Illinois Department of Transportation and
Axiom knock one out of the park!
COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS, USA — This month MicroStation
Today had the chance to catch up with Marcus McConachie, the Engineering
Applications Specialist for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Not only did we find out that Marcus has a lot of love for his
family and the St. Louis Cardinals, but that he also has quite
an affinity for Axiom utilities.
 |
| Marcus McConachie is the Engineering
Applications Specialist for the Illinois DOT |
MicroStation Today:
Please, tell us about your background and career in the CAD industry?
Marcus: I first started using CAD in 1996 when I attended John
A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois. The first CAD software
we used there was AutoCAD version 11 and then we upgraded to AutoCAD
14 after my first year. After graduating in May 1998 with an Associates
Degree in CAD, I started working for a civil engineering/surveying
firm called J.T. Blankenship & Associates in Murphysboro,
Illinois. The two biggest problems with this new job were 1) they
used a program called MicroStation, which I had never seen before
and 2) my background was in industrial technology, not civil engineering.
Thankfully, everything worked out because I really liked using
MicroStation over AutoCAD and I also enjoyed the civil engineering
field. Though I was mainly a CAD draftsman, I also operated the
computer onboard our hydrographic surveying boat. Most of the
surveying occurred on the Mississippi River for the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. Even though I really enjoyed my employment
there, I wanted to move a little closer to the St. Louis area,
where I would be closer to family and friends (and closer to the
St. Louis Cardinals). I started with the Illinois Department of
Transportation in Collinsville, Illinois as a CAD draftsman in
2000. In 2002, I received a new position in the IT department,
as the Engineering Applications Specialist. I still hold this
position today and the main focus of my job is to provide CAD
assistance and training to Illinois Department of Transportation
CAD users. I assist with the training and provide day-to-day support
for all types of CAD issues and other engineering application
software. The best part of my job is when I finally figure out
"what the problem is".
MST: Which Axiom products do you use?
Marcus: FileFixer and Microsoft Office Importer. We
use FileFixer all the time at Illinois Department of Transportation
and also use Microsoft Office Importer quite a bit too.
We really enjoy both those products. We have also used RefManager
and SpecChecker a little bit and look to possibly use them
more in the future.
MST: How has FileFixer helped your work?
Marcus: FileFixer was especially helpful when we converted
from MicroStation J to V8. We had to ensure that all our V7 design
files were free of corruption before migrating. FileFixer
has saved priceless design file information and invaluable work
time for our users and CAD administrators over the years.
MST: What are some of your major accomplishments?
Marcus: I just got married a little over a year ago to my beautiful
wife, Becky, and we recently just moved into our new - and first
- house in Waterloo, Illinois about 25 miles from St. Louis. We
really enjoy attending sporting events (St. Louis Cardinals) and
I also love watching sports at home (mostly the St. Louis Cardinals).
Besides getting my wife to marry me, my biggest accomplishment
is having the opportunity to work with CAD, doing something I
enjoy and not hating coming to work everyday.
MST: So, it's safe to say you are a fan of baseball
and the Cardinals?
Marcus: Baseball has always been my favorite sport and watching
the Cardinals is a family tradition around here. In addition to
the other St. Louis teams, like the Rams (football) and the Blues
(hockey), I am also a big Notre Dame football fan [Editor's note:
the University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana
and was founded in 1842]. Our biggest hobby, besides watching
sports, is just hanging out with our family and friends. We have
lots of family in the area so there is rarely a weekend that we
do not have something to do.
MST: Thanks, Marcus!
Marcus: Go Cards!
Call now!
For more information on FileFixer
and Microsoft
Office Importer contact an Axiom MicroStation Consultant
today! Call 727-442-7774 extension 9453 or e-mail 9453@AxiomInt.com.
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