Discover Your Path: Matt's Story

The second Discover Your Path series features Matt Surges, a Superintendent who started his career at Power in 2016 as an Assistant Project Engineer (APE). Beginning in the healthcare division, Matt quickly excelled in the field and was soon promoted to Project Engineer. And over the past seven years, he has worked on several major healthcare developments for Rush University Medical System, Northwestern Medicine, and NorthShore University Health System. Learn more about Matt's journey from Joliet Junior College student to Project Superintendent.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE ASSISTANT PROJECT ENGINEER PROGRAM?

In 2015, one of my professors at Joliet Junior College knew I was passionate about a long-term career in construction management and suggested I look into Power's APE program. After learning more about the company and role, I interviewed for the role and got hired.

What Project are you Currently Working on?

I've changed things up – after seven years of healthcare work, I moved to 360 N Green, a 26-story office building in Fulton Market. One of the things I love about Power is that we can move to different markets and project types. I really enjoyed working in healthcare but felt like it was time for a change. 360 Green worked well with when I finished at Rush, so I took advantage of the opportunity to try a new project type.

What was your first power job? What jobs have you been on?

I didn't start with just one job but two jobs. Both in the healthcare market, I started my APE role on a 17,400 sf build-out for NorthShore University Health System and a 112,000 sf renovation for Northwestern Medicine in DeKalb.

Those two jobs kicked off what has become a career working in healthcare construction! After working in DeKalb, I went to Lutheran General Hospital as a part of a team building out an 18,400 sf Cardiac Catheterization Lab. A highly complex build-out in an active hospital, this job is where I learned about the intricacies of healthcare construction and integrating the design and construction process with the healthcare providers. From that job, I went to a major development at Rush University Medical Center to construct a 480,000 sf outpatient care center.

It takes a company like Power to believe in people and contribute to their success.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE WORK AND SCHOOL?

I worked full-time at Power and went to school at night. After completing the two-year program at Joliet Junior College, I shifted to online courses at Indiana State University to get my Construction Management degree, which gave me more flexibility for studying.

HOW DID THE APE PROGRAM INFLUENCE YOUR CAREER?

I was still determining my career path during my second semester at Joliet Junior College. After learning about the APE program, I had a better sense of direction and realized that this could be both a unique opportunity to learn while working on a real job, get tuition assistance, and earn a paycheck. I've been with the company for over seven years and know I made the right decision.

Now that I'm done with school and established in my career, I make a point of staying involved at JJC by presenting about the APE program at their career night event. As a graduate of the program, I want students to know what options are out there and help them with their career path in construction.

Matt guiding a tour for students at Rush University Medical Center.