At a glance
Eric Spence and his family stepped on to Alfred State’s campus and knew that it was the right spot for him to pursue his dreams. His education and his experiences at ASC have led him to a Senior Project Engineer role with Balfour Beatty.
Eric Spence and his family stepped on to Alfred State’s campus and knew that it was the right spot for him to pursue his dreams. His education and his experiences at ASC have led him to a Senior Project Engineer role with Balfour Beatty.
Spence grew up in Jamaica and migrated to New York City with his mother. When deciding on college options he decided to follow his uncle’s footsteps and pursue a construction management degree. A tour from department chair Erin Vitale convinced not only him but also his mother and grandmother that he was at the right place.
“My favorite class at Alfred was Estimating with Professor (Timothy) Piotrowski. It definitely prepared me for my career in construction management. It was tough and rigorous and the critique was hard but it definitely paid off at the end. We learned how to follow information, pay attention to new upcoming information, and how to react on the fly.”
“Learning how to read drawings is something I use daily in my job. We had various assignments that we were forced to go through the project specs. I use my drawings literally every day.”
“I honestly enjoyed all of my construction management classes. They really prepared me for the field that I am in now. The professors were very hands-on and had lots of experience in the industry. They genuinely cared about our success and everything they did is to make us successful.”
Eric’s professional path started the summer after his first year at Alfred State when he went back to New York City and tested concrete with the certifications he had earned in school. He did that for two summers before meeting Dan Novak from Balfour Beatty at a career fair at Alfred State.
“Balfour Beatty gave me an internship after my junior year. In the summer of 2019, I worked on the Capital Crossing project in Washington D.C. I worked on punch lists and met some really great folks who taught me a lot.”
After graduating in 2020, Eric went to work with Balfour Beatty full time and is currently working in the area around Washington D.C.
Outside the classroom, Eric was involved in the Caribbean Student Association. “It made me feel at home when I was in Alfred. I could interact with other students and was able to introduce my heritage to other students. I learned how to work with other students and how to plan activities and events.”
Eric advices those interested in the field to develop good habits. “Set those good principles and foundation while you are in school. Have fun, enjoy, be involved with activities on and off campus but remember to stay grounded.”
“Alfred State is why I am sitting where I am today.”