IN THE OILSANDS
PRO FILES
by Candice G. Ball
JANELLE WASSINK
AGE: 28
TI TLE: Project/Mechanical Engineer,
petroleum engineering
EMPLOYER: Projex
EDUCATION: : Bachelor of Science with a major in
Mechanical Engineering, Dordt College, Iowa.
Graduated May 2004
YEARS WITH PROJEX: Six
What does your role entail?
Projex delivers a full suite of engineering services
related to the design, engineering, procurement, and
construction management of oilsands and heavy oil
production and processing facilities. So as a project
engineer, one of my primary responsibilities on a project
is to coordinate with all the different engineering
disciplines, and ensure that they’re communicating with
one another so that we can quickly resolve any issues
that might arise.
I’m also responsible for making sure that deliverables
are completed on time.
I work directly with the client’s project engineer and
project manager on a day-to-day basis to make sure
that all their needs are met and that the project is
delivered on schedule.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Working with the different personalities on each
project. To deliver a successful project, I need to
figure out how each person works as an individual and
then how we can all work together as a team. Project
timelines are tight and it can be difficult to get everyone
working together quickly and keep communication
lines open.
As a young project engineer, it can be challenging to
gain the respect of some of the more senior engineers.
During the course of a project, I’m required to keep
schedule and ensure quality—this can mean having
discussions with engineers who have a great deal
more experience than I do. I try not to come off like
I’m questioning their expertise but rather gaining an
understanding so that I can coordinate properly with
other disciplines.
What do you enjoy most?
By nature, I’m a problem solver. That’s a big part of
why I became an engineer. I like to solve problems,
help people, answer tough questions, and assist in
moving a project forward. I also like the innovation and
technology related to oilsands recovery. At the end of
the day, I get the most satisfaction out of delivering a
successful project to our clients and being asked to lead
the team on the next project.
PHOTO: JEFFER Y BORCHER T
What advice would you offer to someone starting out in
a similar position?
Don’t be afraid of a job opportunity with a smaller
company. I’ve been fortunate to work on a wide variety
of projects and my responsibilities have increased more
than they might have if I worked at a larger company.
Be flexible, open, and honest in your dealings with
people. A successful project can involve a lot of
different personalities, and at times this can be
challenging, but is very rewarding when everyone works
together as a team.
