Wayne Symonds

Background

About Wayne Symonds

I grew up in Woodbury, Vermont, and graduated from Hazen Union High School in 1987. I attended the University of Vermont and graduated in May of 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in General Civil Engineering. After graduation, following an extended job search for a design position that would allow me to remain in Vermont, I accepted a position with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) in the Structures Section as a Civil Engineer A. I quickly realized that I had a passion for bridges and that passion has defined my career journey. I spent the first ten years of my career designing bridges all over the State of Vermont. I particularly enjoyed the covered bridge and metal truss rehabilitation projects, and I am proud to have contributed to the preservation and continued use of numerous historic bridges, and of my role in passing them forward to the next generation. I spent three years in the Construction Section as the Bridge Construction Engineer supporting Resident Engineers and Contractors on the most technical aspects of bridge construction. I really enjoyed the opportunity to communicate between contractors and designers to solve complex construction issues associated with bridge projects. Later I returned to the Structures Section and held multiple positions from Project Manager to Program Manager over the next twelve years. During this time, I enjoyed leadership positions that allowed me to pursue and champion innovations at VTrans. Implementation of the Accelerated Bridge Program Design-Build and Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) contracting, were highlights for me. My last VTrans position was Chief Engineer for the Highway Division, where I was responsible for managing the Highway Division. It was a great honor to serve in that position. The highway system touches the lives of every citizen in the State each day and leading the team of professionals that make the mobility happen in the State of Vermont for friends, family and neighbors was awesome. After a 29-year career at VTrans, I retired to pursue other challenges such as being the general contractor for my daughter’s house construction project. This was a welcome change and a great outlet during the pandemic. If you think you are a great project manager, try something like this and you will have a new appreciation for contractors. I am loving my position at VHB that allows me to learn more skills and still pursue a passion for bridges but also to mentor and develop the next generation of bridge engineers and project managers.