#Duckumentary - Jason Forman

What’s your favorite thing about working with your team/department?

Collaboration and the diverse perspectives in the estimating department. It’s extremely satisfying when we use our collective trades for creative solutions for our customers that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

Outside of work, do you have any favorite activities or hobbies?

Outside of work I enjoy cooking, doing home projects, and spending time with my family. I have a pretty long list of hobbies but generally center around being active. My family loves hikes year-round. In the summers I like to be on the water in a canoe or kayak and in the winter I’m trying to ski on most weekends.

What’s the best piece of advice you have been given relating to your job/career?

Lean into what makes you uncomfortable. The ability to adapt and grow is invaluable and challenging your weak points is the best way to improve.

What’s one thing you never leave home without?

Phone, wallet, keys. Coffee if it’s the morning.

What do you do here at EDA?

I am an Estimating Team Lead for the Roofing and Waterproofing Estimating division. All estimators provide lump sum proposals based on our customers’ drawings, specifications, etc. I enjoy EDA’s approach that our top priority is focusing on building relationships with our customers first. As team lead, I get to be a resource for our own team to develop and support each member. It is a very satisfying role to teach and share experiences both on the technical side and on building customer relations.

Cats or dogs? Why?

I’m biased but I believe my dog, Blizzard, will turn most people into dog people.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is the diversity of my role as very social alongside being very technical. Developing relationships with customers, vendors, and co-workers is just as important as being an expert in the services we are trying to provide. I love the contrast, and it makes every day on the job interesting.

If you were planning your favorite meal, what’s on the menu?

I cook different curry every week. It’s a great comfort food that you can adjust seasonally and to your mood.

How do you stay updated on industry trends and advancements, and are there any recent developments that have caught your attention?

I stay updated on industry trends mostly through relationships with our vendors and customers. Our vendors try to notify us well in advance of long lead time issues or price increases. I also have quarterly check-ins with our warmer relationship customers for future upcoming work.

EDA is involved in early schematic budgets, so we have a good feeling for the trends of the type of projects coming out in the future. The development and future investment in the Philadelphia waterfront projects has been tied directly to the 95-Cap project. Once the cap is complete it will connect the waterfront to Old City, an extremely exciting future for the city.

What's your proudest accomplishment, either in your professional or personal life?

I’m proud of walking around the city and seeing the many buildings that were at some point a pile of drawings on my desk. I enjoy that our work leads to a real mark on the world we live in. Our active projects at UPenn Quad and 30th Street Station are ones that I am very proud of. I had budgeted them for many years, so getting to see our team working on them is very satisfying.