Discipline Manager Preston Landry joined Atwell in 2024 and has been working as an important member of our Oil & Gas team, contributing to a wide range of work from managing our process mechanical groups, developing facilities projects, natural gas projects, and more. In this Q&A he shares more about his 13-year career in Oil & Gas, what sets Atwell apart as a company, and what strengths and skills a team needs to be successful in Oil & Gas.
What inspired you to pursue a career in AEC and specifically in the Oil & Gas Market?
Growing up in south Louisiana, we had plants and refineries all around us, so I was aware of the industry. In high school, my favorite subject was chemistry and I was naturally strong in math. Engineering felt like the perfect way to combine both. In college, I pursued biological engineering and interned in the Oil & Gas sector. That internship was a great experience and set me on this career path.
What do you do as a Discipline Manager at Atwell?
I serve as the manager of the process mechanical group, which keeps me very busy with a variety of projects ranging from natural gas projects, pipelines, carbon captures, metering, designing steam projects, and more. I work on a team of seven, and my role is to set the direction and coordinate assignments to keep projects moving smoothly. I also spend a good bit of my time working on facility design and development projects, since I bring solid experience in that area.
What made you choose Atwell?
A company like Atwell offers opportunities to work on such a variety of projects and responsibilities. I realized that I didn’t want to do one thing over and over again. Figuring out the best way to structure a project and different ways to solve problems is really exciting and fun to me. Atwell does so many interesting projects that make it a wonderful place to be for someone who likes doing different things each day.
What skills are critical to being successful in this industry, and how does your team exemplify those skills?
I think teamwork and strong communication skills are essential. We all bring our own strengths and operate independently, but in order to deliver the best outcomes for our clients, collaboration is key. Creativity in problem solving is also important, as well as enthusiasm to figure out a solution to different challenges. Sometimes we need to think creatively and come up with solutions, and doing that as a team is where we provide such value. Everyone is willing to help and jump in to deliver a great solution as a team.
What do you wish more people knew about the work your team does to help clients?
We have a dynamic team that can figure almost anything related to Oil & Gas. I believe that our engineers truly can solve anything that a client might face and we’re very proud of that mindset of determination to help our clients through any situation. As far as specific projects, we have long-standing strength in pipeline efforts, and we are really growing and doing great work on facilities projects as well, since several of us have that background and experience.
What is a career goal that you’ve set for yourself?
I’d like to continue to expand and build what the team is doing right now. I think we can continue to drive growth and tackle new types of projects well. In the longer term, I’d like to pursue more opportunities in project management and leadership that really enhance how I approach projects as I continue to grow in my career.
What is something your colleagues may not know about you?
I love being active and enjoy a lot of different sports and activities. I was actually offered a soccer scholarship for college and continue to play volleyball each week. I’ve also gotten more into golf and was extremely fortunate to attend the Masters Tournament down in Augusta, Georgia this year, and it was an amazing place to see.
