Jason Schneider, U.S. Engineering Construction Operations Director, recently traveled to Guatemala as part of an ongoing project with Engineers Without Borders (EWB). Jason is vice president of the Rocky Mountain Professional Chapter of EWB, a group of diverse individuals who work together around a common goal in hopes to build a better world through engineering projects.
Operations Director
U.S. Engineering Construction
Vice President
Engineers Without Borders – Rocky Mountain Professional Chapter
The project is in the community of Buena Vista Sechum. During the dry season, the community has unreliable water availability due to a small storage tank, a singular spring source, and undersized piping from the spring. The goal for the project is to help connect a new spring to the community’s existing water system and improve the water distribution, storage, and supply so that the system can better support the community and its future population growth.
Clean water is crucial for drinking, food production, recreation, and domestic use. Improving water supply and managing water resources can increase a country’s economic growth and contribute to reducing poverty.
During the week Jason was in Guatemala, he worked as a consultant. A few of his roles included hosting community resilience surveys, meeting with the local water committee, discussing the budget, helping with design questions, recording pressure readings, and measuring water flow at various parts of the water system. Jason and the team have worked on the project for about two-and-a-half years, and the overall project will take about four years.
A PHASED APPROACH
The project has two phases:
- Phase 1 consists of building a new storage tank and replacing existing, undersized distribution piping.
- Phase 2 includes building a spring catchment at the new spring and integrating it into the existing distribution infrastructure.
This experience has given Jason a new appreciation for clean water and how it improves our lives and our health. He reflects, “The people of Guatemala are extremely accommodating and friendly. Through the help of this organization, people are able to have water resources to do simple things like washing hands and dishes, while also growing food locally for their family. Having an unlimited supply of clean and safe water is easy for us to take for granted, and it should be something that we strive to provide across the globe.”
EWB is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested or want to learn more about the organization, please click here.
Executing Every Lift with Precision
Whether it’s moving large HVAC equipment through tight and uneven spaces or flying rooftop equipment, it means every lift must be closely coordinated. Cranes, staging zones, traffic lane closures, scaffolding, rigging platforms, and swing paths are mapped out in advance, with safety and collaboration at the front. By sharing equipment specifications and weight data early, we ensure structural engineering analysis, necessary steel upgrades, and clash detection well before the lift. This proactive approach minimizes surprises and allows us to execute efficiently in an environment where there is no margin for error.
Adapting When Reality Defies the Model
Even with advanced scanning and BIM, existing conditions often surprise us. Ductwork rerouted decades ago, equipment tucked into spaces too tight to scan, or existing dampers that differ from original construction documents are routine discoveries. The key is to respond quickly without losing momentum. Our teams investigate, communicate issues clearly, propose solutions and adjust installations on the fly. Often that means reworking existing systems or equipment and coordinating unforeseen shutdowns, essentially solving problems in real time with the owner, GC, and design team.
The Bigger Picture
At Denver International Airport, the outcome is more than upgraded systems. It is a building prepared for future demands while keeping safe and minimizing disruption to the people who rely on it daily. For me, the lesson is clear: projects that succeed in complex environments are the ones where teams anticipate constraints and risk, communicate openly, and stay flexible when conditions change.
These principles apply beyond airports. They are just as critical in hospitals, data centers, schools, and other environments where building operations cannot stop. By embracing this mindset, our industry can deliver lasting value while keeping critical services operational.
