Culture

What hobby or pastime inspires you most when you are not at work?

"One thing stands out as my favorite and most inspiring pastime: I love to build, renovate and improve."
July 27, 2017
Topics
Culture

Matthew Taylor
Project Manager
Gaylor Electric
Noblesville, Ind.

All too often, a hectic day at work leads to rushing home to take care of household tasks and spend time with family before starting over the next day.

When I get a chance to press pause and enjoy some free time, I enjoy golfing, cooking out with friends and family, and attending sporting events and movies.

But one thing stands out as my favorite and most inspiring pastime: I love to build, renovate and improve. It may seem like a crazy concept for someone in the construction industry to spend his free time building, but as a project manager, I spend very little time doing hands-on construction work.

Selecting design ideas with my wife or learning a new skill from my father gives me the opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones, but the most rewarding and inspiring moment is admiring a completed project.

Knowing that at the end of the day there will be a tangible object to showcase as a reward for the time spent is what inspires me to constantly be looking for the next project.

Sierra Crum
Project Engineer
Helix Electric
Oakland, Calif.

I recently moved to California from Ohio where I attended the University of Cincinnati, and being in the Bay Area has been an inspiration in both my personal life and in my career. Moving here has really gotten me out of my comfort zone and opened me up to so many new opportunities. I am grateful for all of the new adventures I have been able to take.

Some of my favorite activities have been driving up to Point Reyes to go hiking with my dog, driving with a group of friends through a terrible snow storm to get to Lake Tahoe, exploring San Francisco and Oakland and the restaurants within them, and most recently I have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather and started taking golf lessons.

Not only has this broadened my professional and personal experience, but I feel that the Bay Area was the perfect place for me to start my career in the construction industry. I am getting to work in a fast-paced, innovative, rapid learning environment. I am doing things that I never imagined I would be doing, and I cannot wait to keep exploring and learning.

Mallory Collier
Regional VDC Manager
Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC
Birmingham, Ala.

I am passionate about interior design and fashion, and am an avid reader. I own a local small business with a friend of mine, a brick and mortar mercantile shop that specializes in modern home goods, clothing, market items, accessories and custom design services.

I was initially drawn to architecture in college and have found that my virtual design and construction role allows me to bridge the gap between my passion for design and my interest in the built environment. That said, I still need to have an outlet to express my creativity and interests. I thrive on quiet time and enjoy spending my downtime in our shop/studio brainstorming and collaboratively designing various objects with one of our many local makers. This allows me to disconnect from my
day-to-day job and has provided an opportunity for me to connect with the thriving artistic community here on a much deeper level.

I’m hopeful that it is an inspiration to my young daughter to always stay committed to your true passions and find ways to express your imagination.

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