Project Manager Engineer

DARREN M. SALVADOR, P.E.

**** ********** *****, **** ******* CO 80525

March 9, 2012

ATTN: HIRING MANAGER

Dear HIRING MANAGER:

I am writing to introduce myself as a potential Agricultural Engineer for your company. The position is appealing as I have experience in design and construction inspection of irrigation systems and pumping stations, as well as extensive travel to oversee these projects. Throughout my career I have made some key contributions in the field of irrigation engineering, such as:

I am currently a technical service provider (TSP) working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, I’ve taken on the responsibility for reviewing irrigation designs to improve efficiency. I oversaw the development of plan and profile drawings for 5 miles of water distribution mainline.

As an engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I assisted research engineers in their Ph.D. programs, to complete research on improving Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) the forbearer of center-pivot irrigation systems currently in use.

My project experience spans the globe. By traveling to project locations throughout the U.S., I was able to ensure that the firm’s goals and standards were met on site, and used GPS and surveying equipment. Additionally, I oversaw field changes and attended manufacturing fly-ins to look at production facilities. As a firm representative at trade shows and conferences for local, national, and international clients, I presented pump-station building designs and strengthened client relationships.

I have enclosed my résumé for your review and would welcome the opportunity to discuss your needs and how my skills and background may benefit your organization.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Darren M. Salvador, P.E.

DARREN M. SALVADOR, P.E.

3206 Wetterhorn Drive, Fort Collins CO 80525

Irrigation Engineer

Experienced, analytical Irrigation Engineer with 15+ years of experience in irrigation design and project management. Highly capable, solution-driven, and conscientious in all phases of project development from master planning through construction observation. Prepared construction documents, specifications, and reports usable for project execution. Extensive experience in client relationships, proposals, and on-site inspection.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Aqua Engineering, Inc. Fort Collins CO 1992 to 4/2012

Principal 2003 to 4/2012

Designed and evaluated irrigation and pumping plant systems for local, national, and international clients. Utilized ALTUS survey grade RTK GPS in the field to survey irrigation canal structures, and TRIMBLE submeter GPS in the field to develop irrigation record drawings. Developed custom VBA programs for client use. Supervised project manager, staff engineers, and production staff. Created business and marketing plans for the firm. Prepared statements of qualifications, wrote project proposals, and estimated design fees for domestic and international projects.

Earned top-producing Principal award for managing $1M in engineering design fees in one fiscal year, largest ever for company.

Tracked firm’s water resources market. Developed engineering reports for SWSPs, maintained and downloaded flume data logger information for local irrigation companies’ monthly surface water deliveries to augmentation pond and completed monthly well water usage accounting SWSP to ensure no injury to downstream users on the South Platte River.

Spearheaded projects in the Middle East and Europe. Developed systems for irrigating landscapes, coordinated with New York architect. Mentored 4 design engineers and production staff in project management, written and verbal communication skills to increase marketing potential and solidify client relationships.

Communicated with out-of-state clients, the majority of firm’s clients. Marketed to existing and potential clients to win new projects and increase client base.

Presented at the international conference for golf superintendents, multiple years. Presented on pump-station building design. Raised awareness from the construction side on appropriate building and practices. Marketed to current and potential clients, strengthened client relationships.

Oversaw revised plans based on field changes. Traveled to examine projects on-site, and validated work done by contractors met construction specifications.

Project Manager 1997 to 2003

Evaluated and designed improvements for existing irrigation and pumping stations. Developed man-hour spreadsheets to estimate cost for projects. Submitted proposals to clients. Negotiated client scope and fees. Determined man hours spent and balanced workloads. Supervised design engineers and production staff, provided technical training. Ran weekly resource allocation meetings. Continued…

DARREN M. SALVADOR, P.E.

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Aqua Engineering Project Manager, continued

Researched industry standards and guides, incorporating data to strengthen products. Oversaw design, construction documents, and specs for irrigation system master planning, dual water and pump station design, water conveyance and distribution system layout and sizing. Monitored water storage and lining systems design, gravity intake pipe and screen design for pumping stations, and agricultural irrigation design, including side roll and solid set systems.

Created quality control and assurance policy and checklists implemented throughout company to reduce errors and omissions. Tracked project budgets against completion timelines. Completed feasibility studies for potable to non-potable water conversions.

Attained partner status in 1999. Increased project management responsibility to include 30 projects annually, with the largest at $1/2M.

Design Engineer 1992 to 1997

Designed and prepared construction documents for pressurized irrigation systems including landscape, golf, and dual-water systems. Led a team of production staff. Assisted in development of project scope, cost estimate, and design fees. Completed central control system programming. Inspected project construction. Reduced overhead costs.

Engineered hundreds of vertical-turbine pumping stations with auto filtration, oversaw production and drafting.

Designed sprinkler, drip, and sub-surface drip irrigation systems for regional and national projects. Designed irrigation system for reclamation projects.

Engineer, USDA-ARS, Fort Collins CO 1991 to 1992

Provided data acquisition and analysis for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Collected field data in collaboration with Ph.D. students for their dissertation research. Coordinated with research engineers to ensure correct scientific methods prevailed. Fabricated data collection equipment to assist with measuring crop reflectance to estimate evapotranspiration rates. Assisted on research for improving Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) as the forbearer of center-pivot irrigation systems currently in use.

EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS

B.S. Agricultural Engineering, Colorado State University

Graduate Engineering courses, Colorado State University

Groundwater Hydrology & Hydraulics, Sprinkler & Trickle Irrigation Design, Flow Control & Measurement in Gravity Irrigation Systems, Irrigation Management

Continuing Education, Front Range Community College

Spanish I and II and Micro and Macro Economics

Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Colorado, Arizona, and Utah

NCRS Technical Service Provider

National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES)

Colorado Water Wise Council (CWWC)

Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance (DARCA)

Attended PSMJ principals and project manager boot camps

Annual liability insurance workshops

Volunteer work in Mexico to improve forage crop and herb production through development of a drip/sprinkler irrigation system project for orphanage

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