Recognizing the Value of Collaboration

The number of people who have a hand in building a new construction project is staggering.  

Kyle Hanrahan (EMDC '22) understands that better than most. 

Hanrahan is the Tampa, Florida office manager and associate director of mechanical engineering for Florida for Osborn Engineering, a firm founded in 1892 that has built everything from corporate office spaces to airplane maintenance hangars and nature centers.  

To succeed, he relies on lessons learned from Northwestern Engineering’s Master of Science in Executive Management for Design and Construction (EMDC) program.  

One of the most valuable lessons has been how to interact effectively with the wide variety of people who play a role in large-scale construction projects. 

“The amount of collaboration involved in a construction project would surprise most people not working in our field,” Hanrahan said. “Prioritizing who and what gets your time is an essential skill.” 

A typical project starts with developers and land-use attorneys. From there, it moves to architects and engineers for design. Then, it is reviewed by public sector employees and voted on by city councils before heading out for bid by contractors and their trade partners.  

And that is all before one shovelful of dirt has been turned.  

By that time, marketing teams get involved for a ceremonial groundbreaking, and Hanrahan and those like him finally start seeing the fruits of their labors.  

“Watching a facility or structure rise vertically out of the ground is very rewarding,” said Hanrahan, who joined Osborn Engineering as a senior mechanical engineer in 2020. “Once a physical structure begins to take shape, projects become exciting for designers.” 

Hanrahan thrives off that excitement.  

He spent nearly a decade in the professional world before joining the EMDC program. He said he was looking for a program similar to an MBA but with a focus on the design and construction industry. He also wanted it to be with a respected institution, he said.  

“After I found that the EMDC program checked those two main boxes, I did some research into the courses and professors, and was even more excited about the potential,” he said. “The EMDC program provides that theoretical teaching but also provides equally important exposure to professors and fellow students who are actively working in design and construction firms.” 

Now, nearly a year after his EMDC graduation, Hanrahan continues to rely on what he learned during his time in the program. Those lessons go beyond the finer points of the design and construction industry.  

“Soft skills become more important than technical skills once you get into management,” he said. “Knowing how to present ideas to a board of directors is a critical skill if you want to implement any of your ideas.”  

Hanrahan said the EMDC program allowed him to sharpen both the technical and soft skills, helping him boost his career. He said he recommends the program to those looking for similar advancement.  

That boost requires a special commitment and hard work.  

“I recommend being engaged in class and outside of class with the professors and students,” he said. “The more you put into the EMDC program, the more you will get out.”