From Co-op to Career: Rakesh’s Maple Journey

When Rakesh Sharma joined Maple Reinders as a co-op student in 2018, he was looking for an opportunity to gain practical experience and learn more about the construction industry. What he found was a supportive team, valuable mentors, and a company culture that ultimately inspired him to build his career at Maple.

Building a Foundation Through Co-op Experience

Rakesh completed two co-op terms with Maple, first in the Civil Division on the Crouch Reservoir and Yarrow Reservoir projects, and later in the Buildings Division on the Ellis Parc project.

Working alongside different teams and on a variety of projects gave him valuable exposure to construction and project management while helping him discover where his interests lay.

Today, Rakesh is a Project Coordinator in Maple’s Burnaby office. Over the years, he has contributed to a diverse portfolio of projects, including reservoirs, residential developments, storage facilities, commercial buildings, industrial projects, Gordon Food Services, Oakridge Energy, and the RPAS Hangar project in Comox.

Most recently, he was part of the award-winning Man6 project team, which received industry recognition from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA).

Learning from Mentors Along the Way

When reflecting on his career growth, Rakesh credits many of the people around him for helping shape his development.

Early in his career, Christon Siu, Project Manager II, and Glen Spalding, Regional Director, West, encouraged him to take ownership of tasks and deepen his understanding of construction processes. Greg Schulte, Regional Manager, West, and Danuta Wojtowicz, Construction Manager, helped him develop his attention to detail while providing guidance and support as he gained experience.

Johnathan Teschner, Project Manager II, reinforced the importance of professionalism and effective communication, while his brother and fellow Maple employee, Rajan Sharma, Project Manager II, provided mentorship in organization, patience, and project procedures.

A Culture That Brings People Back

One of the reasons Rakesh chose to return to Maple after graduation was the strong sense of camaraderie he experienced during his co-op placements.

“There was a real team atmosphere. People wanted to see each other succeed and were always willing to help. Seeing so many familiar faces still with the company when I returned spoke volumes about the culture,” said Sharma.

Paying It Forward

Today, Rakesh enjoys helping newer employees and co-op students navigate their own careers, paying forward the same support he received.

His advice to students entering the industry is simple:
“Be curious, ask questions, build relationships, and learn from the people around you. Those experiences will have a bigger impact on your career than you realize.”