When you grow up working in the Canadian engineering world, you get used to certain things: long winters, glacier-fed lakes and projects that demand resilience as much as technical skill. But nothing prepared me for the unique adventure of trading the peaks of British Columbia for the shoreline of Maryland and starting a new chapter at Terrain.

The photos above capture pieces of that journey: a tent pitched high on a ridge at sunrise, long forest trails that challenged me more than any CAD standard ever could and finally me in the driver’s seat with a map unfolded, one foot in Canada and the other in the United States, trying to figure out what comes next. That moment sums up the transition perfectly - exciting, intimidating and full of possibility.

Like many Canadians in engineering, I always knew the U.S. market offered incredible opportunities: larger-scale projects, diverse development environments and new challenges that could stretch my technical abilities. But knowing something and doing it are two very different things. The job search was its own terrain (pun intended). New regulations. Different design standards. A completely different hiring landscape. Even figuring out how to position my Canadian experience for U.S. recruiters felt like learning a second engineering language. But then I found Terrain and everything worked out.

Relocating internationally seems exciting from the outside, but the reality hits fast when you’re buried in visa forms and stressing over whether a single sentence in your application might hold everything up. The TN work status process can feel endless at times. What really surprised me the most was how much HR at Terrain stepped in to help and gave me a generous amount of time to go through the process.

At Terrain, I realized quickly that the experience I gained in Canada fits right in. Whether it’s site grading, stormwater management work, or coordinating with different groups, the core principles don’t change. Solve problems clearly, communicate before issues grow, pay attention to the details and show up as someone your team can count on.

What made the transition even smoother is how collaborative the culture is. People here share what they know without hesitation, and teamwork isn’t something we talk about because it just happens. From day one, you’re encouraged to contribute, even if you’re still finding your footing.

Moving to a new country is no small change. And Maryland has started to feel like home, not just because of the scenery, but because of the people I work with every day at Terrain.

I’m genuinely thankful for the trust, the support and the chance to keep growing here. The move from Canada to Maryland has been one of the biggest steps in my career, and Terrain has turned it into a transition I’m proud of.

Thanks for being part of the journey.