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What Goes Around Comes Around: Volunteer Week Spotlight with James Mercado

By Peter Kray posted 04-18-2022 03:30 PM

  
Happy National Volunteer Week! To celebrate the occasion, CSI would like to give a resounding round of applause to our current and past volunteers. All week, we are putting the spotlight on CSI members who go the extra mile for their colleagues and the built community at large.

Today’s spotlight is on James Mercado, who credits mentorship for inspiring a commitment to service.

How did you first decide to volunteer, and what is your area of expertise?  

Back in 2012 when I met Dave Ingram, a construction documents technologist (CDT®) and architectural sales and coatings consultant, we chatted a lot about construction specifications, and I invited to present at a “lunch and learn” at our job site at the University of California, San Francisco. volunteered their time to talk to our project engineers and project managers about MasterFormat®, Section Format™ and best practices on specifications. It was very enlightening to understand the intricacy of specifications. I wanted to volunteer back then, but I was still learning. As it turned out, that presentation was a catalyst for my career and I went on to acquire my certification as a construction contract administrator (CCCA®). When CSI reached out last year about volunteer opportunities, I was happy to be part of the team to review the questions on the certification exam for CCCA®.

Why is the work you do as a volunteer important to you?  

This volunteer work for the CCCA® exam review is close to my heart. Volunteering allows me to give back and support not only other volunteers but also this profession I am proud to be part of. I took the exam in 2014 and it is not an easy certification to pass. With the prerequisite of the CDT® certification, I studied for over a year. With the evolving processes and technology in design and construction space, and CSI’s Construction Contract Administration Practice Guide changing as well, it is great to see that the exam questions are being reviewed. My feedback as well as the other volunteers’ feedback assures that the next batch of professionals taking the certification are getting the updated version.

What impact have other volunteers had on your career?  

I worked with a few mentors who volunteered their time to help me in my personal and professional growth. I admire all volunteers I’ve worked with during my career—they are the drivers on why I volunteer my time to help others.

How might other AECO professionals volunteer in their community, and why might you encourage them to do so?  

There are several ways someone can volunteer. I’ve done some labor work for Habitat for Humanity, had a steering committee position at another organization, and helped with various ad campaigns. There are a lot of opportunities in the AECO space for volunteer work. It’s amazing to see that something as simple as volunteering could have such a big impact on others.

Favorite book?

Does the CCCA Practice Guide count? It’s the last book I’ve opened, and it’s probably the only book I’ve read two to three times within the last six months. I’m not a big reader; I tend to get bored after a while. I’ve made several attempts to read the Harry Potter series, but all are unfinished to date.

Hobbies?

I play a lot of tennis on weekends. If my body could handle more, I’d probably play more tennis. I am also happy being a couch potato.

You’re invited to learn how to become a CSI Volunteer or opt in to the CSI Volunteer Pool to easily apply for opportunities that are a match for your interests and availability.  

https://www.csiresources.org/communities/volunteer

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