SUN Area Technical Institute

Kim Kremer

Post-Graduation Activities

After Graduating from Mifflinburg Area High School & SUN Tech. in 2001, I attended Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA where I received my Associates degree in Architectural Technology. After graduating from Penn College I worked for Robert Lack, Architecture & Design for one year. There I was a drafts women and worked on small residential additions and renovation projects. After a year of working experience I came to realize that I truly enjoyed Architecture and that I wanted to further my education.<br/><br/>I received my Bachelors and Masters Degree from Catholic University of America located in Washington, DC. While attending Catholic University I had the opportunity to travel to Italy three times for school projects. One trip in particular was to Milan, Italy where I had the opportunity to display a piece of furniture that I designed and built, at Salone Mobile, one of the largest international furniture expositions in the world. Also while attending Catholic University I was an Intern Architect for Smith Group. While employed at Smith Group I was part of the 'Office Studio' where I worked with large teams on office and multi unit condo buildings.<br/><br/>For over three and a half years I have been employed at RAL Architecture + Design (Formerly Lack + Strosser Architecture, Inc) located in Lewisburg, PA. I am an Intern Architect / Sr. Architectural Project Manager. In that short time, I have had the opportunity to see three of my project designs built and completed: a major addition/renovation to a local bank headquarters, a large new office for a surgical group and a brand new Emergency Department to a major hospital in the area. As an Architect this is the greatest reward.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

My job duties and tasks include a wide range of activities. In general it involves managing all aspects of Architectural Services which comprise of Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding and Negotiation and Construction Administration. Throughout all phases of Architectural services I must create drawings that represent the project to the client and the contractors along with organizing and coordinating the project team which many times includes engineers, owners, contractors and vendors. I must also constantly educate myself on building materials and construction details. Other important tasks include: verbal and written communication with clients, running and organizing coordination meetings, code analysis, cost estimating, site analysis, square footage calculations and basic mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural design.

Positive Career Points

Every day is never the same and I am constantly learning something new.

Information & Advice for Students

Learning a program like AutoCAD or Revit is a great place to start but it is only half the battle. The other half is learning what you are drafting such as space planning and construction detailing. When you are drafting don't let you mind sleep. Be engaged, learn and remember what you are drawing.

Brian Hockenbrock

Post-Graduation Activities

After graduating from SUN Area Technical Institute, I was committed to go to Penn College to further my education in the drafting field as a Structural Engineer. With no available student aid and financial support, or loans; I decided to join the workforce, and as the economy isn&#8217;t as strong as it used to be I worked at several jobs (non drafting), until I learned about Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. hiring status. Hired on the spot, I immediately began working for Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc as a draftsman/designer. Hired on August 1st, 2011 I realized as a young and not yet experienced draftsman, that there is still a lot I don&#8217;t know about drafting, and just building aspect of the industry. But being here has really improved my skills and I have learned a tremendous amount about the field. Just being in the field for only 3 months of time I feel like I tripled my wealth of knowledge in the field of design, and it is just a learning experience every step of the way in residential and commercial sprinkler design. In my short time doing this I believe I will enjoy for years to come! It&#8217;s also just a neat experience to be able to design something, and its my own creation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Design Sprinkler systems for commercial building, or Residential such as townhomes to one to two family dwellings to NFPA 13 Standards. 2. Survey jobsites to determine pipe layouts, and what we have to work with. 3. Coordinating with other trades to determine layouts. 4. Hydraulic Calculations to determine if the sprinkler has enough water supply to feed it, and work properly.

Positive Career Points

What I like most about my career is the freedom to design how I want, and knowing that I can set my own pace and work efficiently with most trades and get to see all aspects of design.

Information & Advice for Students

I know this sounds kind of obscure but while your at tech I suggest that you learn all you can in the field of drafting, because even though you think you know a lot or everything trust me you really don&#8217;t, you just pretty much just touch face, so push yourself to learn more ask if you don&#8217;t know what something is! Also if you can talk to the other building trades as much as possible and try to coordinate with each other because it will help later in you design career if you are really interested in pursuing as a career. Make sure first of all that the drafting field is for you! If so, get used to communicating with lots of people and know what your talking about. Lastly I believe if you have opportunity to go to college should definitely pursue that by all mean, but if you find yourself in a predicament like I was in not getting any financial aids or loans for college or you just don&#8217;t think college is for I would strongly suggest getting with the instructor and co op coordinator, and seeing what it would take to find a solid job or career.

Scott Treas

Post-Graduation Activities

Decided to gain valuable production experience by working at Strong's Spa factory in Northumberland Pa. My dedication to the job and hard work earned me a promotion to quality manager. I am now gaining more experiences to take with me in my future goal to begin a career in Computer Aided Drafting.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Keep production quality up to standards as well as documenting and teaching proper spa building procedures to the workforce.

Positive Career Points

Steady paycheck, problem solving, responsibility, and gaining valuable managing experience as well as production skills.

Information & Advice for Students

My advice to prospective students is simple. Work hard and learn as much as you can from Mr. Harvey. He is a great instructor and has years of valuable drafting experience. Always take the opportunity to learn something new from him.

Steven Nerhood

Post-Graduation Activities

I had gone to college and received my associates' degree for computer aided drafting. I got a job with Excel Homes worked there for three years and then I got a new job working for Gannett Fleming in Camp Hill doing civil drafting.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

draw up or edit roadway designs.

Positive Career Points

Good job security and good pay. It also gives you a feeling that "hey I drew that up and now millions of people are using it."

Information & Advice for Students

Get good grades and don't let anyone tell you, you can't do it because if you put your mind to it you can do it.

Brett Harvey

Post-Graduation Activities

When I started at Playworld I immediately set challenges for myself to see how much work and how fast I could do it (correctly.) I took processes we had in CAD and reverse engineered them and found out how and why we did them that way. Making improvements and thinking different ways we could reach the same end product by cutting time. All of this showed I cared about my job and work, it widens the door of opportunity. Although I still use AutoCAD, I use 3D Studio MAX and work with models and create realistic 3D environments to display our product to representatives all over the world.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Drawn plan of any Playworld product by following applicable regulated guidelines, dimension, leader. Print out Top view, render 3D image. Give pricing for that project.

Positive Career Points

Being creative, there is something new everyday.of people are using it."

Information & Advice for Students

If I can give any advice to the students right now to work on before the year is up and they go into the working class or college is to be proactive. Never settle for what is or what you have. In the business world today at Playworld Systems Inc, you have to be proactive and have a great attitude if you want to get ahead and be recognized. When I sat in Mr. Harvey's class, I would complete my work first thing, then spend time designing and exploring AutoCAD beyond what the book teaches us.

Patience Fisher (Bordner)

Post-Graduation Activities

Went from COOP temp position to Full-time at a modular housing manufacturer. Was there for 4 years and then changed to another modular housing manufacturer. Have been there now for 7 months.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Take a rough drawing and convert it to modular and/or draw up to the companies specifications.

Information & Advice for Students

If I can give any advice to the students right now to work on before the year is up and they go into the working class or college is to be proactive. Never settle for what is or what you have. In the business world today at Playworld Systems Inc, you have to be proactive and have a great attitude if you want to get ahead and be recognized. When I sat in Mr. Harvey's class, I would complete my work first thing, then spend time designing and exploring AutoCAD beyond what the book teaches us.

Jennifer Ernst

Post-Graduation Activities

While I was in school I participated in the Co-op Program and was employed by Playworld Systems, Inc. located in Lewisburg, PA drafting playground layouts and footings for installation. After I left Tech, I went to a 2 year college in Harrisburg, PA to get my Associates Degree in Computer-Aided Drafting & Design. As part of my Externship I went back to working for Playworld Systems. I was employed by Playworld for total of about 4 years. I then went to work for Ritz Craft Homes located in Mifflinburg, PA drafting housing layouts. I have since moved to Chattanooga, TN and have been employed by Aquaterra Engineering since February 2006. Aquaterra is an Environmental Engineering company and I draft maps for different projects.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Proposal and submittal preparation and finalization; Site layout drawings, aerial maps, firm maps; Geotechnical Maps to locate borings; gINT data entries for geotechnical and environmental projects (drilling); Phase I ESA report creation and drawings, Phase II ESA drawings; General Administrative including AP/AR Assistance, filing, supply ordering and more; Deltek Vision Project set up; Project data management;

Positive Career Points

I am constantly learning.

Information & Advice for Students

Be Flexible. I know how that sounds but it is completely true. Always remember just because you were taught one way in school or you did it one way for your last job, doesn't mean that it is the way you will always do it. When starting any job, or classes for that matter, make sure you keep an open mind and do what you are told. Once you know how they do things you can then make suggestions on how to improve or streamline their process, but never tell them how it's going to be.

Alicia Farr (Zimmerman)

Post-Graduation Activities

Shortly after graduating I received a mailer from Sun Tech that Brookside Homes had an opening for a draftsperson. I called to sent up an interview and I've been working here ever since. Thanks to Sun Tech I got an education and a job in a career that I love.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

I work with the sales staff to design home plans for customers using Brookside Homes' many standard plans or a custom home plan that the customer may bring in. I also help to design and develop new standard plans for the Brookside Homes brochure.

Positive Career Points

I like that I am able to express creativity. I enjoy being able to see the homes I draw become a reality as they are build . It's rewarding to know that I helped someone build there dream home. This is truly a career that I love and I am excited to get up and go to work everyday!

Andrew S. Benner

Post-Graduation Activities

After SUN ACTC I went to ITT-Technical Institute and graduated in the fall of 2007 with an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree in Computer Drafting and Design. While in school I worked part-time for (2) Engineering companies (FPE Consulting Engineers in Dillsburg, PA as the only CADD Technician working on municipal and personal projects dealing with Subdivisions and Land Developments/JWF Architects in Harrisburg, PA as a CADD Technician that worked on details and worked on one project when I was there and it was an addition to a church building and also did onsite surveying of the existing building.) After school and those part time jobs I landed a great job as a Civil CADD Technician working for Dawood Associates, Inc. in Carlisle, PA. I also did projects for the townships and also so big developers for housing developments with numbers of units ranging from anywhere of 150 to 400 units in each development. I also did deed plots where I took deeds and plotted to make sure that they would close. If the deed would not close then you have to get a Professional to take the deed and make it right. Another thing that I did while at Dawood; I would go to the court house to look up and find the deeds that where need for a project, look up soil types and USGS maps. Also at Dawood Associates I learned how to do soil testing. That included testing the different grains, hydrometer reading, and also test the plasticity of the soil.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Run the prism rod and the Philadelphia rod and run the instrument/ when in the office work on AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 doing deed plots and also survey drawings UPDATE 09/16/11-CAD Designer-working between 40 to 50 hours a week. My main job now is working under the project manager for Rettew doing Natural Gas Well Plats for Chesapeake, Williams, Anadarko and XTO Energy

Positive Career Points

I get at least 20 hours a week and I get to travel all over the state. My first three weeks that I started at Rettew they sent me out of town to Bedford County to help out on the natural gas pipeline that is being installed. The job out there was to do an As-built survey of where the pipe bends and the welds are located in the ground.

Information & Advice for Students

With out me going to SUN ACTC I would not be as far ahead in life and in professional experience that I have with out the great foundation that I acquired at SUN ACTC. I will always be thankful for the time that I spent at SUN ACTC. One word of advice &ldquo;Learn as much as possible and always continue to challenge yourself, and don\&#8217;t let people tell you that you can\&#8217;t do work hard and anything is possible.&rdquo; Additional information: I commute to Mechanicsburg, I am also Chairing up McClure 150th Celebration in 2017, and am on McClure Borough Council.

William Egan

Post-Graduation Activities

After graduating I worked as a drafter where I mainly worked on construction documents at Wolfe Associates Architects for the summer and continued to work there occasionally during the next school year while attending Penn State for architectural engineering. After a year at Penn State I took a summer job as a designer for Strong pools and spas designing hot tub accessories and documenting their current hot tub models. The next school year I transferred to the Boston Architectural College where I currently attend night classes pursuing a Bachelors degree in architecture while working full time as a design drafter at Graham Meus, Inc. in Boston. At Graham Meus, Inc. I got the opportunity to become more involved in the projects than I had been previously by getting involved in the projects from initial design and carrying them through to construction documents. I have also been put in a position on one particular project where I am handling the project through the construction process and getting to experience the project management side of architecture. I am now currently studying to become a LEED accredited professional.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

develop projects through all design phases (schematic design to construction documents). Coordinate drawings with engineers and contractors. Code research and material research. Distribute drawings to client, consultants and contractors. Re-design portions of projects as required. Address issues that arise during the construction phase.

Positive Career Points

I like being involved in the project from initial design to construction and having the opportunity to design and re-design portions of projects. I also enjoy the fact that I am learning something new every day.

Information & Advice for Students

Practice freehand drawing it is a very useful tool during meetings and the design process. Always carry a pen or pencil (the person in the meeting that has a pen makes the decisions). If you think there is a better way to design a portion of a project don't be afraid to tape a piece of trace paper over the plotted drawing and draw your design and present it to your boss (I always keep a roll of trace paper at my desk). I strongly recommend studying to take the test to become a LEED accredited professional.