Employee Spotlight: Ryan Rogala, PE

Ryan Rogala, PE is an Electrical Engineer in our Chadds Ford office. Ryan graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and joined Arora as part of the Burris Engineers, Inc. acquisition in May 2016. Ryan became a certified Professional Engineer in December 2017 and was recently recognized by Arora’s Value Recognition Program for “Customer Focus.”

Did you always want to be an engineer?

I have always had a natural inclination to solve problems and fix things, both in school and in my personal life. I think my parents recognized this and always encouraged me to pursue engineering related activities. I can remember receiving a “spy kit” for Christmas as a child where I was first required to build and wire the circuit board for a microphone that was used for recording conversations of the people I would be “spying” on. That was my first exposure to electronics and the electrical field. In school, I was always interested in math and science, but it wasn’t until high school when I had my first exposure to physics, electronics, and AutoCAD courses that I realized that engineering would be a natural fit for me and something I could make a career out of.

What do you enjoy most about your position at Arora?

I enjoy solving problems, communicating and coordinating with others, and being able to design and create things that will impact the world around us. One of the great benefits of being focused in the electrical field is that everything needs power. Because of this, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and go on surveys to many different types of buildings and sites. One week I could be surveying a laser lab at a university and the next week I could be on the airfield at an international airport. It’s a very unique opportunity to be able to visit all these places knowing that I will, in some way, impact how they operate.

What makes you a unique and valuable member of the team?

I believe that my natural ability to communicate with others and willingness to learn have set me up for success in my career. I also believe that it is important to take ownership and accountability for the work that I do. Any design that leaves this office under my direction is not only a reflection of Arora, but also a reflection of myself. For this reason, if there ever is an issue with my work, I take personal responsibility to understand why a mistake was made, determine how to resolve it, and treat it as a learning opportunity that I can grow from. I truly enjoy the work that I do and take pride in finding ways to better myself every day.

What types of projects are you currently working?

Right now, I am primarily focused on a large terminal modernization project, which includes the addition of approximately 400,000 square feet and will support an additional six (6) gates. Electrically, it includes the design of new utility fed Medium-Voltage (MV) switchgear, MV switching stations, Main-Tie-Main unit substations, and Low Voltage building fit-out. The building will also require 300kW Solar PV design, lightning protection, and standby generator for power to all life safety and standby loads. This project is a great opportunity because it has allowed me to apply all aspects of my current knowledge-base and has also given me exposure to other areas that I was not as familiar with before.

What are your favorite types of projects to work on?

I enjoy larger, new construction style projects where you have exposure to all aspects of electrical design and get to see the project through from a “blank page” to final construction on site. Not only are they challenging from an electrical standpoint, but the collaboration required with the owner, architects, and other engineering disciplines throughout the process makes for a very interesting and beneficial experience.

What are your career goals?

My expectations for myself are to continue growing as an electrical engineer from a technical standpoint, to gain a better understanding of Arora’s other disciplines and how they work, and to continue learning more about the business and project management side of the industry. With more exposure to these areas, I hope in the short term to move into more of a project lead role where I can provide overall direction to projects from a technical, budgeting, and planning standpoint.