Progressing Professionally

In six short years, Lenny Simonelli, a project manager/estimator in Ontario’s construction industry and George Brown Continuing Education graduate, has amassed an incredible $200-million portfolio of completed and current projects.

Currently with Belleview Construction & Management, a 50-employee firm based in Vaughan, Ontario, Lenny leads a team of four and oversees the development, pricing and cost control of a variety of industrial, commercial and institutional projects, including office buildings, warehouses and racetrack casinos.

In 2000, Lenny was completing a BA in Architectural Science, but was unhappy with the program’s lack of practical education. Having heard about the solid, skills-based training George Brown offered in his field, he turned to Continuing Education and over the next four years, completed three certificates: Construction Project Management, Construction Estimating and Mechanical Estimating.

Lenny soon found himself immersed in what he calls “real-world” training in courses such as Overview of the Construction Industry, Construction Cost Control, Construction Planning and Scheduling and Mechanical Estimating I and Mechancial Estimating II.

“I had thought up till then that construction was mainly a pick and shovel industry, but these courses taught me that there’s a lot of science and skill involved in managing and controlling the many costs of a project,” says Lenny, 29.

What also impressed Lenny was the opportunity to learn about the field first-hand from seasoned professionals. “They really knew their stuff and were enthusiastic about the course material,” Lenny says. “It really affects the students when they know the teacher enjoys being there.”

One year into his George Brown training, Lenny began working in the industry, and found he was able to immediately apply his classroom lessons to his daily work activities.

Despite the jam-packed schedule he’s kept up since graduating, Lenny felt compelled to give back to the college that’s helped him achieve so much. Last April, he completed teaching two semesters of Architectural Technology, which covers architectural drafting. “My George Brown training was a key component in helping me excel more quickly than I would have,” he says. “I wanted to come back and teach students the practical skills they need to succeed.”