To be honest, I got into the engineering profession after the results from a high school aptitude test I said that I should be an engineer. I enrolled in civil engineering at University of Nebraska at Omaha, but didn’t know what civil engineers actually did until I got my first job as an intern. It’s a good thing I ended up liking it! I really didn’t have any kind of storybook inspiration - I liked playing in the dirt and building forts out of sticks. I can’t remember if that was a question on the aptitude test or not.
The most rewarding thing about my job is forming lasting relationships with clients, helping them realize their goals and visions for their projects, and getting to know them on a personal level. In the next five years, I would like to earn a master’s degree in business or engineering, become a shareholder within SCHEMMER and continue to develop my skills in civil engineering and project management. It must be the way I’m wired, but if I’m going to spend time on something, I’m going to do it right. It drives me crazy to see things done half-heartedly. I have a hard time sitting still knowing there is work to be done.
At SCHEMMER, I work on a variety of civil and site-related projects. As a site engineer, I am required to be proficient in most aspects of civil engineering. I work closely with our architectural staff to design sites that most efficiently use our clients’ properties while complimenting the buildings that our architects design. Throughout my career, I’ve traveled to Dallas, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas, plus exotic destinations all over Iowa and Nebraska.
I will never forget passing the PE exam and earning my license; catching a wave on a surfboard; and welcoming my son into the world. I have a feeling my Facebook page will now be used explicitly for posting pictures of my newborn son. I am motivated to provide for my family. Being a new parent, I am quickly learning that I have no control over anyone’s actions but my own, and I choose to react positively to whatever life throws my way. I’m probably best known for my sense of humor. It’s sarcastic, dry and sometimes just weird. Think Will Ferrell and Monte Python movies.
Aside from work, I just finished a two-year-long renovation of our home. It would be an understatement to say we had some scope creep and budget overruns. However, it was a great learning experience. For instance, to avoid flooding your freshly finished basement, do not shoot a finish nail through a water line in your upstairs bathroom. Good to know, right? My wife has decided that if we ever move, our new house will be totally finished. She is most likely secretly plotting to sell all of my tools when I’m away.
Since completing the house remodel, I want to try my hand at restoring a classic muscle car. I’m thinking ’65 GTO convertible, but since there is a newborn in the house and we only have a one-car garage, it may set me back awhile. To me, success is happiness. If I can go to work every day and feel fulfilled, and be home at night spending time with people I love - that is all I need....and a three-car garage with a ’65 GTO.
Fun Fact: I was born with a black eye. My baby pictures are awesome. My dad likes to say that the doctor and I got into a fist fight in the delivery room.
Schemmer - Design with Purpose. Build with Confidence.
Schemmer continues to study and implement renewable energies when possible. We are dedicated to ongoing education for our professionals. If energy costs rise or regulations require lower consumption, we’ll be ready. It is our responsibility to identify where we can help clients save energy, conserve the natural environment and look for sustainable solutions.
OPERATE Services Include:
- Energy Modeling and Benchmarking
- Load Matching and Peak Load Reduction
- Water Conservation and Quality Strategies
- Daylighting and Occupancy Controls
- Life Safety Systems Review and Analysis
- Envelope Analysis
- Systems Commissioning
- Building Envelope Commissioning
- Six Sigma Process Review
- Power Generation/Distribution Review, Testing and Analysis
Learn More About Our OPERATE Services
