Century West News

Spotlight on Anthony Fischer

Engineering consulting is a people business. Every contract we sign is a commitment to provide our clients with access to our highest value resources: our employees. Our Spotlight series shines a light on the unique and talented individuals who help us deliver timely, quality aviation and municipal engineering and planning projects throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Who is Anthony?

A California native, Anthony Fischer moved to Spokane, Washington in the mid-2010s with the goal of landing his first civil engineering job. Having spent several years working in a restaurant and as a DJ in Monterey, he was ready for a more stable career. He joined Century West’s Spokane office in February 2016 where he worked until moving to our Portland, Oregon office in December 2018. Anthony is a Civil 3D expert who delivers meticulous engineering plans. He recently passed the Professional Engineer exam and has submitted his paperwork to obtain his license.

INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY

What drew you to Century West when you were first applying?

I applied to several local firms and didn’t have a lot of expectations. Our Vice President, Matt Morkert, invited me in for an interview at our Spokane office and it went well. He talked about the work Century West does with small communities in Eastern Washington, which sounded like fun. I was grateful for the opportunity.

What has kept you at Century West for 6+ years?

The Spokane office was a good introduction to civil engineering. I was always doing something new while I worked there. I did design and drafting for water, wastewater, and transportation projects, but also got to do surveying and construction management and inspection. I realized early on that working for a smaller firm let me do a lot of different things.

Century West was really good about accommodating my move to Portland. It was nice to be able to stay within the company and not have to look for a different job. I love working with Rawley Voorhies, Joe Jenkins, and the rest of the Portland municipal team. Right now I’m working on road projects for the City of Salem and City of Tualatin, and doing water system modeling for the City of Lake Oswego and the Port of Portland.

I also like that I have had some exposure to aviation projects. The first project I worked on in Portland was the Ken Jernstedt Airfield Aviation Technology and Emergency Response Center project. It was interesting to learn about Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circulars.

How has Century West supported you in your career goals?

I recently took my PE exam, and Century West reimbursed me for the cost of the test, a prep course, and my licensing fees. My supervisor, Rawley, encouraged me to take a few days off ahead of the test to study. Other engineers have told me that they felt just as supported as they were getting ready to take their PE. Century West is very supportive in that regard.

What are your interests outside of work?

I enjoy traveling, camping, riding bikes, gardening, and playing piano. I spent a lot of time DJing weddings in Monterey, so music has been a big part of my life. My partner and I recently had a baby, so add being a dad to the list.

Working for Century West leaves me time to pursue all of my interests. It also allows me to live in my favorite area of the country. We have offices all over the Pacific Northwest, so you can live almost anywhere in the region and have a good job with good opportunities.

What would you want engineers looking for a job to know about Century West?

We have a collaborative environment that lets you work on lots of different types of projects. A lot of companies say they offer work/life balance, but Century West really does. They’ve been flexible with my work-from-home schedule since the start of the pandemic and through life stuff like having a baby.

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