Young Chang '87

Where you've been in your career and where you are going ...

I started my career in the public sector and enjoyed it very much. What I thought was going to be a brief stint turned into 11 years with the Virginia Department of Transportation. During that time, I learned how to serve the public and lead big groups. I also earned my graduate degree from that school in Charlottesville. I also worked six years as the director of transportation for Fairfax County. Since then, I have been with ATCS for 20 years and the CEO for the last eight years. I enjoy serving on various boards, including the advisory board for the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech.

How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?

An engineering company that believes in "the genius of the and."

How Virginia Tech equipped me for the real world ...

The rigor of engineering classes provided me with the confidence to take on technical tasks early in my career, which led to greater responsibilities later in the career.

A key habit, practice, or skill that's worth the effort ...

Being a lifelong learner. In order to do that, you need to be curious and courageous. Be curious to know more about the world and be courageous to ask when you don't know.

The most formative experience I've had ...

When I was a young engineer in my 20s, I was managing a large construction program with over 120 people and a large budget. I was learning a lot and I thought I was at my capacity. My boss told me he was leaving and thought I should put in for his job. That would have made me the youngest person in the entire department, responsible for 400 people and over $300 million budget. He convinced me that I was ready and, because of his insistence, I put in for the job, which I got. That was the impetus I needed to have confidence in myself to take on bigger challenges throughout my career.

My no-fail, go-for-it motivational song ...

"Life's Been Good" by Joe Walsh.

Top of my bucket list ...

Spend a year in Hawaii.

Something very few people know about me ...

I still play "old man" lacrosse.

The work project/initiative you're most excited about ...

I was fortunate enough to work on many infrastructure projects in the Mid-Atlantic region, especially the I-95 express lanes and most recently the Transform 66 project as the project manager. I am especially excited about how we were able to transform our company into a purpose-driven company that does challenging and complex work.

Fondest Virginia Tech memory or tradition ...

Not sure if this is the fondest, but definitely most memorable — walking across the drillfield for 8 a.m. calculus class in the middle of January.

Best part of being a Virginia Tech alum ...

The alumni network is extensive and supportive. We all know what it means to be a Hokie.

Words of encouragement to a current Virginia Tech student ...

Get the full Tech experience while you are in Blacksburg. You will never get this opportunity again, so meet people outside your circle, tube down the New River, go to Thursday night football games, play intramural sports, join clubs, eat Benny's pizza at midnight, and do an all-nighter studying for that exam.

Best advice I've gotten ...

Just do it! This is from my father, who did not say it but showed it to me. Sometimes we are paralyzed from taking action because we lack data or enough analysis to make the right decision. This is based on our fear of failure. Once we accept that failure is not at the opposite end of success, but actually on the same side and is necessary for us to achieve success, we can be free from that fear.   

The most courageous thing I've done ...

When I decided to leave VDOT after 11 years to go to the private sector. While this may not have been the most courageous thing I ever did, this step allowed me to be able to be more courageous in my career.

My favorite quote ...

"Failure is success in progress" - Albert Einstein.

Last book I read ...

"Leadershift," by John Maxwell.