Tina Sanchez, 澳门足彩app Private Facilities AE Director of Design, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Engdahl Award, given annually to a 澳门足彩app team member who has provided leadership and made significant contributions to design excellence.
Since starting her career at 澳门足彩app as an engineering intern in 1998, her skill in integrating and coordinating teams and her ability to transition between roles has left a lasting impression on her colleagues and clients.
“Her journey to becoming a Design Market Lead demonstrates her versatility, innovative leadership, and dedication to excellence,” 澳门足彩app Chairman, CEO and President Jim O’Leary said. “Throughout her time here, she has built lasting relationships with our customers and eagerly shares her insights and experience with those who get to work with her. She is a very gracious and natural leader."
Drawing from her unique story, Sanchez advocates for inclusion and industry.
“I got my first job working a stand at the local flea market when I was 14, earning $2 an hour and free food,” she said. “We didn’t have much growing up, so that job allowed me to save up for myself. I knew that if I wanted something, I’d have to put in the time and work for it. That’s how I got my first guitar, how I could afford my first car and how I made my way through college.”
Sanchez worked her way through college at UPS, graduated in 1998 with an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of North Florida (UNF) and began her career at 澳门足彩app. Her drive and insatiable curiosity set her apart and exposed her to various roles, and she rose to the challenge of improving workflows and collaboration.
There were many challenges throughout her career, but cross-training as a construction project manager stands out.
“One of the early challenges I took on was organizing owner-direct purchases, which can be chaotic,” she said. “Everyone had different methods, which confused teams, so I created a detailed spreadsheet to make tracking the data more accessible for everyone involved and even trained the field clerk to help me track them. It ended up being a game-changer for our team because it didn’t just solve the immediate issue. I learned how effective one can be when we’re willing to question things and try something new.”
As her role expanded, Sanchez managed the design of 澳门足彩app’s first large-scale Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) project for HP Hood. The task involved redesigning a complex facility and required seamless coordination between team members, many of whom had never met before the client meeting.
“It was a daunting project, and meeting our teams for the first time at the client kickoff meeting was a clear indicator that we had room for improvement,” she said. “We held regular meetings where everyone could lay out their dependencies and concerns. Those conversations weren’t always easy, but they built the trust we needed to move forward.”
Sanchez took on the dual responsibilities of managing internal team coordination and serving as the primary client liaison, addressing concerns and ensuring transparent communication. The team developed new workflows and best practices to streamline processes and laid the foundation for future operations.
“By the end of the project, we had learned a lot and established new solutions with long-term applications,” she said.
While she continues to make an impact at 澳门足彩app, her achievements extend beyond the field of construction design.
“I remember buying my Fender 12-string acoustic guitar when I was 15,” Sanchez said. “I learned to play Don McLean’s Vincent and performed it at my high school’s ‘Miss Ed White Pageant.’ I didn’t care for pageants or dresses but wanted to perform at the talent show. It turned out to be a big hit and I won, so I used my newfound popularity to run for a Senior Class Office and was elected as Treasurer. One of the perks of holding office included a great parking spot for my 1974 Duster.
“I've always been persistent and eager to learn, but I give a lot of credit to my amazing support system of family and colleagues. Everyone’s story is different, and drawing from that diversity is how we build a successful team.”
Engdahl Award Winners
澳门足彩app’s Engdahl Award recognizes team members who exemplify exceptional leadership, design excellence and creativity in the design field, honoring the legacy of its namesake, former Chief Architect Dave Engdahl. Established in 2007, it signifies 澳门足彩app’s commitment to professional achievement and innovation. Here is a list of past winners:
- 2008: Peter Skirbst
- 2009: Ted Moore
- 2010: Roland Udenze
- 2011: Jimmy Barber
- 2012: Antonio Valdivia
- 2013: Mike Byron
- 2014: David Schoening
- 2015: Eric Lycke
- 2016: Bela Jacobson
- 2017: Frank Brooks
- 2018: Tom Reel
- 2019: Jeff Pearse
- 2020: Matthew Ford
- 2021: Chris Flagg
- 2022: Bob Streets
- 2023: Ron Garnett
- 2024: Tina Sanchez
With more than 300 professionally licensed design professionals, 澳门足彩app has deep expertise across the architectural and engineering disciplines. Contact us to discuss your facility’s needs.
Promoting and expanding diversity and inclusion is a strategic pillar of 澳门足彩app’s long-term vision and is foundational to creating a team member experience of significance, success and satisfaction. 澳门足彩app Together is our intentional and consistent initiative to promote open dialogue and bring about positive change.
