Episode 25: Senior Project Manager

For this episode of The Title Doesn’t Matter, I sit down with my uncle, Chris Stone, a Senior Project Manager at AECOM, where he works on environmental remediation construction projects across the United States. We talk about what it takes to manage large-scale projects that clean up and restore contaminated sites, the coordination required to bring engineers, contractors, and subcontractors together, and the fulfilment that comes with work that directly impacts communities and the environment.

Chris also shares his unconventional career path — including spending seven years working in the restaurant industry after college before deciding to apply his degree in metallurgical engineering. We talk about how that experience shaped his work ethic and leadership style. We even get into a thoughtful discussion about his retirement plans and philosophies — what it means to step away from work and think about life beyond your career. It’s an honest look at career growth, professional development, and how the path to a meaningful career is rarely a straight line.

Carly Harrington is the owner and operator of Floor Coverings International South Atlanta, a franchise of Floor Coverings International, which services homes and businesses across the US and Canada to source and install all of their flooring needs. She and her partner Miguel started their business in the wake of Covid and are quickly on their way to $2,000,000 in revenue. Tune in to learn about her foray into entrepreneurship as a franchisee with a trusted brand name. 

You can follow Carly's business on Instagram @Floorcoverings_southatlanta or check out all of her links at https://card.onetapconnect.com/floorcoveringsinternationalsouthatlanta/carlyharrington 

Dr. Jason Wallace was inspired by Dr. Pamela Ronald's research on genetic modification of rice to study agriculture and microbiology. Now, he works as an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia, allocating 70% of his time as a researcher in the Crop & Soil Sciences Department. He also teaches quantitative genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and crop microbiomes. In today's episode, we talk about the importance of microbiology in Georgia's agriculture driven economy, as well as the importance of scientific literacy and accessibility in our society. For further discussion on scientific thinking, Dr. Wallace recommends checking out Hank Green's Crash Course episode on Scientific Thinking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2r7Bk1NlgU 

If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to also check out Dr. Wallace's podcast, Gaming with Science, at https://www.gamingwithscience.net/ I recommend his episode about the incredible board game Terraforming Mars, which can be found here: https://www.gamingwithscience.net/e/s1e8-terraforming-mars-martian-science/ 

For more information about Dr. Wallace's work, or the Crop & Soil Sciences department at the University of Georgia, visit https://cropsoil.uga.edu/people/faculty/jason-wallace.html 

Jimmy Dilz is a managing partner and co-founder of Mastermind, a certification body accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) for the assessment of management systems. Do you know what that means? Cause I didn't! Jimmy masterfully explains the complex world of ISO certifications and his company's role auditing other businesses to certify their compliance with a wide range of standardized processes. For more information about Mastermind and their work, visit their website at https://mastermindassurance.com/ or follow them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastermindassurance/ 

Elizabeth Berlin is a Physician Assistant (or Physician Associate) working in the field of orthopedic surgery, and sports medicine. After spending 13 years in practice with the same team, EB seems to have found her forever home in the medical profession. In today's episode, she shares an inside look at the world of carpal tunnel releases, ACL repairs, joint replacements, and so much more. 

Eddy Rioseco runs his own business as a Pilates instructor and myofascial release specialist in Atlanta, Georgia. He works with individuals who are injured, in recovery, or simply maintaining their wellbeing, to relieve tension in their fascia tissue. In today's episode, he talks about the emotional response that is often elicited through this process, and the kinds of relief his clients have reported from trusting in the process. For more information on Eddy's work, visit pileddys.com  

After realizing that climbing the ladder in fast-food franchise operations was not his calling, Michael Brickhouse went back to school for building automation, which opened the door for him enter the  world of commissioning authorities. He has now worked in construction oversight and consultation for over ten years. In today's episode, he talks about the niche market and how he found his way from carrying ladders to managing commercial construction projects across the southeast. 

Faina Khibkin found her love for theater and performance at a young age, watching The Phantom of the Opera. Now, she works full time as a stage actress, singer, and music teacher in Atlanta, Georgia. In today's episode, we talk about the challenges unique to stage performance as well as what it is like to work as a union actor in the South. To learn more about Faina and her career, you can follow her on Instagram @Faina.Kanna. 

Today's guest is long-time friend of the show, Donovan Carter, who created the theme music for the podcast. In this episode, Donovan talks about his career as a software engineer and the unique overlap between coding and artistic expression. He also shares some tips and tricks for how to get into the software development world, using online tools such as Youtube, Medium, github.com, and Open Source Initiative projects. 

Elizabeth Smith works as the Director of Strategic Outreach for HyOx Medical Treatment Center in Atlanta, Georgia, building relationships between the treatment center and medical professionals to facilitate Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy for patients who need it. Her role is fast paced, unpredictable, and very social, but she wouldn't have it any other way. In today's episode, we talk about Hyperbaric therapy, strategic marketing, and how Elizabeth found her way into this niche market. For more information on HyOx Medical Treatment Center, visit their website at www.hyox.com