Under the Hard Hat with Staci Tsuda

At Clark, we are proud to be made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds and talents who thrive and succeed together. Our “Under The Hard Hat” series is designed to showcase the diverse people who make up the Clark team.

We recently sat down with Staci Tsuda, a project executive in Northern California to learn about her path to construction and what she’s learned along the way.

What is your role at Clark? What are your responsibilities?

I’m a project executive and help to oversee Clark’s project delivery efforts in Northern California.

What occupies your time outside of work?

I love spending time with my family and finding every excuse to be outdoors! Whether it’s hiking, biking, snowboarding, paddle boarding, watching my son’s tee ball game, or lounging in a hammock, my family and I love trying new things and getting outside whenever possible.

Tell us a little about your background and how you ended up at Clark.

Over twenty-five years ago, when I started college, I didn’t know what engineering was or anything about the construction industry. Growing up, it wasn’t a career path shared as something I could do one day.  When I discussed changing majors in college with my advisor, she mentioned engineering as an option for a new major. Her guidance and advice introduced me to a field I didn’t know existed before.

During college, I interned in all aspects of civil engineering and still didn’t feel like I found my fit. By the time I reached graduation, the only field I hadn’t explored was the construction industry. By process of elimination, I entered the construction industry, and luckily, it was an immediate match! Even though I stumbled into construction, I feel very lucky to have found such a good fit right after college.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get into the industry?

Use your resources whenever possible - reach out to someone you know in the industry, get hands-on experience, and get a sense of what goes on in the field!

Who have been your strongest influences in life?

My father has definitely been the strongest influence in my life. He was not a college graduate but believed I'd have more opportunities if I received a college degree.  He continued to push me throughout points in my life when I needed it. He provided drive when I needed motivation and pushed me when I probably would have been complacent with my achievements at the time.

What are you most proud of accomplishing, either personally or professionally?

It’s taken a really long time, but I finally feel that I have been able to find a good equilibrium in my life in keeping a good balance between work, family, friends, time for myself, and giving back. It was a true “aha” moment when I found a good work-life balance, and I ultimately became better at my job and was prouder of the product I was creating because I was happier in what I was doing overall.

Professionally, while I’m certainly proud of the projects that I have worked on, what stands out the most are the relationships that I have built within the company and over the course of my career. The relationships I established when I first started as an engineer, as well as the relationships I've fostered over the years, have transcended the nearly twenty years I’ve been in the industry.

What does "Thrive as You, Succeed Together” mean to you?

When we combine our unique experiences and diverse backgrounds, it allows us to overcome adversity as a team.