I Belong: Steven Carrell
Steven Carrell, RRO
Consulting | Business Development Lead-Austin
Seal Building Enclosures
Can you tell us a bit about your career?
Oil Rigs – Real Estate – Architecture, oh my! My career since graduating from Texas A&M in 2010, Whoop!, with a BS in ocean engineering has been dynamic, to say the least. I started my career in the oil and gas industry overhauling offshore drilling rigs in shipyards around the world, but that came to an end in 2015 with the extreme volatility in the industry. I quickly dusted myself off after a wild five years in O&G and obtained my real estate license, practicing multi-family investment sales. During my time in real estate, I was introduced to a local engineering firm in Houston, EDI Building Consultants. EDI was performing the due diligence reports for buyers I represented, resulting in a relationship that became an offer to join EDI. This started my career in the A/E/C industry designing/performing remedial repairs to existing buildings, including commercial low-sloped roof design, and investigative testing. After EDI, I made a move to a larger Canadian-based engineering firm in 2018, Morrison Hershfield (MH). At MH, I practiced building enclosure consulting for new commercial construction where I obtained my Registered Roof Observer (RRO) certification. In 2021 I made the move from Houston to Austin to support the growing market. Finally in 2021, I joined the startup firm Seal Building Enclosure. I’m very ecstatic to say I’m working with four amazing individuals with a combined fifty years of experience to grow our firm working on projects from coat-to-coast.
What is your marketing superpower?
People! I truly enjoy connecting and learning what motivates and excites people. Also, my interest in commercial development and my obsession to know about all new, proposed, and under construction projects. I’ve found the best ice breaker is congratulating a new connection on a project of theirs that just made real estate blog headlines. On the weekends you’ll find me scanning all the real estate blogs for Texas and riding my bicycle around Austin to peek at the ongoing construction.
How did you get involved in SMPS?
My first exposure to SMPS was with the Houston chapter when I first started in the A/E/C industry, but I never truly invested in SMPS until I moved to Austin in 2021. Now in 2022 I’m proud to be a member of SMPS Austin and contributing on the Programs Committee. I am excited to join the Board as the Sponsorship Director in September.
Why is SMPS valuable to you?
Again, people! Having a safe and welcoming place to meet seasoned and established members of the A/E/C community is huge. I feel very grateful to all of the welcoming members of the SMPS Austin chapter; As a fresh Austinite working/representing a new firm, this group has quickly become the foundation to my marketing career.
Why do you belong in SMPS?
We all belong! The diversity within SMPS Austin’s chapter is wonderful. As a member of the LGBT community, I feel safe and welcomed to be my true self.
