Right after graduating from Parkview High Faculty, Magen Schlesier, a December 2022 graduate of UA Minor Rock, under no circumstances experienced any strategies to attend university.
“I study a ebook by James Michener identified as ‘The Drifters,’” she explained. “It designed me want to vacation and knowledge the globe.”
That is precisely how Schlesier put in the up coming ten years of her everyday living. She attended bartending university in Las Vegas and labored throughout the state in states like New Jersey, Louisiana, and Florida. By 28, Schlesier experienced ample of her nomadic way of life and was reconsidering university.
“Everything in my life experienced been dwelling in my auto or a lodge area or bouncing all more than the position,” she explained. “It was a extremely nomadic, exciting lifestyle, but I had no roots.”
She moved again to Arkansas and enrolled as an engineering significant at UA Very little Rock in 2015. She was actively included – performing two employment when getting a complete load of lessons and serving as president of the American Modern society of Civil Engineers and a member of the Culture of Females Engineers.
By 2017, Schlesier had made the decision to stop finding out engineering, but her time in this industry led her to uncover her really like of building management. Previously an intern at W&W|AFCO Metal, Schlesier landed a entire-time position as an estimator.
“I was watching and discovering and observing,” she explained. “I received hired as an estimator, and then I obtained actually fantastic at it, and I didn’t want to do everything else. Construction is for me.”
Schlesier would devote the subsequent four years doing work as a steel bridge fabrication estimator ahead of becoming a member of C & F Metal Erectors, Inc. as a structural metal erection preconstruction manager and estimator. In 2018, Schlesier determined to transfer to the development administration application at UA Tiny Rock.
“The most significant point I took away from my construction administration degree is the electric power of networking,” she said. “My daily life and job reworked with a small little bit of work. These people today and these corporations will settle for you with open arms and give you a career to do. The doors that had been opening for me remaining and proper have been unbelievable.”
A massive proponent of the electricity of expert improvement, Schlesier is serving as the director of NAWIC (National Association of Women of all ages in Design) Larger Minimal Rock and chair of the Pupil Chapter Committee with AGC (Associated Standard Contractors) Association of Arkansas.
It was throughout an AGC function, a baggo tournament, that she satisfied Courtney Small, president and standard counsel of ACE Glass Design Company, and the two reviewed a new research and progress situation. Previous 12 months, Schlesier hit the floor working as ACE Glass’s new director of investigation and enhancement.
“This is a super cool new area for Arkansas,” she claimed. “There are not a good deal of study and advancement positions in construction in the south. Our president, Courtney Small, has all of these thoughts to carry products to Arkansas to support the development business and to strengthen on patents that presently exist but could be streamlined and made much better. My job is to acquire all of these tips, obtain the suitable people today, and convey this eyesight to fruition. I am the puzzle solver. I have my entire business adorned like Alice in Wonderland due to the fact I am down the rabbit gap. Anything I perform on is imaginary till we convey it to existence.”
Some of the projects she’s doing the job on is an electrically conductive glass that repels dust, a light-weight foamed glass mixture for use in freeway development, and a wood curtain wall method for use in residential and industrial properties that can be established from domestically sourced Arkansas pine trees.
Schlesier said that she is hoping her get the job done with these specialist enhancement corporations will inspire additional ladies to go key in building administration.
“It’s a fantastic time to work in building management!” she mentioned. “There are so quite a few great men and women and organizations. I am enthusiastic about the long run of the industry and what we are gearing up to complete. The persons in this business are some of the most passionate, compassionate, driven men and women I have fulfilled in my lifetime, and you generally come to be like the individuals you affiliate yourself with!”
Schlesier is dedicated to helping build the future technology of girls in the construction field. She has volunteered at gals in STEM occasions at UA Small Rock and offers talks to substantial college classes.
Whilst she is at this time the only analysis and advancement affiliate in her space at ACE Glass, Schlesier has options of making a department of talented and ground breaking R&D workers.
“Right now, it is just me, but I’d like to employ engineers and analysts to fill a new analysis and growth department,” she explained. “I would like to make that a lifelong vocation and be equipped to take care of my workforce to success. My most instant aim is to make R&D a lucrative venture within two several years. Operating at ACE Glass provides me the opportunity to continue to be involved with all the companies. For me, it enables me to carry on my networking and donating my time and my capabilities to the local community. I truly really like to be able to do that. It is truly fulfilling.”