Expansions and developments that have made Laredo the Number One inland port in the country do not happen overnight or in a vacuum. In addition to requiring investment capital or State and Federal funding for roadway infrastructure, the successful, sustainable projects are the result not only of meticulous planning to meet the City’s needs now and in the future, but also of a workforce with skills, tools, and knowledge to plan for that growth.
As a drafting technician at Killam Development, 2023 Laredo College graduate Andrea Moreno is a member of that thriving workforce. She earned an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Computer Aided Drafting Design (CADD) Technology.
She recalled that during her early days at LC, she used Autodesk Civil 3D for most of her class projects, which quickly taught her the basics for the program.
“When I first started, I was more interested in architecture. I always liked the design side of it, and I thought the CADD Program would be a good place to start so I could learn a little about the software and how to use it,” she said. “I learned how it is used in both architecture and civil engineering. Getting into the program gave me the opportunity to work at Killam Development as an intern. I ended up liking the civil engineering design side of it more than the architecture side.”
“We have been fortunate to hire a self-motivated individual like Andrea Moreno,” said Vince Martinez, a Killam Development Civil Engineer. “She came to us as an intern and completed the CADD Program at Laredo College about a year ago. She has taken the skills she learned and refined in the program and has combined them with her eagerness to learn, which has made her an integral part of our engineering team.”
Martinez added that as part of the team, Moreno is now the Killam engineering team’s go-to person when it comes to AutoCad Civil 3D issues.
“CADD work is like art, and the CADD Technician is the artist,” Martinez explained, adding, “A CADD Technician is so involved with the drawings that with experience they will see issues in the design stage that others may overlook. This experience can save valuable time and money when the project moves forward to construction. CADD techs are the key to presenting a complete set of drawings for construction.”
“It’s an interesting field, and there are good opportunites to work. Whether you decide to go through the architecture or civil engineering route or any other field where CADD is used, I recommend to always be open to learning new things, and to build off of constructive criticism,” Moreno said, adding, “The LC CADD curriculum gave me the confidence to apply for this job. We were gven the right tools and a curriculum that prioritized a wide range of skills.”
