Opportunity is in the eye of the beholder

Manuel Secher believes in making the most out of every opportunity in life, and a little bit of gratitude thrown in doesn’t hurt, either. Born and raised in France, Secher moved to Canada in 2005 almost immediately after graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

“I spent the first year trying to find an engineering position,” he recalls. “It was not easy. My English was terrible. I finally met some Lauren people and after an interview they hired me and sent me to Fort McMurray very quickly.”

While the northern climate required some adjustment, Manuel says his time in Fort McMurray provided invaluable experience and exposure to the complexities of the energy industry. “I ended up doing project control in oil and gas construction for seven years. I’m very thankful for that,” he says.

Now working out of the Lauren offices in Calgary as Senior Project Control, Manuel supports project managers in keeping budgets and scheduling on track for a growing list of projects as the company diversifies into new and emerging sectors. Communication, collaboration and a can-do attitude helped the Lauren team come through the pandemic even stronger.

“Thanks to the two offices between Vancouver and Calgary we work with a lot of people with different backgrounds,” he says. “We spend a lot of time talking to each other to manage projects. We work great together. It’s a great team.”

Manuel is grateful for the opportunities he has been given to grow professionally in his adopted home – as well as the ability to explore the beautiful and rugged landscapes of western Canada. An avid photographer since his youth, he has travelled around the world to capture the splendor of nature.

“I love to photograph landscapes, so I am well served here,” he says with a smile.

Check out Manual Secher’s stunning photography portfolio at ManuelSecher.com

With offices in Calgary and Vancouver, Lauren Services delivers dynamic performance and intelligent design across the entire suite of engineering services.