Employee Spotlight:
Doris Otero

How long have you worked for APTIM?

I started working for APTIM in December 2013, so approaching close to 9 years.

What does a typical workday look like for you? Any big projects you are working on that you can tell us about?

In a typical day, I am usually working on several different and interesting projects. I could be working on the design of the next beach nourishment for a municipality, a large proposal for new potential job, or I could be having meetings with clients to talk about the current progress of their projects. I could also be working in the field performing construction observations to see the progress of the project and make sure the project is being built according to the design of the plans and specifications. Earlier this year, we wrapped up a beach nourishment project where sand was placed on the beach using trucks that bring the sand from upland sources. Approximately 25-30 trucks bring 175 – 200 loads of sand daily. This amounts to approximately 280,000 cy of sand over roughly 3 miles of beach.

What do you like most about your job?

I like that my job is unique – not a lot of people can say that they design and manage beach programs for a living. I like that everyday is different and I get to work in different type of projects daily. I like that I can go into the field to see first-hand what I designed in the office and that we are helping coastal communities solve their challenges creating solutions to mitigate the effects of extreme natural events, coastal erosion, and other vulnerabilities.

What do you like most about working at APTIM?

I really like our culture; I always feel very appreciated by my teammates and I value all the opportunities that APTIM offers. Our team support each other constantly and we are empowered to continue our professional development.

What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?

Paths are not written nor set in stone; they can change. When I started working, I was doing something more related to coastal modeling. But as I grew in the company and started seeing the other aspects of coastal engineering, I changed paths and focused more on the engineering and project management aspect of our business unit.

What inspires and motivates you?

My biggest motivation is my family. They are my greatest source of inspiration and my strongest supporters as well. When I see my mother learning and improving her Spanish teaching skills, it gives me the drive to be like her and to continue to learn and improve at work. My husband’s dedication and hard work also motivates me. My sister’s passion and commitment to her career along with my dad and brother’s engineering mindset. My daughter’s perseverance and energy inspires me to never give up and to be the best example for her.

What would you do for a career if you weren’t doing this?

I honestly wouldn’t choose differently. I enjoy and love what I do. I am very grateful and feel fortunate for this. I picked a career that I wanted. I will continue to improve, stay curious, keep learning, and add more value to continue growing professionally and personally.

Any interesting facts about yourself you could share with us?

I grew up in Bucaramanga-Floridablanca a town in Colombia-South America. I am an open water swimmer. I swam in the San Francisco Bay for the Tiburon Mile open water swimming race.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I like to spend time with my family. I like to play with my daughter, take her to her swim practice and do science experiments learning together.

Do you have a favorite quote?

Stay humble, work hard and be kind.

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