My name is Elias CHARARA. I have 4 years of experience in the construction industry, and am currently working as an Assistant Project Manager at DDG Partners, a real estate developer/designer/builder/asset manager for residential apartment buildings in NYC.
I have proved time and over again during my short career and my social enterprises that I am a problem solver, working hard to generate the best possible solution to a complicated situation, and that I have the ability to make a judgment under pressure.
Back at Petrofac, my first company, I was thrown under the fire as a Field Engineer in Kuwait and asked to manage construction activities for the pilot substation, which would be the learning project for the other two. It was a great opportunity for me that presented itself because of the lack of employees volunteering to work in such conditions as Kuwait’s. I rose up to the challenge and exceeded expectations as per my CM and PM’s judgments.
For the last year at DDG, a small but ambitious and highly esteemed company where staff are expected to gradually accumulate more responsibilities, I turned myself into a crucial team member on the 2 projects I had the chance to work on.
I always work hard to put my education and my experience, as well as my strong communications and people skills to best use to help deliver projects with best results and efficiency possible.
DDG, New York, Assistant Project Manager
“XOCO 325” project at 325 West Broadway
High-end residential apartment-building, comprising of 10 floors, 18 units and 2 retail spaces.
• Assisting PM in the analysis and review of Change Orders, Payment Requisitions, Purchase
Orders, Contract reviews, Project Closeout and TCO requirements.
• Generating and maintaining completion schedule and short-term look-ahead schedules.
• Updating Client on progress during weekly project meetings.
• Coordinating and supervising all subcontractors' activities and Inventory Management.
• Raising Field Inquiries to Designers after review of drawings and specifications in preparation for
upcoming work, as part of DDG's Design-Build project delivery method.
• Issuing completion punchlists to Ownership and overseeing Quality Control.
Petrofac International, Kuwait, KW, Field Engineer
• Effectively managed and executed the E&I activities and supervised the Civil activities
for construction of the pilot 11kV Substation and its related Ring Main Units (RMU’s),
and kept track/updated schedule.
• Expedited the pre-cast concrete foundations at the manufacturing premises.
Petrofac International, Sharjah, AE, Proposals Engineer
• Successfully assisted in the Value Engineering and Bidding processes for the “New Electrical
Distribution Project”.
• Established Technical Bid Evaluations and assessed Vendors’ technical offers against specifications.
• Chosen to conduct the Electrical Department Induction for the 100 Summer Interns.
Columbia University, New York, NY, US, Masters, Construction Engineering and Management
Columbia University, New York, NY
Master of Science in Construction Engineering and Management
GPA: 3.93/4.0
Relevant courses: Project Management, Global Strategy in Civil Engineering, Disputes, Construction Law, Real Estate Financing, Risk Mitigation and Construction Techniques
American University of Beirut, Beirut, LB, Bachelors, Electrical and Computer Engineering
AUB 2011 Rally Paper tournament, 2nd Place
- Formed, prolifically managed and led the Skiing Society Rally Paper team consisting of 85 people to win the 2nd place (out of 17) in the AUB Rally Paper 2011.
The team included treasure hunters cars, field challenges people, and base teams solving riddles, maths and logic problems and general culture questions.
