverfront master plan, and working on some sections for that as well.

I’m probably forgetting a few things—it's been a hectic stretch—but busy means progress.

Outside of work, I’ll be taking a construction management course this summer. It feels strange to be heading back into school mode after a few months of really settling into the work rhythm. I had considered a project management job offer for the summer, but after some good conversations with Joey, I’ve decided to stay on here at JFDS instead. It's an awesome feeling to be part of a company that values your work and gives you space to grow, learn, and contribute.

I’m excited for what’s ahead—and grateful for all the experience I’ve gained this semester.