Q&A with IMEG Electrical Designer Alex Clavel

Q. In 50 words or less, tell us your life story.

A. My parents immigrated from the Philippines and I was born in Harbor City, California. I have one older brother. I went to West Torrance High School and eventually Long Beach State University. Earned my bachelor’s and commissioned into the Army as a 2nd lieutenant. Now currently working at IMEG.

 

Q. Tell us about an accomplishment or project that you are particularly proud of since starting at IMEG.

A. An on-campus Starbucks renovation, which was my first project. It was a small project, but I learned a lot and had a lot of good mentoring. Working on it from start to finish, and going out onto the site as it was being built and near completion gave me a feeling of accomplishment and pride.

 

Q. What is one work/life lesson you’ve learned early in your career?

A. “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It’s been a reoccurring lesson throughout my life, but work definitely reinforced that idea.

 

Q. What excites you most about your career?

A. I love the idea that things we design, like hospitals and schools, are useful and impact people’s day-to-day lives. It gives you the sense that you really matter, in my opinion.

 

Q. How do you spend your free time?

A. If I’m not at the office, then I’m usually in the gym weight lifting, rock climbing, playing sports (mainly basketball and football), or taking my motorcycle out for a ride with some friends and family.

 

Q. If you weren’t an electrical engineer, what would you choose to be and why?

 

A. Astronaut, or anything that has to do with space. I grew up watching “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” “Battlestar Galactica,” and all that space sci-fi type stuff, so I’d love to explore what’s out there.