When Jon Aldridge arrived at McAdams as an intern from NC State, he didn’t know he was at the start of a two-decade long career with the company.

His first day at McAdams began at the Durham office, where surveying crews gathered each morning to receive assignments before heading into the field. Paired with a surveying technician for the summer, he loaded up a truk and spent the day working on a project in Chapel Hill.

“I remember coming in knowing I was going out with the surveying team, but I had never done anything like that before,” Aldridge said. “It was hot, but I enjoyed it.”

That experience provided more than just an introduction to the profession. It gave him an appreciation for the work and dedication of McAdams’ field teams, a perspective he still carries today.

After completing his time with the surveying group, he transitioned into Land Development, beginning what would become a career marked by continuous learning, new opportunities and steady growth.

Finding the Right Path

Like many young professionals, he initially viewed McAdams as a summer job rather than a long-term career destination.

“I don’t think I had the foresight at the time to imagine this would become my career,” Aldridge said. “My attitude was, ‘We’ll see what happens from here.'”

That outlook began to change during his first few years after graduation. He saw firsthand the company’s reputation across the region and, more importantly, developed strong relationships with the people around him.

Having come from a military family who moved frequently while growing up, finding community and a place to put down roots mattered.

“By my first or second year out of school, I knew McAdams was a place where I wanted to be,” Aldridge said. “The relationships and friendships I developed here became a big part of that.”

Once settled at McAdams, he found himself curious of other service lines within the company. One of the most significant turning points in his career came when he decided to pursue a new technical specialty.

At the time, he was working in Land Development but found himself increasingly interested in stormwater design.

“I realized I enjoyed the calculations, details and finer points of design,” Aldridge said.

Rather than waiting for an opportunity to appear, he initiated the conversation himself. After discussing his interest with his supervisor, he transitioned to the Water Resources team, where there happened to be an immediate need for his role.

That move ultimately helped shape the direction of his career.

Stepping Into New Challenges

A second pivotal moment came when he transferred from Durham to Charlotte.

At the time, the Charlotte office was much smaller than it is today, creating opportunities that may not have existed elsewhere. In Durham, experienced colleagues were always nearby to answer questions. In Charlotte, he became the person others relied on.

“I was having conversations with staff, municipal clients and developers without a supervisor attending every meeting or listening over my shoulder,” Aldridge said. “I had to be prepared.”

The experience accelerated both his professional development and confidence. It also gave him the opportunity to help build the Water Resources team and expand public-sector work in a growing market.

Lessons That Last

Throughout his career, mentorship has played a significant role in his development. Few people influenced him more than Brandon Finch.

“Brandon is a great friend, mentor and teammate,” Aldridge said. “He taught me that details matter, that we should do things right the first time and stay focused on delivering high-quality work.”

Like many great mentors, Finch’s lessons sometimes came through extensive markups and constructive feedback.

“There were times when he’d markup one of my reports and it looked like it was bleeding because there was so much red ink on the page,” Aldridge said.

Those experiences reinforced an important principle: efficiency matters but quality matters more.

“He raised my standard for quality and professionalism, and I’ve carried that lesson throughout my career,” Aldridge said.

Leading Through Service

Today, his role looks very different than when he began.

The AutoCAD files that once filled his days have been replaced by meetings, strategy discussions, proposals, contracts and client conversations.

While technology has transformed the industry, he believes the most important skills for long-term success have remained remarkably consistent.

“Communication and relationship-building have been extremely important,” Aldridge said.

As his responsibilities expanded into business development and leadership, he also learned the value of stepping outside his comfort zone, whether networking at industry conferences or meeting potential clients in unfamiliar markets.

Just as important, he said, is listening.

“Before offering a solution, I need to understand what a client needs and give them space to explain what’s happening,” Aldridge said.

His leadership philosophy reflects that same mindset. Rather than viewing leadership as authority, he sees it as support.

“I view leadership as empowering the people around me and giving them what they need to do their jobs effectively,” Aldridge said. “I prefer being the quieter leader in the background, helping lift others up and bringing everyone along with me.”

The People Make the Difference

After more than 20 years with McAdams, one reason stands above all others when asked why he has stayed: the people.

Over the years, he has built friendships and professional relationships across the firm while watching McAdams continue to grow.

The company has also provided opportunities to grow personally and professionally, opening doors to new challenges and leadership experiences throughout his career.

Even after briefly leaving the firm at one point, he realized how much those relationships mattered.

“I realized how much I missed McAdams and the people here,” Aldridge said.

Today, one of the most rewarding aspects of his role is seeing others experience the same growth opportunities he once had.

“I’ve watched people who started their careers here grow into project managers and leaders,” Aldridge said. “Seeing them succeed and knowing I may have played a small part in that growth, is extremely rewarding.”

Advice for the Next Generation

For young engineers eager to advance their careers, his advice is simple: Patience, patience, patience.

While it’s natural to seek promotions and bigger opportunities, he believes there’s tremendous value in spending time learning the fundamentals and building a strong technical foundation.

“You need time to make mistakes, learn from them and understand what it really takes to complete a project before you begin managing projects or promising clients what your team can deliver.”

He encourages young professionals to lean on the people around them.

“Ask questions and take advantage of the experience that’s available to you,” Aldridge said. “This is a team. Someone else may have faced the same challenge, found a better solution or developed a more efficient process.”

More than 20 years after stepping into the Durham office for his first day as an intern, those same principles continue to guide his career: patience, curiosity, strong relationships and a willingness to keep learning.

And for someone who once thought McAdams might simply be a summer job, they’ve proven to be the foundation of a rewarding career.