June 2024

LJC Office Location: Phoenix
Title/Role: Project Manager, Senior Associate
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: Tec de Monterray

What is the most fun you've had on a trip or vacation?
One of the most recent ones was a solo trip (I’m a huge proponent of solo traveling) to Joshua Tree on an unusual snowy week. Loved being in the middle of mind-blowing rock formations and funky plants. I hiked one of the most scenic views summits and couldn’t see a thing! (where the photo was taken). But it was beautiful to experience it during the snow, especially for a desert dweller like me. Then driving back to the Airbnb in the middle of nowhere, to cook uni pasta with a glass of wine.

What's a book you'd recommend to just about anyone? Why?
Ways of Being by James Bridle. This book talks about how all the different intelligences on this planet help with keeping a balance in nature and how crucial it is for humans to connect to and include these different intelligences when understanding our world and developing technologies. Specifically talking about the future of AI, currently developed only to mimic human intelligence (and specifically, one type of human intelligence), can only be successful if we amplify it to intelligence that we might not fully comprehend yet.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why?
When I was about 5 years old I really wanted to be a truck driver. I imagined traveling to different places in my own truck, being on the road, having everything I need with me. I imagined I had a tiny house with all of my belongings inside the truck.

LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Architect/Associate
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: Bachelors, Miami University of Ohio | Masters, University of Michigan
Affiliations: AIA, NCARB

What’s your most niche, non-work-related interest? 
Probably making and painting miniature models. I enjoy the craft involved with building model kits/kitbashing and the meditative pace and mindset required to paint at small scales. 

What’s the last TV show you binged and enjoyed? What was so good about it?
Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass. I watched the first episode on a whim and couldn’t stop until I had finished the series that same weekend. Without spoiling it, an isolated island town struggles with mysterious (maybe supernatural) events centered around an unfamiliar charismatic priest.

What movie can you watch over and over again? What makes it so special? 
I watch the extended directors cut of the LOTR Trilogy every year typically around the holidays. Some of my happiest theater going memories were seeing each movie the night it came out, right at the start of each winter break from school.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why? 
I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. I have always been fascinated with space/space travel and wished I could be on that frontier of human exploration. 

LJC Office Location: Los Angeles
Title/Role: Architect / Associate Principal / Industrial Operations Manager
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: Bachelors & Masters | Lawrence Technological University

What’s the most fun you’ve had on a trip or vacation?
A family road trip along Pacific Coast Highway. We stopped at small towns, hiked through forests, and ended with a sunset at Big Sur. The combination of adventure and bonding with my wife and son made it unforgettable.

What’s a book you’d recommend to just about anyone? Why?

I love to read, so it’s hard to pick just one book. Here are my current top three recommendations:

• Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. This book delves into leadership from a unique angle, emphasizing how great leaders prioritize their team’s well-being, fostering a circle of trust and support. It’s an insightful read for anyone looking to understand the deeper aspects of effective leadership.
• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. This book helps people understand and enhance their emotional intelligence, which is essential in both personal and professional settings. It’s a valuable resource for anyone aiming to improve their interpersonal skills and self-awareness.
• To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink. This book is about the art and science of selling in a modern context, revealing that we are all in sales, whether we realize it or not.

What does a perfect weekend look like to you?
A perfect weekend for me is a balance between relaxation and activity with my family. It starts with brewing a hot pot of coffee and making breakfast for everyone at home. Then, we head out for a refreshing morning hike. Afterward, I spend some time on a creative project or reading a book. We wrap up the day by cooking a delicious dinner and enjoying a cozy movie night.

What was your first job, and what is most memorable about it?
My first job was as a caddie at Pine Lake Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan, when I was just 12 years old. The most memorable part was waking up early in the morning to be on the course by 6 AM even though the first tee time wasn’t until 7 AM. I learned the game of golf from the ground up and got to know the regular golfers, who were always full of interesting stories and tips. This job taught me invaluable lessons about patience, attention to detail, and the importance of a strong work ethic. Plus, there was something special about the early morning mist over the greens that made those early starts worthwhile.

LJC Office Location: Kansas City
Title/Role: Principal / Director, Aseptic Fill Finish
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: University of Missouri - Columbia
Affiliations: Parental Drug Association (PDA), International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE)

What is something about you that you think would surprise your co-workers? 
I’ve played guitar since I was eight years old, including playing in talent shows and several bands in grade school, high school, and college. The most fun band I played in was a Blues Brothers cover band. I still play today and own several guitars.

What’s the most fun you’ve had on a trip or vacation? 
When I traveled to northern Italy with my wife in 2024.

What’s a book you’d recommend to just about anyone? Why? 
As an adult - Flying Cloud by David Shaw. True story of America’s most famous clipper ship and the woman who guided her. As a kid – The Travels of Marco Polo.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why? 
Play baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. Loved baseball and the Cardinals were the “local” team being from Springfield, MO.

LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Associate Principal/Senior Project Manager
Focus: Architecture
Alma Mater: University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (Bachelor’s degree) and Illinois Institute of Technology (Master’s degree)
Affiliations: AIA, ACE

What's your most niche, non-work-related interest?
Pickleball, though it's not so niche anymore...

What’s a book you’d recommend to just about anyone? Why? 
“Daring Greatly,” based on years of research, demonstrates how “vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” If reading isn’t your thing, Brene Brown also has a couple of great TED talks and podcasts you should check out. 

What was your first job and what is most memorable about it? 
Overnight Camp Counselor. I went thinking it would be a fun summer hanging out with my friends. In actuality I was in charge of 10, 10 years olds 24/7, and it was the hardest job I’ve ever had. It was the summer before I left for college and it prepared me to help out all my new college friends who were homesick being away from home the first time.