Meet our newest Awesome Associate, Erica Guertin, Planner, located in our Arlington, VA office.

Erica was selected as an Awesome Associate by a colleague who had this to say about her,

“I don’t know any person who has better communication skills than Erica. She is also very reliable, organized and unquestionably a team player. Shout out to Erica!”

We were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to sit down and talk with Erica, where she answered some questions to give a glimpse into her background and what drives her professionally. At WGI, we know that our success starts with our associates, and that’s why we want to share their awesome stories with you!

Hey, Erica! Tell us a little bit about where you’re from and where you went to school.

I grew up locally in West Palm Beach, FL, and graduated from Florida Atlantic University.

Go Owls! So, what drew you to this profession?

I was drawn to the profession after studying Architecture for three years in college. When I changed my major to urban design, that’s when I really began to visualize my future in this profession. I’ve always been fascinated by development and how cities function. It was only a matter of time before I turned it into a career.

It sounds like you truly love what you do; we are certainly lucky to have you! What types of projects have you worked on?

In my first two years with WGI, I worked on conceptual site planning, drafting landscaping, graphic renderings, and due diligence. However, my current day-to-day now consists of rewriting code, visualization & branding services, and code audits which consist of policy recommendations and best practice research. Since transitioning to a Planner role, my workflow has changed, and the projects themselves are mainly in the public sector. 

What are you most passionate about in life?

It sounds generic, but I am most passionate about three things; food, friends & family. My passion for cooking is very therapeutic to me, and it brings me joy to share my cooking with others.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am a huge thrifter or any version of second-hand shopping. It is rewarding in many ways to give something a second life and practice some sustainability in my purchases. I enjoy the concept of digging for something special and finding ways to re-purpose something that may have otherwise ended up in the trash.

That is so cool! If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I think a really cool superpower would be to know every square inch of every city in the world. I strive to be a walking Google Maps in real life, so being able to navigate the entire world using my mind would not only be a cool party trick, but I would also always win at every game of GeoGuesser.

Well, that is unique! What does your ideal vacation look like?

My ideal vacation would definitely be in Italy. It would include a small tucked-away hotel in the middle of a city with lots of local restaurants and sights to be seen. I want to live like a local and not like a tourist, see the things you can only find out through exposure.

If you could have dinner with anyone who has ever lived, who would it be?

John Lennon

What are two apps (on your phone) you CAN NOT live without?

Google Maps and YouTube

What would be impossible for you to give up?

Coffee and Greek food, if I couldn’t have it, I might just die on the spot.

Are there any interesting facts about yourself that you’d like to share?

I love to write music and sing. However, I’m terrified to sing in front of others, and you will never catch me on stage at karaoke night.

Who or what inspires you?

My coworkers are a huge inspiration to me. Aside from the major leaders in the industry, I am constantly learning from and absorbing new information from those around me. Without my team, I would not be the Planner I am today, and they inspire me to grow and be the best version of myself in my personal and professional life.

Everyone at WGI has a story about why they joined the team; what’s yours?

At the time, I had interviewed with a few other firms and was offered an internship and a full-time position at those studios. I still had my interview with WGI a day later and was close to canceling and accepting what I had already been offered. Nevertheless, I decided to attend the interview and keep my options open. Attending my interview with WGI turned out to be one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made because WGI was where I wanted and needed to be. That was back in the fall of 2019, and I’ve been with the company ever since!