Base Office: Apex, NC
Email: cmallabar@hallam-ics.com
Arc Flash and Electrical Safety
Unlike many other engineers, I didn’t always know I wanted to be one. My interests pulled me in many different directions - I was great at math and science but also loved reading and art, and at 17, I had no idea how to choose. I started off at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Wildlife Conservation Biology, where a renewable energy club lead me to Environmental Engineering at the University of Vermont. I finally settled on Electrical Engineering my sophomore year, joining my grandfather, father, and older brother in the tradition of Mallabar EE’s. I ultimately chose electrical so I could learn about power systems and renewables, which I found interesting and thought I could find a fulfilling job with.
My Hallam story, however, starts with a mechanical engineering internship. In the summer of 2019, I got an internship with Bill Neuburger and his mechanical group. Talking to Bill at a career fair at UVM made me want this internship even though I wasn’t an ME. It was an industry I hadn’t thought of as an option before and I wanted to learn more about it. Throughout my internship, I learned a ton of engineering skills like Revit, AutoCAD, and reading MEP plans. But I also learned valuable life skills, like how to communicate with other engineers, coworkers, and clients. The best thing I got from the internship though was confidence. Because of my late start to engineering and a myriad of other reasons, I hadn’t felt like I truly belonged in engineering yet. Meeting and hearing the stories of the other engineers at Hallam as well as being able to learn and pick things up quickly during my internship helped me realize that if I work hard, I could excel at any job.
When I started to look for jobs after graduation, I knew I wanted to work at a place like Hallam. I loved the small company energy, the social mission, and the way I was treated when I was there. In the spring of 2020, amid the confusion and uncertainty that Covid brought, I accepted the position of Electrical Engineer with the Arc Flash and Electrical Safety group at Hallam. This was a ray of hope in my world of trouble shooting remote learning, a halted senior design project, and a cancelled traditional graduation ceremony. Although my on-boarding process was different than what I ever imagined, I have loved these past years at Hallam. It has been amazing working with my team, meeting clients, and learning to survey. I love puzzling out electrical systems from the 40’s or seeing innovative new equipment on site.
In 2022, I made the move from my home state of Vermont to our office in North Carolina, where most of my team lives. I have been loving office pow-wows, team building, and especially the office pups! Everyone has been so kind and welcoming, and I look forward to continually learning, improving, and making a difference here!
