Alexei Marin-Cortes graduated from The University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and project management in 2015. Knowing that he wanted to pursue earthwork estimation, Alexei first got his industry start with several civil construction and engineering firms based on the east coast. After a few years working on heavy earthwork projects, Alexei relocated to Portland, Ore, to earn his master’s degree in structural engineering from Portland State University.
“Through graduate school, my professional experience had been limited to working on the contractor side,” Alexei explained. “Portland provided the chance to explore estimating on the design side, which I find to be exciting and challenging.”
After graduation during the 2020 pandemic, Alexei took an internship with KPFF Consulting Engineers, which led to an estimator position with Kerr Contractors. He then seized an opportunity to expand upon his design-side experience and joined JLD Cost Consulting in May 2021.
As part of JLD’s estimating team, Alexei primarily focuses on a project’s civil work, earthwork movements and landscaping estimates. He supports the structural, technical interior and architectural side of the work, collaborating and coordinating with a project’s architecture and design teams. Alexei has enjoyed working on projects ranging from $2 to $30+ million during his tenure, but his most memorable to date has been a large landfill site.
“The landfill project allowed me to dig into my field and leverage my expertise,” Alexei said. “There’s an advantage to working within a smaller firm. We approach each project with a conversation. There are always unique specifications to discuss, so there’s an opportunity to learn how everything works together, from mechanical to plumbing estimates. We research, brainstorm and problem-solve as a team.”
Off the clock, Alexei can be found hosting Portland’s KBOO local community radio station’s Boogie Pachanguero, a two hour-long program devoted to exploring musical cultures around the world. Listen to him every second Friday evening of the month from 8 to 10 PM.
