A Bridge to Success

John Yadlosky ’80 is a project manager and the bridges and structures operations director at HDR, a global design firm. He is currently assisting the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission with a $1 billion extension of the turnpike in southwestern Pennsylvania. Yadlosky was recently awarded an American Institute of Steel Construction Lifetime Achievement award for his work involving steel bridges.

1. How did Bucknell shape your career?

I wouldn’t say shaped, more like a jump-start. It was the kick in the pants I needed (and welcomed) that got me off to some really cool stuff, working with my second family: HDR’s bridge and structures operations.

2. What class opened your eyes the most?

My senior-year civil engineering design project. I built a steel bridge (granted it was only 14 feet long, but to scale). This was under the direction of Professors Robert Brungraber and Jai Kim. I owe them a lot.

3. If you could go back to college, what would you do differently?

Take more advice from Carol Seiberlich Betz ’80, Ted Van Kirk ’80 and Joan Kimsey ’80. Specifically, not to study so hard, or maybe not …

4. What fun moment at Bucknell is the most memorable for you?

Three come to the top: a midnight run to New Jersey and early-morning return; attending the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., with Ted; and the night someone set off a fire extinguisher at a Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity party. What a mess, but a lot of really great people stepped in to help clean up!

5. What lesson did you learn at Bucknell that you still carry with you?

At the end of the day it is the people and those relationships that matter most.