Meet The Staff: Chris Helm, Field Tech Supervisor

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Meet The Staff: Chris Helm, Field Tech Supervisor: With 25 years of dedication to BSK Associates, Chris has become a key player at the Fresno office, working as an engineering soils/field technician, field supervisor, and arso radiation safety assistant. What he enjoys most about his job is the variety it offers—no two days are the same. Explore Chris’s journey with BSK, his favorite on-the-job stories, and some fun facts about him below.
Interviewer: Hi Chris! Can you tell me a little about where you are from. Where is your hometown and where did you go to school?
Chris: So, I was born and raised in Selma California and have lived there all of my life. I went to Selma High School where I met my wife Sylvia my junior year when we began dating and have been dating since. We raised our daughter Jessica together who is a graduate of Fresno State University and are proud that she is now a special ed teacher in the Fowler School District.
Interviewer: How long have you worked for BSK and what do you do for the organization?
Chris: Proud to say I have worked for BSK for 25 years. I first applied for employment at the Fresno office in 1998, however, I was asked if I would like to work for the Visalia office who needed a soils technician at the time, and I accepted. I worked for the Visalia office for approximately 5 years until it closed when I transferred to the Fresno office permanently. I am currently an engineering soils/ field technician/ field supervisor and Fresno branch Arso radiation safety assistant.
Interviewer: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Chris: The thing I like most about my job is I am not stuck in the same location.  I get to experience several interesting jobs all year round and meet new people in the field. I also enjoy all of the wonderful people I work with at our Fresno office.
Interviewer: Can you tell us your favorite on the job story?
Chris: My favorite or proudest on the job moments was when BSK was hired by the State of California along with five other engineering labs to compete against one another regarding soil types and perceived maximum densities of on-site soils at the Delano State Prison which had just began construction. Since I was a lab and field technician, I was chosen to represent BSK against the other labs. We all had to “best guess” maximum densities based on appearance, feel, and soil types. Proud to say BSK won the contract, or I would like to believe that is the reason BSK won the contract.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for answering all these questions today. Can we leave off by you relaying some fun facts about yourself?
Chris: Fun fact: My wife Sylvia and I have owned a houseboat that is docked at Pine Flat Lake since 2017. We enjoy having friends and family during the summer months for weekend stays where we like to barbecue, relax, laugh and enjoy several lake activities.
Looking to learn more about BSK Associates Geoprofessional and Analytical Services, check our website and connect with us to see how we can help you.  www.bskassociates.com/ 

Meet the Staff: Brea Diogo, Southern Regional Dispatch & Project Coordinator

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Meet Brea Diogo, Southern Regional Dispatch and Project Coordinator at BSK Associates. Brea has been an essential part of BSK since April 2019. Brea is a key player in ensuring smooth communication between clients and field staff. Her passion for her work is evident in her commitment to providing excellent customer service and her enjoyment of the dynamic, puzzle-like nature of dispatch. Brea’s warm personality and strong family values make her a cherished member of the BSK team and a respected figure in the Bakersfield community.

Interviewer: Hi Brea! Can you tell me a little about where you are from. Where is your hometown and where did you go to school?

Brea: Hi everyone! My name is Brea Diogo, and I was born and raised in Bakersfield, Ca. First and foremost, I am a mother of two beautiful children. My first born is my daughter Zoee and my second is my son Derrek Jr whom we call Dj. I am married to Derrek Diogo, and we have been together since high school, for 12 years now. I went to North high school, and it was really the best years of my life. I grew up with a total of 7 siblings under a unique dynamic. From step siblings to cousins, we adopted as children and half / full siblings, you could imagine I grew up with a very large chaos induced household, but I loved it! The best way to describe me is fully family oriented between my family and the family I now have created. Holidays, traditions, and the way we raise our children means so much to me.

Interviewer: How long have you worked for BSK and what do you do for the organization?

Brea: I started to work for BSK in April 2019. I just hit my 5-year mark. I was only going to be part time, and I love it so much it became a full-time job. I am the Southern regional dispatch and project coordinator. My job requires a lot of attention to detail and socializing which I love. I am on the phone all day talking with clients and our field staff. I wear a lot of hats and am proud of how far I have come with the company. I appreciate how BSK has seen my value.

Interviewer: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Brea: Getting to speak with clients firsthand and being able to provide them with great customer service starts with dispatch then leads into reports and project coordination. I get to see the projects through start to finish along with our clients. We have a lot of repeat clients so some I have known on a personal level and that’s truly the best part about my job. I have taken clients out for lunch, and they have become friends that I speak with on a daily basis. I really enjoy the art of the puzzle that dispatch is. Most will look at the chaos and see exactly that, but give me an hour, and I can have the schedule pieced together to what makes sense. That and the people I work with make it special.

Interviewer: Can you tell us your favorite on the job story?

Brea: I don’t have any story specifically but there are so many fun memories from OC events and meeting clients in person. Most clients have taken me by surprise, and I really enjoy getting to put a face to the name of people I have spoken with for years. Owners club by far has my greatest memories. Karaoke is a Bakersfield favorite, and I love my work family!

 Interviewer: Thank you so much for answering all these questions today. Can we leave off by you relaying some fun facts about yourself?

Brea: I am turning 30 in November! I am a big advocate for human trafficking prevention. I do annual rallies to raise money for local and national organizations. I have raised thousands of dollars in the last 4 years. I feel like I was born in the wrong generation. I love being a mother and raising my children, if I could go back in time, I would love to be a stay-at-home mother and garden / have a homestead and homeschool. Times are obviously MUCH different. I am very outgoing and a goof ball once you get to know me. A fun fact is I have never worked in the construction industry and the fact that I am where I am now blows my mind. I definitely think this is the best career path for me 😊.

 

Looking to learn more about BSK Associates Geoprofessional and Analytical Services, check our website and connect with us to see how we can help you.  www.bskassociates.com/