Preconstruction Manager Sarabeth Gandara spent seven weeks with N.G. Bailey in the United Kingdom as part of our International Peer Exchange Program. U.S. Engineering partners with two international contractors (NG Bailey from the UK and A.G. Coombs from Australia) to form a unique peer group that offers an unparalleled level collaboration. This alliance of market-leading MEP specialist organizations helps each of us drive global best practices, innovation, and excellence.
The experience offered Sarabeth a rare opportunity to learn from another company’s processes, culture, and approach to our industry while sharing ideas that could strengthen their work as well.
Here, Sarabeth reflects on what she learned and how both organizations can grow from this exchange.
What motivated you to apply for the Peer Exchange Program?
Sarabeth: I’ve been at U.S. Engineering for seven years, which is most of my professional career, and I was ready for a challenge. I wanted to see how another business operates, experience a different culture, and provide ideas that could help both companies.
The program offered something you rarely get in this industry: the ability to step away, grow, and then come back. That combination of risk and stability made the opportunity compelling.
What did you hope to get out of the experience, personally and professionally?
Sarabeth: Professionally, I wanted exposure to new ideas. We can get very accustomed to our own processes, and that doesn’t mean they’re wrong, it just means there are other ways to approach the same problems. I wanted to see those differences firsthand.
Personally, I wanted a challenge that would stretch me and my family. Moving to another country, even temporarily, forces you to adapt.
You’ve spent much of your career in preconstruction. What did you specifically want to learn from NG Bailey?
Sarabeth: I went in with two main objectives:
First, I wanted to understand their project acquisition process, which they call “work winning.” I spent time with their Facility Services and Engineering teams learning how they identify opportunities, develop pursuit strategies, and align approaches early. They’re very intentional about discussing why they’re going after a project, and that clarity carries through the entire project lifecycle.
Second, I wanted to understand how they structure and track project costs. Each group has its own approach, rooted in their specific workflows, and I wanted to see how those methods support their broader goals.
What did you take away on a personal level?
Sarabeth: Living abroad with my family was challenging and rewarding. We lived in very small flats, in a different time zone, without any extended family nearby. That forced us to spend meaningful time together, and it reminded us how little we need to live well.
I also gained a new perspective on balance. In the U.K., people are very intentional about protecting their evenings, weekends, and annual leave. It made me think about how important that balance is to do your best work.
What were some of your favorite experiences during your time abroad?
Sarabeth: There were so many. For the kids, the Paddington Experience was the highlight: it’s an immersive theater-style adventure. We also took them to The Tiger Who Came to Tea near Trafalgar Square.
For me, touring the Wimbledon grounds was incredible. We also did a road trip around the U.K up to Scotland and spent time in St. Andrews. Along the way, we stopped in the Lake District. Lake Keswick was one of the most beautiful places we visited.
How do you plan to share what you learned with the broader U.S. Engineering team?
Sarabeth: I’ve already shared my findings with N.G. Bailey and am planning on how to collaborate internally on the ideas that have potential here. I also plan to host a broader session so others can benefit from what I learned.
This experience reaffirmed that learning from others makes all of us better. It’s not about doing things their way or our way but about recognizing that there’s always more than one way to build, lead, and succeed.