Andy Schrader

Current

• Engineer at Karins Engineering Group, Inc.
• Freelance Writer and Photographer at Self Employed (Self-employed)

Past

• Research Assistant at University of South Florida
• Author at Cloonfad Press
• Correspondent at The Tampa Tribune

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Education

• University of South Florida
• University of South Florida

Recommended

4 people have recommended Andy

Connections

66 connections

Industry

Civil Engineering

Websites

• My Book
• My Portfolio
• My Photography

Andy Schrader’s Summary

My writing and photography has been published in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, and Westjet Airlines' Up! Magazine, among others.

At heart, I am a civil structural engineer who likes to write on the side. I love road trips through Texas, the Florida Keys, and certain Central American nations.

I have spent the last few years working as a project manager on building restoration projects. Reinforced concrete repairs to a beachside condominium one day. Publishing a travel article on Florida’s hidden charms the next.

I have earned both my bachelor's and my master's in civil engineering from the University of South Florida. In grad school my favorite project was assisting the U.S. Navy in the testing of a pressurized enclosure system for their carriers. Essentially it helps them repair flight decks in any kind of weather. I even helped install the big bastard in port in Norfolk, Virginia. USS Nashville (LPD-13), wherever you are, I salute you.

But the best things I have to offer, the things that don’t fit in on a resume, start with my attention to detail. In 2004 I was reporting on the Hotel Ritz Madrid for the Tampa Tribune. While I was there the manager, Marc Rodriguez, confided the following:

“Anybody with money can get a big hotel and furnish it nicely,” he said. “But you need someone with passion behind it—the smiles, the details….to make sure it all comes through.” For example, it took Marc four months to find the right coffee for the Ritz, sampling five different brands each week.

I like to think that I retain Marc’s attitude. I’ve got passion, I care about the details, and I will make sure it all comes through. I thank you for your time.

Andy Schrader’s Experience

• Engineer

  Karins Engineering Group, Inc.

  (Privately Held; Civil Engineering industry)

  June 2005 — Present (4 years 7 months)

  Project Engineer – We practice "green" engineering by restoring existing structures whenever possible. I work in Analysis, Design, and Field Verification on construction restoration projects. Experience in beach-side condominiums, reinforced concrete and stucco over frame structures.

• Freelance Writer and Photographer

  Self Employed (Self-employed)

  (Self-Employed; Writing and Editing industry)

  October 2001 — Present (8 years 3 months)

  My writing and photography has been published in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Tampa Tribune, ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, and Westjet Airlines' Up! Magazine, among others.

• Research Assistant

  University of South Florida

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  September 2005 — May 2007 (1 year 9 months)

  Completed masters thesis research on enhanced application methods for fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) repairs on concrete. Utilized infrared thermography testing. Aided in construction and testing of portable, pressurized enclosure system for U.S. Navy flight deck repair. Helped to repair amphibious transport ship USS Nashville (LPD-13).

• Author

  Cloonfad Press

  (Publishing industry)

  December 2004 — December 2006 (2 years 1 month)

  Wrote and earned publication of 150 pp. travel guide for students titled "EuroStumble: The College Student’s Guide to Europe." Highlights included almost falling off of Ireland's Cliffs of Moher and jay-walking at the Place de l’Etoile in Paris.

• Correspondent

  The Tampa Tribune

  (Public Company; MEG; Newspapers industry)

  October 2001 — October 2006 (5 years 1 month)

  Writing correspondent and photographer – Wrote feature news articles for Northeast Bureau and various cover stories for the Travel section. Covered locales throughout Florida as well as the American Southwest, Costa Rica, and Europe

Andy Schrader’s Education

• University of South Florida

  Master's , Civil Structural Engineering , 2005 — 2007

  Performed graduate studies as a member of Structural Research Group. Field research included composite fiber repairs to Tampa Bay over-water bridges as well as portable enclosure construction and testing at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Virginia.

  Activities and Societies:

  American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

• University of South Florida

  Bachelor's , Civil Engineering , 2001 — 2005

  Graduated cum laude

  Activities and Societies:

  Herd of Thunder Marching Band (Drumline)

Additional Information

Andy Schrader’s Websites:

• My Book
• My Portfolio
• My Photography

Andy Schrader’s Honors:

-Won Top Honors, "Award of Excellence" for Clearwater Beach Condominium restoration project, International Concrete Repair Institute, 2009

-Research published in ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, 2008

-Graduated cum laude from University of South Florida, 2004

- Earned Engineer Intern (E.I.) Certificate August 2006

-Wrote and earned publication of 150 pp. travel guide entitled "Eurostumble: A College Student's Guide to Europe", 2004

-Awarded Brasler Prize (scholastic press equivalent of Pulitzer Prize) for journalism, as judged by LA Times, 2001

-Short stories published in Cigar City Magazine, Up! Magazine, ICRI Magazine, Applicator Magazine, Tampa Tribune newspaper

-Photography published in Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Foam (Fashion Ocean Arts Music) Magazine, Performing Songwriter Magazine, University of Texas publications, City of Austin (Texas) Official Visitor's Guides, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) publications