WHY would Luis Porrello, DSc, PE, leave a job in which he was perfectly content to join CDM Smith (www.cdmsmith.com)? Maybe it was the fact that CDM Smith traces its history back nearly 70 years. Maybe it was because the company, with corporate headquarters in Boston, is privately owned. Maybe it was due to the variety of fields the firm specializes in, including water, environment, transportation, energy, and facilities.

 

Although the civil engineer appreciated each of these qualities, what really persuaded Porrello to make the move was the interaction he experienced with the company’s chief executive officer, chief operations officer, and unit president during the interview.

 

“I thought, ‘I could be mentored into a more complete professional by these people,’” remembers the senior vice president and national transportation market leader. “I had no reason to depart my prior firm except that my existing mentor chain had been broken due to organizational changes and retirements. But here were three [executives] at CDM Smith with whom I had instant chemistry. Your ability to positively impact people has a lot to do with the chemistry you have with the people above you. In my case, I’m working for the individuals who are setting the company’s path founded on admirable core values.”

 

This wasn’t the first time Porrello based a career decision on a mentoring relationship—or the possibility of a mentoring relationship. First, he was influenced by his father and uncles to study engineering. As an undergraduate, his transportation professor persuaded Porrello to follow his inclination to concentrate on transportation engineering.

 

“It was always clear to me that transportation infrastructure has a tremendous impact on quality of life. I grew up in the Dominican Republic, a third-world country, and I saw the difference of going from a dirt path to paved roads. Commerce and activity happened,” he explains.

 

In graduate school, an advisor inspired Porrello to continue his education— he not only earned a bachelor’s degree, but also two master’s degrees and a doctorate. Porrello also wanted to follow his mentor’s path into teaching.

 

“But I thought if I was going to be a professor and teach people, then I should get practical experience first,” he comments.

 

Through the network he cultivated, Porrello landed a private sector job. Shortly thereafter, he received an invitation to return to his alma mater.

 

“The chairman of the civil engineering department asked if I would teach a class or two. As a nighttime job, I ended up running the program, modernizing the curriculum, teaching, and hiring faculty,” he says.

 

With a foothold in both business and academia, Porrello was able to expand his network further, and thereby grow his skills and professional possibilities.

 

“I am 100 percent the result of outstanding mentors who have guided me through my career,” he comments.

 

As the national transportation market leader for CDM Smith, Porrello pulls from these experiences and lessons to lead the company’s transportation vision.

 

“For the first few months, I assessed the company, people, and resources. I wanted to leverage our great people and plot a course that provides greater opportunity for them. Now, I focus my energy on making sure our plan is implemented,” he says.

 

In a way, Porrello is continuing with his dream of teaching.

 

“My responsibility as a senior manager also happens to be what I’m passionate about, and that’s knowledge transfer, mentoring, and coaching,” he concludes. “What I need to do is what I want to do.”