Andrew Schmitz
Job Title: Associate Project Manager
Company: Parsons Electric
Location: Minneapolis
Age: 26
Years on the Job: 2
Interests: Golfing, playing video games, and playing card games
When Andrew Schmitz first started college at Iowa State University, he knew he wanted to go into a field heavy in math and science. Electrical seemed like a logical choice at the time, and he hasn’t looked back since.
The Minnesota native studied electrical engineering in college, but after three semesters, he moved to the Dunwoody College of Technology, where he earned his associate degree in electrical construction design and management. While at the university, he learned about the theoretical and technical side of the industry. In his present job, he must focus on what is happening on the job on a daily basis and how to progress from breaking ground to handing over a complete building to the client.
“All the one-lines in the world can’t show you how to complete an installation until you try to place that equipment into a space usually no bigger than a walk-in closet,” he says. “Practicality is everything in construction.”
His current project started in February 2018, and he later transferred to the trailer as the on-site BIM specialist. In this role, he is working with the foremen, general foremen, and superintendents to transform everything involved in the electrical installation into a 3D rendering of his proposed routing and layouts based upon collaboration with the crew and other trades. As the job progressed, he shifted into an assistant project manager due to his deep knowledge of the project infrastructure. He is now responsible for coordinating and reviewing the entire electrical commissioning process from inspections to functional testing. Schmitz says his end goal is to provide solutions to problems and be a resource others can depend on.
“Whether that means I’m involved in a project from the get-go or stepping in midstream is not up to me, but no matter where I end up, I know I can take pride in doing everything in my power to help my projects succeed,” he says.
