SKILLS
BRIEF INFO ON MY SKILLSET
ADVANCEDELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
My education and experience in electrical engineering has brought me through various fields, such as electric power distribution, testing and
commissioning of power plants, transform stations, power intensive industrial plants, residential and commercial buildings, broadcasting stations and
theaters. I have good knowledge in designing lighting, control, earthing and security systems within both residential and industry sector and extensive
knowledge in electrical installation design. My professional problem-solving and design skills have been acquired through making an extensive use of
- AutoCAD
- MagiCAD
- CDEGS
- DIALux
- D-Tools SI5.5
I was amongst the first engineers in Iceland to use MagiCAD electrical to design electrical installations in 3D.
INTERMIDIATECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
I have had the opportunity to work with one or more of large range of communication technologies. I have designed and implemented computer networks,
internet connectivity, and cellular networks. My skills and education have helped me to evaluate a technology or a situation requiring a technology and
to develop solutions that are both functionally effective and cost effective. Through my graduate studies I have gradually been building new skills and
gaining new experience in digital communications, mobile networks, communication techniques, and wireless data technologies to name the few. Software and
programming language experience related to communication engineering is
INTERMEDIATEMANAGEMENT
Many people become managers simply because they are good at the job they were doing; not because they know how to manage. My education mixed with
real life experience has provided me with range of skills that a manager needs to get the job done. As a manager, you have the power to mould your team
and to define your own work environment. The basic managerial skills acquired over the years incorporate
- Communication (presentations, writing and conversations)
- Leadership (team-work, delegation, people)
- Organization (time management, quality, project planning)
The skills you need to manage a small team are really common sense, but to develop that common sense you need to examine
the problems and to be given some initial ideas about solutions. As I am still quite young I would love to get more managerial opportunities to develop
my abilities.
BEGINNERGRAPHIC DESIGN
In the modern era of digital and visual media, graphic design knowledge of all sorts has become a sort of a necessity. I sometimes love to direct my creativity
through something else than engineering stuff. I am always looking for a productive outlet to direct my creativity and sometimes I find it within the
field of graphic design. I really enjoy using variety of techniques which may involve combinations of photography, illustration, print and layout design.
I am not a sketch artist, or an educated graphic artist but I am fascinated by the artistic ability, flexibility and creative thinking one needs to
be a good graphic designer. I have mostly worked on signs, corporate logos, brochures and journals. I have also built few webpages and had the pleasure of
experiencing Flash. My playfulness within the field has brought me a quite usable knowhow of
- Photoshop (Good)
- Illustrator (Beginner)
- HTML/HTML5 (Wannabe)
BEGINNERSUSTAINABILITY
In today's turbulent business environment, leaders must begin to think more broadly about what a corporation is and how it can create a richer future.
Corporations around the world are struggling with the new role, which is to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of
the next generations to meet their own needs. They are being called upon to take responsibility for the ways their operations impact societies and the
natural environment. They are being asked to apply sustainability principles to the ways in which they conduct their business. During my graduate studies
I have been exposed to variety of strategies for dealing with this intersection of societal needs, the natural environment, and corresponding business
imperatives. Although the aspiration of many corporations to contribute to a better world is great, translating the aspiration into reality proves to be
somewhat of a challenge. For that reason I consider myself a beginner within the field but I cannot wait to get an opportunity to create a clearer
understanding of what is required, both in leadership itself and in the field of leadership development.
EMPLOYMENT
SOME BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE
The following companies have given me the opportunity to improve my combination of skills and values throughout the years
2006 - 2008VERKIS
Electrical Engineer
Verkis is an employee-owned engineering firm who provides a wide range of services in most fields of engineering and related disciplines.
At Verkis, about 350 employees work with a wide variety of projects, both in Iceland and abroad. The company provides high quality, innovative,
technically advanced and comprehensive services. The scope of services include feasibility studies, design, tender documents, evaluation bids, contracting,
erection supervision, testing and commissioning of power plants, transformer stations, power intensive industrial plants, food industrial plants, residential
and commercial buildings, communication systems, broadcasting stations and theatres.
In addition to the above mentioned services, my work also included project management, planning,
scheduling and supervision of large scale projects.
www.verkis.com
2005ATAFL
Civil Engineer
Atafl is an Icelandic contracting company which engages in many kinds of construction projects, including harbours, hydropowerplants, roads and airports.
It also constructs buildings for public institutions, municipalities, companies and individuals. Atafl engages in projects of different sizes and usually
acts as the contractor, which means negotiating and being responsible for the complete project, but employs subcontractors and suppliers to handle
certain tasks in accordance with special agreements.
I worked at Atafl as a summer trainee at the Blue Lagoon clinic hotel/production facility project. My responsibility was mainly project and resource management.
http://www.atafl.is/English/
1998 - 2003REYKJAVIK'S CAPITAL DISTRICT FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
Firefighter, EMT-I and Search and Rescue Diver
The Capital District Fire and Rescue Service's purpose is to work on fire prevention and provide the first response in protecting people's lives, health, environment and property.
Its primary objectives are fire fighting, emergency medical transport, fire safety and protection, environmental accident response and civil defense.
Being a firefighter is every boys dream. Unfortunately it is not a well payed dream. My responsibilities within the team was to serve as a firefighter, emergency medical technician and
as a search and rescue diver. The job taught me to be confident, calm, to work well without supervision and communication with others. Despite the chaos that surrounds an emergency,
a firefighter is expected to maintain its concentration and provide communication, both to other emergency responders and any victims or victims' families that may be at the scene.
Because firefighters often see people at the most tragic moment of their life, this can be a difficult process. A firefighter must retain empathy for the victim without being so
emotionally involved that the job becomes too much to handle. One could say that being a firefighter has molded me into the person that I am today.
http://www.shs.is/shs/en/
1993 - 2005RAFHOLT
Project supervisor/Electrical labourer
Rafholt is an electrical contracting firm that specializes in industrial and commercial work related to the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems. The company
have at their disposal the full range of top-quality services for successful projects, ranging from new systems design and installation, to upgrades and expansion, to troubleshooting,
testing and repair. Whether it's high voltage wiring for an industrial plant or telecom for a brokerage firm, they've "been there and done that" and will deliver the results every time.
I have been doing electrical work since 1993. I started out by being a normal labourer but when the years passed, I became trusted enough to do project supervision and coordination.
http://www.rafholt.is/
EDUCATION
2010 - 2011LUND UNIVERSITY (LU), LUND
School of Economics and Management (EHL), Sustainable Business Leadership
The master programme aims at providing students that already hold a first degree in science and/or engineering with a one-year long specialisation in sustainable business
leadership. The programme aspires at leveraging the participants' knowledge in science and/or engineering by adding and integrating managerial
and/or leadership knowledge and skills from a sustainability perspective. First part of the programm is aimed at introducing students to management and economics with a
sustainable leadership perspective; The Global Economy, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Marketing, Strategy and Corporate Finance. The second part of the programme
comprises of one course called Sustainable Growth in Global Competition and a degree project. The course provides theoretical knowledge about how to champion sustainable business
development. The objective is to equip students with the vision and tools needed for creating environmentally and economically sustainable organizations. Sustainable growth requires radical innovations and fundamental changes at various levels: individual, firm, industry, national, global. A
basic tenet in the course is that current patterns of consumption and production are embedded in a context of institutions and technological trajectories that slowly have developed
over time. As such, there is a need to understand processes of long-term evolution working at different levels of society in order to be able to champion and implement radical changes
in today's business practices. Thus equipping the students with analytical concepts and insights about processes of fundamental change is essential. The course will deal with three
key aspects of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. The course will provide analytical and practical tools for promoting sustainable innovation and change in
organizations, as well as to help identify ways in which existing structures can be reformed and adapted to the demands of sustainability. This involves skills from management, social
and cultural analysis, as well as technical and functional analysis of systems. The programme is completed with a degree project course. The overall learning objective for the degree
project course is to develop the students' ability to actively be a part of developing a global responsibility in organizations and enterprises. As a part of this the degree
project course addresses issues dealing with the concepts: Globalization, Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility. The aim is to develop the students understanding of the theoretical and practical
meaning of these concepts. Furthermore the focus is shifted towards the concepts of leadership and change. Developing an organization's willingness and ability to act in a globally responsible
way will demand comprehensive organizational development, learning and change. The aim is to strengthen the students' theoretical understanding and practical ability to take the lead in
organizational change processes. The degree project course is based on the methodology of action learning. The students are assigned to an in-company project focusing on Sustainability and Globally
Responsible business.
Final thesis: Business feasibility study of investing in biogas driven vehicles - long term future study and strategy development. Cooperation with Skånemejerier (link).
Masters Degree 2nd
2008 - 2010LUND UNIVERSITY (LU), LUND
The Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Wireless Communication
The Wireless Communication Programme structure has a focus on the physical and lower layers of wireless communication. The aim is to give deep system knowledge, which in turn requires
insights into the various components in a wireless system. Compulsory courses in the programme include Digital Communication, Radio, Radio Systems, Antenna Technology, Advanced
Telecommunications, Channel Modelling for Wireless Communication, and Digital Transmission Engineering. Along with these there is a project course Wireless Systems Project, where knowledge
from the different courses is combined in a shorter project. The programme gives a solid ground for further work in the wireless area and students are skilled for both research and
development, e.g. understanding and developing future wireless systems, developing wireless networks for special applications and understanding and enhancing existing solutions.
In addition to the compulsary courses I also took Error Control Coding, OFDM for Broadband Communication and Intellectual Property Right Management (IPR).
Final thesis: Signal constellation shaping for SISO/MIMO systems in cooperation with NOKIA in Copenhagen (link).
Master Degree 1st
2002 - 2006REYKJAVIK UNIVERSITY (RU), REYKJAVIK
The Faculty of Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering High Voltage
The programme emphasises applied technology using lab exercises, projects and independent tasks as vital elements. The objective is to train engineers who possess good levels of
independent ability to use and develop advanced technology. The programme provides a broad technical base with many opportunities for specialisation and elective courses in its later
years, as well as continued studies on to Master level. The goals of the BSc in Electrical Engineering are the following: To cover the basic theory of mathematics, physics, computer
science, electric circuit theory, and electronics. To provide the students with the knowledge and skills in selected areas of electrical power systems theory, electronics and
computer systems, that is developed from a base of electric circuit theory, electronics, computer science, mathematics and physics. In addition the programme includes courses that
broaden the technical knowledge and prepare students for their professional role as engineers, courses such as economics and organisation, environmental and work sciences and
engineering methods. In the 3rd year students are given the opportunity to select between specializing in telecommunication and computer networks or electric power systems of
which I chose the latter. The study finishes with a degree project.
Final thesis: Theoretical and graphical design of a grounding system for a 15.000 square meters retail store.
Bachelor degree
REFERENCES
REFERENCES EXCERPTION
My experience within different fields has helped me to built impressive network of former managers and supervisors that know my strengths and abilities. They know me well enough
to be prepared and able to answer any questions to confirm my resume information. The following colleagues know me well enough to provide an accurate assessment of my work
responsibilities and performance. I believe that what others have to say about me is far more important than what I might tell you about myself. What follows are excerpts from some
of the reference letters I have been given over the years.
LUND UNIVERSITY (LTH)ASSISTANT PROF. FREDRIK RUSEK
I would like to state that I have had the pleasure to have Borgthor Gretarsson as student in my 4th year undergraduate course "Projects in Wireless Communications" for 9 months, and
then as Master Thesis student for another 8 months. During the undergraduate course, I identified Borgthor to be among the top 5 students (from a pool of 40 students). At the end of the
course, I was asked by Nokia-Copenhagen to provide them with two Master Thesis workers to work on an advanced, theoretically oriented, thesis project. Further, Nokia expected an 8 months
thesis work, instead of 5 that is common practice at Lund University. Due to Borgthor's strong theoretical knowledge, his high level of ambitiousness, and his ability to work
independently, I handpicked Borgthor as one of the two. The strongest impressions Borgthor made on me were his ability to work independently and his ability to conduct accurate
analysis of the research problems he faces. Furthermore, Borgthor is an excellent presenter, and can captivate any audience. I found it easy to work with Borgthor, and he has my
warmest recommendation both as an engineer and as a person.
Tel: +46 (0) 768135468
Email: fredrik.rusek@eit.lth.seLUND UNIVERSITY
Electrical and Information Technology
Communication Theory Group
Lund
Sverige
VERKIS CONSULTING ENGINEERS LTDENG. EIRIKUR K. THORBJORNSSON
Verkis Consulting Engineers is one of the largest consulting engineering companies in Iceland, employing qualified and competent staff of around 300. At Verkis we continually recognize
new employees who seek more than a career. They are looking to make their mark in the engineering industry. They come with dreams of high success and are willing to work hard. However,
the engineering industry is quite competitive and often tough to break into. Luckily for Borgthor, we recognized that he possesses many of the necessary qualities to succeed in this tough
business. We closely watched him develop into a fine leader and he managed many crucial projects. I worked with Borgthor for 2 years. The thing that impresses me the most about him
is how he thinks critically, reasons well, learns quickly and has all the instincts of a good engineer. He is also constantly looking for new challenges, skill building, and developing
a resourceful network of colleagues that respect and admire him.
In conclusion, we would highly recommend Mr. Borgthor Gretarsson. If his performance, as an engineer at Verkis is any indication of how he would perform in his professional life,
he will without a doubt be a positive addition to any company.
Tel: +354 422 8521
Email: ekt@verkis.isVERKIS CONSULTING ENGINEERS LTD
Electrical systems department
Armula 4
108 Reykjavik
Iceland
ABOUT ME
THE CHARACTER
Made in Iceland, a father, brother, loving husband and a man of many words. I am optimistic, open minded, I love life and try not to think too much of the past. It is the past anyway. I like to live in the present time with careful planning of the future. I like to believe I am not materialistic but have too many things in my worldly possession to prove me wrong. But I try and that is the best I can do. I have figured out that I cant please everyone all the time but if I can please most of the people most of the time then I am happy. I have over my life managed to meet and deal with people from many parts of the world and I believe that makes me able to be more culturally fit in this diverse world we live in.
I claim my right to personally improve and learn as long as I live and hopefully by the end of my time on this earth I will have managed to fulfil my obligations in life and done everything I can to make this world a better place to live at with all the tools and methods available to me. My achievements in life may not set its mark on the history but as long as I have tried and done all my best then that makes me happy. I like to experience what i have not yet experienced, see what i haven't seen, hear what I have not heard.
MY OBJECTIVE / MISSION STATEMENT / GOALS?
I am not the typical "five year plan" guy. I like to live life spontaneously and without boundaries. I do not have a specific plan but I would like to advance in life and work. However, I am flexible.
I will do my job to the best of my ability and keep my eyes open for opportunities within the organization to advance even if it means changing roles. I am prepared to learn new things and
contribute to the overall success of the organization in a number of ways. The only specific within that "plan of willingness" is that the opportunity has to be within my ability to learn, interesting
enough for me to dig in and do a good job, and the compensation to increase of a reasonable amount in relation to the demands of the position. My daily goals represent my approach on how to focus my energy, actions, behaviors and decisions
towards the things that are most important to me.
- Believe in living each day to the fullest
- Grow stronger with each accomplishment, and even stronger with each setback
- Look for strengths in others, and the good in every situation
- Be guided by my values and beliefs
- Laugh every day
- Avoid all the boring stuff
MY INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
Hobbies and Interests are something special. It's a window into my personality, that is beyond the standard work stuff. These are things I am passionate about.
- Soccer
- Diving
- Weightlifting
- Dining with good friends
- Music
- Technology magazines,... better said,... everything technology related
- Flying
FAMILY
I have been happily married since 2004. My wife is Bjork Baldvinsdottir and we have two wonderful girls together. Margret Eva is 6 years old and Briet Liv is 3 years old.
They sometimes make my days little bit longer than usual but in return they offer me unlimited amount of love.
CURRENT STATUS
I am currently doing some consultancy work and improving my swedish but at the same time looking for a permanent job that enables me to develop further my swedish language skills, forces me to use imagination mixed with theory and above all - makes me want to tackle each day like it was my last
one!