Alumnus Ian Young, now Director of Development at Parkland Communities in the United States, tells us a little about his career, moving from the Highlands to Paisley to study Civil Engineering in 1989.

Tell us about your time at the University and how a lad from Dingwall ended up in Paisley.

I chose Paisley College (now UWS) because the BEng Civil Engineering course allowed work placement. I studied for 6 months and then worked May-August getting real life work experience. I wanted to move south from the Highlands, back then Glasgow was the big city!

I had a great time at Paisley. Weather could be rough, but you got used to it and the accommodation was a lot different when I was there, but that was all part of the experience. The friends that I made while at Paisley made all the difference and they got your through the tough times together studying for exams, etc.

Being able to go up to Glasgow for a night out and having pals from the surrounding areas of Glasgow, you always had someone to hang out with or somewhere to go.

I still keep in touch with my pals from Paisley to this day.

Your class were amongst the first graduates of the new University of Paisley in 1993. Were you aware of the significance at that time of Paisley becoming a university?

Not really, I think we took it for granted, I started at Paisley College of Technology and graduated from University of Paisley.

I think with hindsight having graduated from a university as opposed to a college, on paper, makes a difference.

You moved from Scotland to the US only a few years following graduation. What made you decide to move?

I initially went to the States with just the intention of travelling. The economy in Scotland was not doing well; construction projects were way down and I had to move back home to get a job.

After 2 years of being home I wanted to go travel and explore. I was not initially nervous more excited to go explore and travel. I met a young girl while travelling and I ended up staying in the US. It was always my intention to move back to Scotland – just didn’t work out that way!

How different was working in civil engineering in the UK compared to the US?

In my early days in the US, it was not really that different, metric to inches and feet was probably the biggest difference and you quickly get over that.

I realised then how prepared I was because of my time at the university and my short time in the construction industry in the UK. The work ethic Paisley, and the construction industry, instilled in me made all the difference. Long days in class and on sites allowed me to get a good foot up with companies in the US.

Tell us a little more about how your career has developed over the years.

I have been very fortunate in my career in the United States – a good part of which is down to what I learned at the university and in my work placements while studying.

I started out as a surveyor with a survey company then moved from the field side to the office side as a design engineer. Our biggest client was a large homebuilding company, and I eventually took a job with the Homebuilder client for 10+ years until the homebuilding bubble burst in 2008.

My next role was on heavy construction projects with the US Army Corp of Engineers on two military bases in the Southeastern US. I was able to get this work because I had worked on a few big projects in the UK.

Once homebuilding came back in 2015, I took a position back in the industry and have been in the homebuilding industry since then. Homebuilding in the US is more stable than heavy construction, you do not have to move around so much and over the long-term compensation is more lucrative.

What is your current role and organisation?

I am currently Director of Development for a homebuilding company in Georgia called Parkland Communities, Inc.

The company builds town homes and single-family homes for sale and for rent. I am responsible for all aspects for the projects starting at initial contract all the way through turning over projects to our vertical teams. This includes engineering, budgeting, contractor selection and construction oversight.

If you could offer one piece of advice or top tip to recent graduates what would it be?

If I could offer any advice after 30 years it is very simple, however, you will be challenged on this.

Treat people and companies they way you would want to be treated. Have values and stick to them! We all know right from wrong and do not be intimidated into compromising your values to fit in with a company or colleagues or for a well-paying job. Leave!! YOUR reputation is yours and yours alone.

Work for boss or a company that sticks with good values even in hard times and you will be rewarded in your career and your wallet…