Team Tapestry: Analyst 3 David Yi
Connico’s work is built on the experience and insight of professionals who help solve complex challenges across aviation, energy, and federal projects. In every phase of delivery, that collective expertise shapes how we support clients and approach the work ahead. Through our Team Tapestry series, we highlight the individuals who continue to define Connico’s culture.
In this installment, we feature Analyst 3 David Yi, a member of Connico’s Architecture Detail Estimating team. Since joining the firm in 2022, David has supported projects across the full estimating lifecycle. From early ROM studies to detailed construction cost estimates, he helps clients make informed, confident decisions rooted in accuracy and clarity.
Tell us about your background and your role as Analyst 3 at Connico.
I've spent nearly five years in the construction industry, with my focus centered on cost estimating. Every project is different, but the standard is always the same: accurate, well-documented work that project owners and teams can rely on.
How has being part of the Connico team shaped your professional and personal growth?
Being part of the Connico team has shaped me in ways I didn't fully anticipate when I started. Working alongside some of the strongest professionals in cost estimating and construction has raised my standard for what good work looks like and pushed me to meet it. The variety of projects has been a big part of that growth. Every engagement brings a different program, a different client, a different set of challenges. That exposure builds a kind of judgment you can't get from a textbook knowing when a number feels right, when a scope assumption needs to be questioned, when to push back, and when to move forward.
Personally, being on a team that holds itself to a high standard has made me more accountable and more intentional in how I approach my work. Connico invests in its people, and I've felt that through mentorship, training, and the opportunity to take on work that genuinely stretches my capabilities.
How does your work contribute to Connico’s bigger picture and overall success?
Cost estimating is one of the first things a client needs and one of the last things they want to get wrong. Every estimate I produce is a direct representation of Connico's quality and credibility. When the work is reliable and well-documented, it builds the kind of trust that keeps clients coming back and opens doors to the next project.
How has your construction industry background shaped the way you work with clients and project teams at Connico?
It's taught me to think about what's being built, not just what's on paper. Understanding construction means I can ask better questions, catch scope gaps earlier, and communicate in a language that resonates with contractors and owners alike.
What’s a skill or strength you’ve developed at Connico that you’re most proud of?
Always verify. That's the discipline Connico instilled in me early, and it's shaped how I approach every estimate. In cost estimating, the details aren't formal, they're the difference between a number a client can trust and one that comes back to hurt a project. Whether it's a unit cost, a scope assumption, or a quantity, I've learned to check my work and be honest about what I know and what I don't. Clients deserve that transparency, and Connico holds that standard on every project.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received or lesson you’ve learned over your time at Connico?
Own your work completely. Not just the wins, but the mistakes too. When something's off in an estimate, the worst thing you can do is deflect. The best thing you can do is catch it, fix it, and understand why it happened. That's how you get better.
The other piece of advice that has stuck with me is to keep pushing. Don't shy away from the hard projects or the unfamiliar scope lean into them. Every challenge you take on teaches you something that the comfortable work never would. The estimators I respect most at Connico are the ones who never stopped learning, and that's the standard I hold myself to.
Which Connico core value resonates most with you, and why? (Respect, Resiliency, Integrity, Inclusivity, Thoughtfulness, Innovation)
Innovation. Estimating is a field that's been done largely the same way for a long time, and I think there's a real opportunity to do it better. At Connico, I've been encouraged to ask why things are done a certain way and to look for smarter solutions – whether that's how we research costs, how we structure our data, or how we build and deliver estimates to clients. That mindset is something I bring to my work every day. The industry is changing fast, and the estimators who stay curious and keep learning are the ones who will be most valuable going forward. Innovation isn't just about technology, it's about never assuming the way you've always done it is the best way.
If you could try out another role at Connico for a day, what position would you choose, and why?
If I could try out another role at Connico for a day it would be Scheduling. Cost and schedule are two sides of the same coin. Every number in an estimate has a timeline attached to it, and I think spending a day in that seat would sharpen how I think about pricing. Understanding how a project gets sequenced, how phasing decisions drive cost, and how schedule risk translates into dollars would make me a more complete estimator.
What excites you most about the future of your work/the industry?
The way data and technology are starting to change how estimates get built. We're moving toward a world where historical cost data, real-time market pricing, and project-specific conditions can be integrated in ways that make estimates faster and more defensible. I'm excited to be part of building those tools and workflows, not just using them.
