Staff Spotlight – David Covey

David Covey, a civil engineer based out of our office in Eugene, Oregon, is a powerhouse in the world of transportation engineering. From roadway design and rehabilitation to signage and striping, he works with his team to make traveling safe for people throughout our communities. And that’s a benefit for David too, since he loves taking in the sites as he cycles across the state visiting monuments and parks.

I have worked with David for the better part of a decade. Whether it be grinding through a group project back in our OSU days, planning a roadside inventory, or pulling together a final construction package, David has never let a team down thanks to his outstanding organization, attitude, and leadership. David has an exceptional ability to pull a team together, delegate tasks, and achieve goals while maintaining an inviting and lighthearted work environment. Most would know him as the ‘Signs and Stripes Master,’ but he has a wide understanding of roadway design that allows him to assist others and ensure project elements are cohesive. His leadership skills are only rivaled by his company pride, which make him a vital component of our office and Murraysmith + Quincy as a whole.”

– Keith Liebe, Engineering Designer

We asked David a few questions to learn a bit more about his career and what fuels his excitement. Here’s what he had to say.

My first assignment was the sign design for OR126 west of Eugene. After months of work, I developed reference folders, a sign/post data table linked to the estimate spreadsheet, and 30+ plan sheets. The reference folder and linked table increased efficiency and are still being used four years later.

The City of Philomath, Oregon, is improving their landscape, sidewalks, and roads in the downtown area. We just completed our first big submittal. What makes this project interesting is that it combines a little bit of everything—utility coordination, signs, striping, stormwater, paving, landscape architecture, curb ramps/sidewalk—and that means I get to wear many different hats on any given day.

I hope to learn and grow into a better leader both in my personal life and career, with the goal of leading larger and more complex projects. I would also be up for the challenge of working on projects in different geographic areas or with new-to-me elements. I have always had visions of becoming an industry leader or even an industry advocate. The professional society I belong to, Institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE), offers many pathways for that to happen—I have plans to take advantage of it.

Andy Warhol said in 1968, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” I would like to think I would have done something positive to be recognized for my 15 minutes of fame. Maybe a viral dance video, a professional achievement, or setting a record. Before fading back into obscurity, I would make the most of the short-lived stint in the spotlight. Maybe it gets extended and turns into something bigger that I can use to influence others to do positive changes in their community.