Employee Spotlight: Jacob Barker

Wessler is proud to announce Jacob Barker as our latest Employee Spotlight!  Jake has worked at Wessler since 2011, serving as an environmental services project manager.

What are your roles and responsibilities at Wessler?

I am a project manager in our Environmental Services group. I work with clients to ensure that they remain in compliance with local, state and federal environmental requirements. I work out of the Carmel, Indiana office where I also assist with some of the administrative functions of the office. I also serve as Wessler Engineering’s team captain for the Water For People – Run for World Water 5K corporate team.

What is your favorite season and why?

Is football season an acceptable answer? Football season is my favorite season. A close second is college basketball season followed by season four of the hit NBC TV series “The Office.” Also Fall.

What are some interesting things most people may not know about you?

My wife and I love to travel – new experiences, environments, food and beverage, etc. We are currently working our way through all 50 states together. Five or six years ago, we bought a 48 x 78-inch map of the United States and hung it on our living room wall. Every time we visit a new state, we take a photo of the two of us, cut it to the shape of the state and glue it to the map. As of September 2021, we have visited 18 states with plans to add California in October 2021 and Maine in 2022. 

If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something what would it be and why?

Lawncare specialist! I can’t even begin to measure how much time and effort I have put into maintaining my lawn and other landscaping since becoming a homeowner. Should I seed in the spring or the fall? Do I bag grass clippings or mulch them? Water the lawn in the morning or the evening? How much sun is full sun? Part sun? I’ve read all of the articles; nothing seems to work quite the way it should.

What is your favorite go-to lunch? Snack?

Beef jerky for lunch and as a snack! I’ve eaten all sorts of jerkies - beef, bison, bacon, shark, etc. I once even had a craft beer infused beef jerky.

Where is your favorite vacation destination and why?

For our honeymoon, my wife and I spent 10 days in Spain. Most of that time was spent in Madrid and Barcelona. The experiences we had are some of my favorite vacation memories. We hoped to return to Barcelona for the completion of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, which first began construction in 1882. The Sagrada Familia was scheduled to be completed in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudi’s (the original architect) death. The pandemic, however, has delayed construction and postponed project completion.