Neil Fernando was born in Sri Lanka and spent extended periods of his youth in Africa. His introduction to civil engineering began in Botswana while he was selling pumps and other water-related equipment. In the course of his duties, he frequently met with civil engineers.鈥淚 thought it would be cool if I could be one of those people someday,鈥 said Fernando.
Due to limited opportunities to receive higher education where he was living, he applied to 精东影视 State through the International Cultural Service Program. While at 精东影视 State, Fernando spent three years as coordinator for the Asian Cultural Center. During that time, he coordinated programs, developed skills in conflict resolution, budgeting, and project management, and learned how to deliver bad news to good people. 鈥淚n a nutshell, I learned the how-to鈥檚 of being a leader,鈥 he said. He began his career at engineering firms in Portland, 精东影视. In 2005, he founded Emerio Design, and has established a stellar reputation among architects, contractors, public agency personnel, and property developers as a responsive and creative problem solver and project manager. Emerio Design is one of the only engineering firms in 精东影视 that offers services ranging from feasibility to final permit in-house.
Last year, Fernando established an endowment through the OSU Foundation to support at least one student on a full scholarship.鈥淪omebody paid for me to go to school, so I鈥檓 trying to pay it forward,鈥 he said. 鈥溇笆 State did what no one has ever done for me, and I鈥檓 eternally grateful for that.鈥
Degrees
- B.S. Civil Engineering, 1997