At Design West Engineering, collaboration doesn’t happen by chance, it’s carefully coordinated. Behind every successful project is a team of people making sure communication flows, schedules stay on track, and deliverables come together seamlessly. Among them are Design West’s Project Coordinators: the connecting thread between disciplines, clients, and consultants who help ensure that every project runs smoothly from concept to completion.
While not every project includes a Project Coordinator, when they are part of the team, they bring an added layer of structure and proactive communication that helps strengthen internal coordination and client connection. From organizing kick-off meetings and tracking deadlines to facilitating weekly check-ins, managing submittals, and keeping project channels up to date, our coordinators help maintain project momentum while freeing our design teams to focus on engineering solutions that make a difference in our communities.
Bringing Connection to Coordination
For Heather, being a Project Coordinator means “being the backbone of a project.” To her, the role is all about communication and organization, making sure every team member has what they need, deadlines are met, and challenges are addressed before they grow. “Keeping collaboration strong between teams, especially across disciplines or remote offices, takes effort, structure, and culture,” she explains. Regular meetings and shared communication channels help, but so does building genuine relationships. “Asking about someone’s family or hobbies creates trust and friendship,” Heather says. “It makes collaboration easier and more human.”
Vanessa sees her role as part of a bigger purpose: contributing to projects that shape communities. “Being a Project Coordinator at Design West means being part of a team that actively contributes to the growth and development of our communities,” she says. “It’s rewarding to know that the work we do has a lasting impact.” For Vanessa, consistency is key to communication. She keeps teams informed through clear reminders, project updates, and organized channels so that everyone has the information they need to move forward confidently.
Her proactive approach has tangible results like catching a contractor’s expiring license during a plan check before it could disrupt a project. “It’s all about helping our clients and teams stay one step ahead,” she explains.
For Darah, being part of the Project Management team fulfills a sense of purpose. “My part is to help make it a little easier for the team to work diligently and efficiently while maintaining effectiveness,” she says. That means staying in constant contact, being unafraid to follow up multiple times if needed, and respecting everyone’s time while ensuring information flows smoothly. “When people understand your purpose, they respect your position,” she adds. Over time, her dedication to communication has built deep trust with clients. “It’s so rewarding when a client says, ‘I know you’re taking care of it.’ That trust means everything.”
The Heart of Collaboration
For all three coordinators, the most rewarding part of their work is seeing a project through to completion—and knowing their coordination helped make it possible. They thrive on connecting people and solving problems before they become roadblocks. “The pride of overcoming challenges and collaborating with diverse teams to achieve a common goal is what keeps me motivated,” says Heather.
The role isn’t without its challenges. No two projects are the same, and every day brings something new, but that’s also what keeps it exciting. “The balance of consistency will always be a challenge,” says Darah, “but that’s also the fun part of what we do!”
A Behind-the-Scenes Impact
If clients could see behind the design, our coordinators say they’d witness a team that truly cares. “The DWE team is constantly putting in effort to manage, schedule, and budget projects, functioning as a central hub to accomplish a common goal,” Heather says. “And we have a few good laughs along the way.”
Vanessa adds, “Seeing our clients’ confidence in the documents we deliver is incredibly satisfying. Knowing that our coordination helps bring their projects to life is what makes it all worthwhile.”
Darah sums it up best: “How diligent each designer and Project Manager—and Project Coordinator—works to ensure the best quality work goes to our clients. We respect each other’s time and responsibilities, and that still includes working late sometimes… anything for the quality of work and the quality of our relationships with the clients we serve.”
Always Evolving for Better Collaboration
The Project Coordinator role reflects Design West’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. By strengthening communication and internal coordination on the projects where they’re part of the team, these professionals help ensure that our clients experience smoother workflows, faster responses, and a more connected project process from start to finish.
At Design West, we’re always looking for ways to enhance how we collaborate—because when our teams work better together, our clients benefit most.
