Year In Review--Fourth Year (2017-2018)
My 2017-2018 school year was spent mostly at my coop, RBI. I have been at coop all year round, even when I was in classes during the fall. During this time my role in the company has grown dramatically, and I have had the opportunity to steer my own path here. This spring I have had the ability to work on projects from start to finish and see how my designs are implemented in the field and how clients feel about them.
The biggest change I have faced inside RBI is the company dynamic. We are still transitioning through a merger with who our biggest competitor. In this shift I have had new salesmen and personnel to report to and develop strategies for. This transitioning period has allowed me to observe unique office dynamic shifts, and in these shifts I have had the opportunity to create my own unique role and value.
Working in the commercial greenhouse industry has been an amazing experience. I have the opportunity to directly implement knowledge I am learning in the classroom all the while exploring a fun new field in sustainability. During the fall of 2017 I was enrolled full time in classes and worked at RBI for 20+ hours a week. During this time I found myself adapting knowledge I learned in the classroom to work. An example of this is when at work I developed a pump sizing tool that used the knowledge and equations from my Hydraulic Systems class I was currently studying for.
One of my goals going into UC was to learn the skills that will allow me to flourish in a sustainable field. RBI has allowed me to fulfill that goal, but there is always room for improvement. Some of the tasks I work on now are designing irrigation systems and lighting solutions for facilities growing vine crops, leafy greens, flowers, and cannabis. Here I have the opportunity to implement hydroponic systems that are 80% more efficient than traditional field systems. RBI has given me ample opportunities to travel as well. This last spring I was flown out by a client in a private plane to visit an organic heirloom tomato greenhouse supplying Whole Foods, it was pretty cool.
I had one unique experience out of the country during this time as well. My longtime girlfriend Monica and I visited Paris, France for a week in January. It was an unforgettable experience. We visited nearly every museum in the city and allowed ourselves to be immersed in the culture. We even had the opportunity to visit the crypts below the city and walk through the catacombs. I can’t wait to go on more international trips and expand my horizons even further.
The biggest change I have faced inside RBI is the company dynamic. We are still transitioning through a merger with who our biggest competitor. In this shift I have had new salesmen and personnel to report to and develop strategies for. This transitioning period has allowed me to observe unique office dynamic shifts, and in these shifts I have had the opportunity to create my own unique role and value.
Working in the commercial greenhouse industry has been an amazing experience. I have the opportunity to directly implement knowledge I am learning in the classroom all the while exploring a fun new field in sustainability. During the fall of 2017 I was enrolled full time in classes and worked at RBI for 20+ hours a week. During this time I found myself adapting knowledge I learned in the classroom to work. An example of this is when at work I developed a pump sizing tool that used the knowledge and equations from my Hydraulic Systems class I was currently studying for.
One of my goals going into UC was to learn the skills that will allow me to flourish in a sustainable field. RBI has allowed me to fulfill that goal, but there is always room for improvement. Some of the tasks I work on now are designing irrigation systems and lighting solutions for facilities growing vine crops, leafy greens, flowers, and cannabis. Here I have the opportunity to implement hydroponic systems that are 80% more efficient than traditional field systems. RBI has given me ample opportunities to travel as well. This last spring I was flown out by a client in a private plane to visit an organic heirloom tomato greenhouse supplying Whole Foods, it was pretty cool.
I had one unique experience out of the country during this time as well. My longtime girlfriend Monica and I visited Paris, France for a week in January. It was an unforgettable experience. We visited nearly every museum in the city and allowed ourselves to be immersed in the culture. We even had the opportunity to visit the crypts below the city and walk through the catacombs. I can’t wait to go on more international trips and expand my horizons even further.