Wessler is proud to announce Josh Hood, E.I., as the Employee of the Month! Josh works as an Engineer in our Evansville office, working on a variety of projects. He worked as a summer intern with Wessler from 2012 to 2014, and has been employed full-time since May 2015. He has experience in stormwater, sanitary, drinking water, surveying, and construction services. Additional experience includes permitting, modeling, and field services.
We asked him some questions so that we all can get to know him better.
What are your roles and responsibilities at Wessler?
I am an Engineer in our Evansville office. I perform field inspections and testing, assist with surveying, construction inspections (RPR), and also some drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater design. Since our Evansville office is smaller, it allows me to work on a variety of projects.
What does the "Wessler Way" mean to you?
The Wessler Way means giving the client the best possible product to fit their needs and developing solid relationships between Wessler and our clients. We want our clients to put their trust in us and that comes from doing the right thing from the start of the project until the very end.
What are some of the most valuable lessons you have learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to be prepared for something to not go as planned. Whether it’s improvising equipment or procedures in the field or working with unforeseen conditions during construction, you have to remain calm and work out another solution. There is always more than one way to do something, so having a backup plan or being able to come up with a backup plan quickly is key.
Outside of work, what are some of your favorite hobbies?
My favorite hobbies are hunting, cooking, and traveling. I do about 95% of the cooking in our house and I really enjoy trying new recipes. I make all of my dough for pizza, breadsticks, and garlic knots from scratch. My wife and I watch a lot of Gordon Ramsay and then the next day, I am making something we saw on one of his shows. My wife and I got back from a trip to England, Scotland, and Ireland in June and we are going to Rome and Munich in March 2018. I have driven to Houston, Miami, Reno, and Niagara Falls, and I really enjoy visiting different places.
You bought a new truck recently! What kind? And what other vehicles have you owned?I bought a 2017 Silverado on Labor Day this year. I’ve only had one other vehicle – a 2000 Monte Carlo, which I have had since I first started driving. It was a nice upgrade after 8 years.
What made you want to choose a career in the civil engineering industry?
In high school, my uncle took me to a bridge he was working on in the Houston area and that got me interested in the field of civil engineering. I had a job shadow opportunity with Wessler my senior year in high school, 2011, where I was able to see a different side of civil engineering and that was the start of my interest in what I do today.
And you are back in school! What for and where at?
I am pursuing a Master’s of Science in Construction Management from Louisiana State University. All of the classes are online so it enables me to keep working full time and study whether I’m at home or on the road for work. I am expected to graduate in May 2018 – almost done!
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