Life at OCA
Arianna Sawyer
What did you do before working at OCA?
OCA is my first full time job post graduating! Before OCA I was an undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island where I received bachelor’s degrees in Ocean Engineering and Spanish. While I was completing my degrees, I completed an internship with the company during the spring of 2021. Additionally, I did have some previous experience surrounding renewables, including an internship involving commercial solar power sites, research about harnessing tidal power and a senior capstone project surrounding the development of an ECO-PAM system to aid in environmental compliance during foundation installation.
What is it like to work at OCA?
OCA promotes a very collaborative work environment. As we are currently a relatively small company, everybody knows each other, and we can communicate effectively even though we are located internationally. From working on projects together to supporting knowledge sharing, learning and development are cultivated at all levels of your career. Not only have I learned new information about the industry from the various projects I have assisted on, but internally, there’s an emphasis on sharing personal experience and knowledge and advancing personal and group skills. I feel grateful to be a part of a company that is rapidly growing alongside the expanding offshore wind industry.
How did you come to work at OCA?
OCA was introduced to me by a former classmate, Jared Mattern. There was an opportunity for an internship with the company which eventually led to a full-time position as a project consultant in the summer of 2021. I decided to continue working with the company because of the experience that I gained, the variety of projects and the knowledge sharing that is promoted within the company. OCA offered a unique opportunity to kickstart my career.
Why did you choose to work in Offshore Wind?
When I chose to study Ocean Engineering at URI, I had the intention of going into the offshore wind industry. It was appealing to me because I saw it as something beneficial to not just my future but the entire world. I was (and still am) excited to contribute to an industry dedicated to a cleaner future.
