expresso: mentorship

MENTORING THROUGH OSMOSIS

VINOD PATEL, SE, PE Department Manager, Bridges + Structures Chicago, IL

MENTOR |

expert on transportation projects, has worked with Vinod for over 13 years. Calling Vinod his “go- to-person for daily operations,” Kamlesh has valued Vinod’s work ethos, decision-making skills and professionalism as something to learn from and follow. He says, “Vinod became my mentor through osmosis, where he comes as an experience-rich professional, and I as a curious individual always looking to learn. We worked together on multiple projects where he served as a sounding board for my ideas and approaches to solving problems. Such symbiotic interactions helped me develop confidence in my technical and people skills, which he often acknowledges and appreciates.” In a company of over 3,000 people, mentorship plays a vital role in an employee’s growth. This held true from 2015-2017 when Vinod and Kamlesh were working on a large masterplan project for

MENTEE |

KAMLESH KUMAR, SE, PE Senior Structural Engineer Chicago, IL

This classic story of mentorship is one deeply rooted in our heritage. At EXP, mentorship reengineers the future for generations to come. In our Chicago office, Vinod Patel, a humble department manager for bridges and structures, sits with a profound passion for transportation projects. Bringing over 30 years of experience to his projects, Vinod has been recognized for successfully managing them without hesitation by their size, location or complexity. After years as an engineer, it was a natural transition to move into project management, leading teams to achieve major transportation milestones and accomplishments. He has been recognized and awarded for his innovation and design excellence on major Illinois Tollway and Illinois Department of Transportation projects, as well as numerous others. In his dual capacity, he manages the lifecycle of projects, as well as the people – a common theme at EXP. Sitting nearby is a senior structural engineer with great respect for Vinod’s expertise, project management style and generosity to share his time and experience. Kamlesh Kumar, who is also a known technical

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