Shane Magher: Onward + Upward
The DAVIS logo was created with the onward + upward ethos in mind. It is both our legacy and our vision for the future. In this employee spotlight series, we'll interview 20 in '20 to find out exactly what onward + upward means to them (along with some other interesting details you might not pick up on at the jobsite).
Meet Shane Magher, a Project Engineer at DAVIS.
Q: Before we start, how do you pronounce your last name?
A: It’s pronounced “may-er” (read: mayor). But don’t worry, people mispronounce it all the time.
KEEPING IT PRO-FESH
Q: Tell us about your tenure with DAVIS.
A: I’m actually still fairly new around here, I started in March 2019 with the interiors team. Since then I’ve worked on projects for the American Society of Hematology and National Association of Broadcasters.
Q: And what was your path to finding your way to DAVIS?
A: It was a long one! I always jokingly tell people that I was a confused youth because I had worked in three different careers before I turned 30. I set out with a career in public relations by completing my undergrad at the University of North Florida with a major in PR and a minor in French. I interned throughout school and eventually went on to become a full-time PR manager for the Department of the EPA in Florida.
After a few years, it became clear that PR wasn’t going to be a long-term career fit for me, so I decided to move to DC. I started out my commercial real estate (CRE) journey working in property management and became intrigued by the design and construction process. While continuing to work, I started graduate school at GW to earn my master’s in interior architecture. I was also fortunate to study abroad in Berlin during that time with side trips to France, Spain, Prague and Iceland.
Many designers told me that figuring out the construction piece would be the most difficult part of the job so I decided to tackle it head on by working directly for a GC upon graduation. And that’s how I landed at DAVIS! I’ve been working on the interiors team for nearly a year now and continue to learn more about the process every day.
Q: Who has been a role model for you?
A: My dad. He has always followed his dreams and been happily rewarded.
Q: If you weren’t a project engineer, you’d be a ___________. (Fill in the blank)
A: Definitely a creative of some sort, probably a furniture or lighting designer because I do miss the creative side of things. You can get a taste for my style on my Instagram.
Q: How would you explain your job to a child?
A: I help creative artists make their visions come true.
Q: What's the one tool / program / thing you can’t live without during the workday?
A: Definitely my computer, and Bluebeam to read and manipulate drawings.
Q: What’s your favorite memory at DAVIS?
A: Our Team 360 (a group dedicated to project engineers at DAVIS connecting off the jobsite) got together one afternoon to play bubble soccer on the lawn outside of DAVIS HQ. It was so funny watching everyone bounce off one another and just laughing the entire time. Definitely something I won’t forget!
TIME TO GET PERSONAL
Q: Time for the fun stuff. Which celebrities do you follow on Instagram?
A: Lots of designers - @amberinteriors @laurenliess and @kellywearstler are my favs.
Q: Where do you call home?
A: That could be a lot of places. I was born in Virginia, spent my younger years in France, then Florida and now Glover Park in NW Washington, DC.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I was a sales associate at the Gap. It was hard work and a great motivator to finish school and get started in my career.
