Cecilia LaVariega Salvans
AECOM
Allen, TX USA
"No matter where your career goes, always remember where you came from."
Career Roadmap
Cecilia's work combines: Design, Engineering, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
If you have someone in your life that does this type of work, reach out to them to learn about what they do. If you don't have a connection like that, I recommend going to City Hall and seeing if there's anyone there who could answer some questions for you. You can gain so much knowledge from the people who are already doing the work. That's a great way to determine if a particular career or industry is right for you.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Communications
University of California, San Diego
Bachelor's Degree
Urban Studies and Planning
University of California, San Diego
Certification
Geographic Information Systems Technician
San Diego Mesa College
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born and raised in Palm Springs, California.
2.
I attended the University of California, San Diego, and double majored in communications and urban studies and planning.
3.
I gained experience in city planning during an internship for the City of Coachella but ultimately decided that I wanted to go out and make a name for myself rather than stay in the Coachella Valley.
4.
I went back to San Diego and earned a certificate in geographic information systems, which helped me get an internship with URS Corporation, an AECOM company.
5.
I stayed with URS, gained more experience, and worked my way up to leading projects.
6.
After five years, my husband and I decided to move to Dallas, Texas—fortunately, I was able to transfer with my company.
7.
I’ve been with AECOM for almost 13 years now and currently work as a senior urban planner.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I just had to take it one day at a time—giving up wasn't a choice. Fortunately, I caught it early enough that my chances of survival were high. I now use my story to help other people.