Turner Construction

M. Scott Whitson

Steven

Assistant Engineer

Steven’s dad owned an electrical contracting company, and when Steven was young, he rode in the back of his dad’s truck after school. Unfortunately, he often saw his dad get cheated out of payment from customers who promised to pay later, but never did. Steven wanted to continue his dad’s work in construction and build strong business skills. That’s what led him to Turner.

How did you become interested in Turner?
In high school I was looking into college scholarships and I saw one at Turner called YouthForce 2020, which was also offered an internship program. I liked how large and professional the company was—it had the business qualities I was looking for. So, I applied and was accepted. I’ve worked with Turner since my freshman year of college.

What is the best part about your job?
I’m an engineer working on a hospital we are building in New Jersey. I don’t know how to do the welder’s job or the carpenter’s job, but I make sure everything is coordinated. To do that I keep strong lines of communication, and people come to me for answers on how to get things done. I really like being a go-to person. It’s nice to feel needed.

What surprised you the most when you started?
How much trust Turner puts in your abilities. At a new job, you expect someone over your shoulder for a couple months. But at Turner, I asked a lot of questions the first few times I did things, and earned their trust. Because of that trust, I’ve been given more responsibilities. On the hospital project, I actually host a weekly meeting. Who would think I’d be running something that the lead architect, mechanical engineer, and my boss attend every week? It’s pretty cool.

What are you most proud about in your work?
The end result. I was one of two people coordinating the construction of a steakhouse in Philadelphia. Now, every time I hear about that restaurant, I can say, “I built that.”

What’s something about Turner that others may not know?
One is that we use cutting-edge technology. For instance, we have a 3-D modeling computer program that shows us how a building will come together before we build it. This saves time and money. The second is all the training we are provided. Turner offers online, onsite, and corporate training. I recently took an onsite course about elevators. It’s great to have that access to learning.

What’s your advice to students who want to work for Turner?
If you’re doing what’s expected, you’re probably not doing enough. It’s one thing to get good grades, but you have to also be active elsewhere. For instance, I am the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Society for Black Engineers. Turner’s career website says “Think Big,” and I think it means we’re not just about engineering or construction, we’re also about having a positive impact on the community.