What are you most excited about in your new role as COO?
I’m most excited to work closely with all of the other divisions of ECS across the country. Over the last 12 years I enjoyed working closely with the Mid-Atlantic management team as we tackled challenges and grew the business. Now I’m looking forward to working with the other management teams as they tackle new challenges and continue to grow.
What would you say has been the largest contributor to the growth of your career?
Keeping a positive attitude and hiring people that are smarter than me.
What was the last book you read?
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. I highly recommend it!
Where’s your favorite place in the world?
Near water where you can see the sunrise or sunset on the horizon.
How did you decide to become a Professional Engineer (PE)?
When I was a kid, I dreamed of going to outer space, building space stations on the moon and Mars, so that’s what initially inspired me to go to school for engineering. I haven’t made it to the moon yet, but there’s still time…
What are you passionate about?
Education – teaching young students about engineering. As a kid I didn’t know about engineering as a career until late in high school. I believe that we teach young children about the exciting and important aspects of what engineers do, we’ll see more kids focus on STEM subjects and pursue engineering as they move on to higher education.
What is the greatest bit of advice a parent or mentor has given you?
When I was growing up, there were three phrases that I heard on a regular basis from my parents and grandparents:
- “Attitude is Everything” – I actually had pillowcases with that printed on them as a kid
- “Excellence pays dividends.”
- “RTDQ” (Read the Damn Question) – This was later modified to “Read the Darn Question” when my grandmother objected to my grandfather saying “damn” in front of me and my brothers
What is the most exciting project you ever worked on and why?
The most exciting event/project and one that had a big impact on my life was being a part of the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Team (VA-TF1) at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Looking back almost 20 years now, that day and night, the week that followed and then a year working on the rebuilding of the Pentagon with ECS was a significant moment in my career and life. It changed my perspective on what’s really important.