Celebrating 20 Years for Mitch Mergen!
We’re thrilled to celebrate Mitch’s 20-year anniversary with Stockwell! Over these two decades, Mitch has grown into a highly skilled civil engineer and a respected partner in our firm. His contributions to local communities have made a lasting impact on our region’s infrastructure. Beyond his technical expertise, Mitch stands out as an exceptional mentor and teacher.
To mark this significant milestone, we had the opportunity to ask Mitch some questions to learn more about his experiences and insights from his two decades at Stockwell. Here’s what he had to share.
Q: WHAT DREW YOU TO THE ENGINEERING FIELD?
A: Construction has always been a large part of my upbringing. My dad owned and operated a concrete construction company, and I started working summers for him in middle school. He always encouraged me to pursue more and helped develop my interest in engineering.
Q: HOW DID YOU FIND YOURSELF JOINING THE STOCKWELL TEAM 20 YEARS AGO?
A: Through family & friend connections. I knew Jon and the Brown family growing up. Jon’s mother taught me 6th grade and everyone from Dell Rapids knew his father, Ray. My wife also grew up as a neighbor to Jon and Wendy and babysat their kids when they were little. The summer before I graduated college, my dad put me in touch with Jon. We had an interview, and the rest was history.
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE/MOST MEMORABLE PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE WORKED ON?
A: The 43rd & Terry drainage improvements in Sioux Falls. It was a unique and challenging design and involved many people from our office. It’s one of my favorites because it not only broadened our skills, but it really brought a lot of us co-workers closer together and developed us as a team.
Q: HOW HAS THE ENGINEERING WORLD CHANGED DURING YOUR TIME IN THE INDUSTRY?
A: It’s funny how time sneaks up on you. I’m starting to catch myself often harkening back to the way we “used to do it”. The easiest thing to point to is the changes in technology. So much of everything we used to do was on paper and more of a manual process. Today, most things are digital and more automated. When I look back at plan sets from 20 years ago, I’m always amazed at how much more detail we achieve today and the speed by which we can accomplish it.
Q: WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR CAREER AT STOCKWELL?
A: I look forward to continuing to practice and developing our knowledge base, but what I look forward to most is reaping some of the rewards that come with accumulating experience and mentoring those new to the field. Teaching was the other half of my upbringing. My mom was a 3rd grade teacher so I grew up around her classroom. I always enjoyed seeing her connect with her students through learning and how they remembered her for her Work years and years later. I wish to be remembered for my work in the same way. Looking back, she significantly influenced my approach to mentoring and working in teams. In my eyes, I look at training as my way of teaching. It’s fulfilling to me, and I hope to continue well into the future.
Q: AS A LEADER, HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE YOUR TEAM TO ACHIEVE THEIR BEST?
A: We are all our best when we drive each other to achieve our best. We are fortunate that engineering is a practice with limitless opportunity to develop. I try to focus intently on developing our common knowledge as a team and bettering our company’s services. In that effort, I hope to inspire those around me to achieve the same.
Q: WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?
A: The most rewarding part for me is knowing that our work matters and betters our community and that by furthering our practice, we are giving back in a very profound way. It’s also fulfilling to be part of a company known for its work and having a strong reputation in our society.
Q: BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE FOR ENGINEERS JUST STARTING THEIR CAREERS?
A: Dig in, be curious, and really champion the company you work for. Find a strong mentor, someone who will continuously raise the bar and challenge you. Remember that the work we do is important and that few people get the opportunity to work in a field as boundless and challenging as ours. Take time off to recuperate and gain perspective. Get to know your coworkers and integrate fun into the daily routine wherever possible.
Looking back on Mitch’s 20 years with Stockwell, it’s clear that his expertise and leadership have significantly contributed to our team’s success. His commitment to mentoring and collaboration sets a high standard that strengthens our entire firm. As we look ahead, we can’t wait to see how he will continue to have an impact on the Stockwell team. Here’s to many more years! Congratulations, Mitch!