Dana Pezzimenti, PE has been with the Encorus team for over 20 years as a Principal Mechanical Engineer. We asked him some questions to get to know him a little better.
How did you get started in your career?
I started my career working for Westinghouse. At the time, they were the prime contractor for the West Valley Demonstration Project. I worked in the decommissioning engineering department as a tooling design engineer. I designed tools that were used to remotely size-reduce, disassemble, or decontaminate components in areas of the plant that were too radioactive for manned entry.
What path led you to Encorus?
I was working for QIS as a project manager and had a few projects where I needed some professional engineering support. I contacted Bob Runge, who was in business for himself at the time. We worked on the projects and a short time later I came to work for Bob. We started RJR Engineering, which later became Encorus Group with Joe Lowry as President.
What advice would you give someone hoping to enter your career field?
Get familiar with what other engineering disciplines do and get as much field experience as you can. Field experience like watching what a skilled worker (pipefitter, electrician, welder, etc.) does, overseeing the installation of components, etc. is very beneficial for new engineers and designers.
What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
Usually just doing family things like hiking or working around the house on various upkeep projects.
What is the first thing you do when you start your workday?
Check email and my calendar for the day. Look at things on my to-do list (in Ninety and on my planner).
What was your first paying job, and would you go back to it if you could?
My first paying job was delivering newspapers when I was 11 or 12 years old.
