Marketing Coordinator / Graphic Designer
Years at O&G: Nearly 5 years
How long have you been in the construction industry?
I’ve been in the AEC industry for 16 years. Prior to joining O&G I was a marketer and graphic designer for architectural firms.
How did you get started in the construction industry?
I worked for advertising agencies as a graphic designer for many years, I then took time off after my son was born. When I started back into the advertising industry I was working part time. I was looking for full-time work and saw that an architectural firm (QA+M) was looking for someone to design and put together proposals, so I applied and got the position. From there I went to another architectural firm (Tecton) as a marketing coordinator / graphic designer. Recently I moved from Wethersfield to Winsted and was looking for a position at a firm closer to where I live and it just so happened that O&G was looking for a marketing coordinator, and they hired me.
Describe your role/” a day in the life of.”
I design a variety of projects for O&G. The main thing I do is design and assemble proposals. The marketing department puts qualifications and/or proposals together whenever there is a new project that we decide to bid on. Our proposals are booklets bound together with general information about our company, resumes, project information sheets, our project approach and schedule, and a variety of forms. They are always under tight deadlines. If we get invited to interview for the project which we usually do, I create our PowerPoint presentation and any handouts. In addition to proposal creation and management, I design ads for O&G, collateral for potential clients, display banners, quarterly reports for our estimating department, business cards, letterhead, or any other items that are needed for marketing purposes.
What skills do you think are essential for success in the construction field, and how have you developed them? In a marketing role for a construction company, it’s important to know about the construction of buildings. Having initially come from an advertising background, it took a while for me to learn about everything involved in building construction. Coming from an architectural firm was helpful because I learned the architects’ side of designing a building.
What’s your advice for other women looking to enter the construction industry?
There are flyers on the walls at O&G headquarters that state “Let people know what you stand for and what you won’t stand for.” I think that is good advice for women (as well as men) in the construction industry or any industry.
What’s most exciting/fulfilling about your role?
I love to design and create. Whether it’s designing and putting together a proposal or designing an ad, I enjoy the process of designing graphics, finding ways to best represent our brand, and selecting and editing photos and text to achieve the best possible result.
How does the company support you in your role?
My coworkers and supervisors are very supportive of the work I do. We work together as a team to put together attractive, accurate and informative proposals while getting them done in time for the deadline.
A little more about Sandy outside of work:
Painting and drawing have always been my passion. I love the natural world that surrounds us. After winning awards in a few regional shows, I decided to concentrate on my painting. I’ve taken workshops with some of the country’s best painters and continue to learn about what I love. I hope you enjoy my work.
