Professional Experience & Perspective

Raised in both South Carolina and Florida, Gabe Jenkins developed an appreciation for the different people, communities, and environments that shape how individuals experience life and opportunity. His journey through athletics, higher education, and the professional world has continued to influence his understanding of leadership, relationships, and personal development.

With more than a decade of experience across diverse industries, including architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), telecommunications, education, customer service, athletics, hospitality, automotive services, design, restaurants, retail, transportation, and marketing, Gabe brings a broad perspective to his work.

His professional journey has included frontline service positions, university support roles, international design internships, project management, mentorship, and organizational leadership initiatives. These experiences have given him an understanding of how people, relationships, leadership, and organizational environments influence individual and collective effectiveness.

While pursuing his education at Clemson University, Gabe held several campus positions that strengthened his interest in student development and engagement. His experience included university media and archives support, campus banner and design work, and serving as a design coach and peer mentor. As an intern through Clemson's University Professional Internship and Co-op (UPIC) program, he helped transfer and nontraditional students navigate university life, connect with campus organizations and resources, and discover opportunities for involvement and personal development.

His academic and professional development also included internships with internationally recognized multidisciplinary design firms. Through these opportunities, including time working in Kigali, Rwanda, he gained exposure to different cultures, professional disciplines, and approaches to addressing complex challenges affecting people and communities.

Following graduation, Gabe joined a design firm based out of Boston, where he worked as a landscape designer and assistant project manager on campus, civic, and community-focused projects. Beyond his design responsibilities, he contributed to the firm's People & Culture Committee and supported emerging professionals through the firm’s nonprofit program.

He later joined another design firm as an urban designer, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, public agencies, and community stakeholders on projects involving transportation, public spaces, and community development. He also served as a Culture & Employee Engagement Office Lead, working alongside organizational leadership to support employee engagement, workplace culture, communication, and professional development.

His experience also extends into residential construction and project management, where he has worked alongside general contractors, architects, subcontractors, and clients to coordinate custom residential projects from initial planning and design through construction and completion. His responsibilities have included managing project schedules, budgets, material procurement, site coordination, and construction activities while navigating challenges, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring projects progress toward their intended outcomes.

Across these roles, Gabe developed an appreciation for the different experiences and perspectives people bring to organizations—from frontline employees and students to emerging professionals, managers, and organizational leaders.

These experiences helped shape his belief that meaningful development is not limited to a particular profession, title, or industry. It requires understanding people, strengthening relationships, and creating environments where individuals and organizations can apply what they learn and make better use of the opportunities and resources available to them.