Getting to Know John Radich, Intern

 |  Career Connections

John RadichNAME:  John Radich
WORKSITE: San Diego County Detention Center in Otay Mesa, California
MAJOR: Construction Management – B.S.
SCHOOL: California State University, Chico
YEAR: Class of 2015

What drew you to Sundt?

The one key component that drew me to Sundt was the professionalism of each project. The vision statement “Inspiring People to Go Beyond the Expected” really stood out to me when viewing the numerous projects during a pre-session given to my university. I was able to see how multifaceted Sundt is and felt like the core values really reflected many of my own.

What is your typical day at Sundt consisting of?

A typical day at Sundt is very diverse. There is always something new going on in the construction phase of the correctional facility being built here in Otay Mesa. I am in the onsite job trailer most of the time working mainly on RFI’s for now. I enjoy getting to go onsite as much as possible and helping out whenever given the chance. It is really fascinating to see how much work is all being done simultaneously. The execution of all the planning is extremely synchronized and only validated my original impression I had during the pre-session. There are ample meetings throughout the work week that I get to sit in on and view. One is a six-week scheduling meeting during which all of major subcontractors, foreman and superintendents will collaborate to keep up-to-date on how the schedule is coming together. There are also weekly “look ahead” meetings in which the same group of people reviews what is planned for them and what to expect. I am continuously learning new things every day, and look forward to the rest of my summer internship here with Sundt.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation I hope to get a full time position working in construction. I really want to come out of the gate running and get my career off to a great start. My future goals are to have a stable and comfortable job. I want to progress and continue to learn throughout my career. I enjoy challenges and want a career that can satisfy that craving. Also, my dad and I are in the planning stages of building five homes on 10 acres. There is a new high school that is scheduled to open in 2018 right near our property, so there will be a lot of new development in my hometown which is always exciting to me.

What is your favorite food?

That’s tough, but I would have to say anything you can throw on a grill! I have a freezer filled with elk meat so I enjoy marinating it and having a big BBQ with my good friends.

Best book read recently:

The most recent would be The Primal Connection by Mark Sisson. It is about all the factors that go into our lives and how to incorporate more of our ancestral roots to create not just a healthier physical existence but also a more balanced life.

App you couldn’t live without?

Spotify. I love music and being able to access every album of every artist from beginning to end is awesome. They always stay current with new songs, so this app is running every chance I get!

Favorite quote/inspirational saying?

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company…a church….a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.”- Charles R. Swindoll

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am really big into being outdoors in nature. My favorite things are motocross, snowboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, running/hiking, golfing, bow hunting and fishing. I always enjoy having new experiences so when there is an opportunity, I take it!