Christopher Swoyer

Penn College was a great fit for me at the time, as it offered an associate degree in something I was interested in outside of what normal colleges offered and it was a great stepping stone into the field of engineering. This degree allowed me to pursue a design position in both an architecture firm and later a public transit authority.

There are so many industries that utilize this background now. Mainly manufacturing and engineering. One thing that I've noticed over time is that the design programs are trending towards integration with the engineering. Thus, the natural path is for someone to have both design experience and engineering experience. 

I was working for an architectural firm and when the project ended, everyone was laid off. Using my Penn College degree, I started working with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority as a Track Designer. I worked full time and went to Drexel at night to continue my education. 

Penn College gave me the steady foundation that I needed to pursue my interest in the construction industry, providing me with hands on experience that helped steer my overall educational pursuits. Outside of the classroom was an amazing experience that offered both great friendships and a solid foundation for my first time away from home.

I currently work for Amtrak, and I'm responsible for all construction outage scheduling from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, known at the New York division. I utilize my construction and design background to work with projects and help them get the proper amount of time scheduled for their projects and divert trains around them in a way that lowers the impact to service. My title is Sr. Manager Implementation Planning and Resource Coordination (IPRC).

Construction is an exciting industry, the only limitation is funding. It's amazing what people can deliver when the financial constraints are removed. I enjoy trying to help thread the needle between what is cost effective and what delivers true value to the client. Thinking outside of the box is crucial, and that part is very motivating and inspirational. We need to review the project's approach and adjust to meet the needs of the stakeholders, these creative ideas can be utilized to make everything work correctly.