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| Q & A with Randy Parker |
Randy Parker, P.E., has been a Traffic Engineer with Street Smarts since 2002 and recently became a shareholder in the company.
How did you wind up in your current position? Why did you join Street Smarts?
Enjoyed college transportation and surveying courses the most, but felt my previous experience as a tenant's representative and construction project manager would be best utilized in civil site design. After working with an architectural and engineering firm, I had the opportunity to change and sought a position with Street Smarts based on their reputation in the industry and previous contact with John Karnowski through ITE.
Whom do you admire and why?
Jimmy Carter for his humility and continuing efforts to make the world a better place, and Frank Lloyd Wright, for refusing to sacrifice professional design principles.
What makes your work stand out?
Knowledgeable application of professional practices to provide comprehensive solutions.
Professional pet peeve?
Failure to think "outside the box".
What is your goal yet to be achieved?
To become certified as a Professional Planner.
Lessons learned?
Listen carefully and research to clarify the situation, then plan the scope required for the project.
Family?
Married 21 years to Jane Seymour, schoolteacher and attorney, with two sons, Thomas, a freshman engineering major at Southern Polytechnic State University, and Pat, a sophomore high school football player and scholar. Also, two dogs, Little Dude, a 10-year-old mutt, and Henry, a Golden Retriever puppy.
Favorite hobbies?
Reading, travel, spending time with my wife, sons, dogs, and friends.
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| Gene Baumgaertner Pens Two Historical Non-Fiction Books |
Gene Baumgaertner recently completed two historical non-fiction books in his series, War and Politics in Fifteenth Century England. Covering key events and contrasting personalities of this turbulent period from beginning to end, A Timeline of Fifteenth Century England documents the broad stretch between the Edwards of the fourteenth century and the Tudors of the sixteenth. Covering three different dynasties by seven different kings, Baumgaertner takes his readers through periods of corruption and chaos, murder and mayhem, treachery and betrayal, and war and rebellion.
In Squires, Knights, Barons, Kings, Baumgaertner provides biographies, titles and offices, family coats-of-arms, battle standards and more within the pages of this richly detailed historical reference book. Supplemental sections included are a glossary, heraldic terms and a timeline of fifteenth century England. He is next planning a novel, entitled Blood Rose Against the Snow, which takes place before and during the War of the Roses, a thirty-five year period of bloodshed, including the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil. This will be his second novel.
Baumgaertner comments on his enduring interest in England. "In 2001, I began research for a novel, focusing on the Wars of the Roses. As fifteenth century England began to reveal it secrets to me, I became intrigued with its castles, its battles, and its pre-occupation with war. The aristocratic titles, the curious offices, the romantic heraldic arms and armor, all weaved a mesmerizing spell around me, which both charmed and intrigued me. Almost ten years later, I remain both charmed and intrigued."
Heading up our North Carolina office, Gene Baumgaertner is a Transportation Engineer for Street Smarts.
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| Q & A with Craig Clum |
Craig Clum joined Street Smarts in February as a Senior Project Manager.
What brought you to Street Smarts?
I have practiced in the site/civil sector for the majority of my career. During graduate school, I specialized mainly in transportation. Joining the outstanding team at Street Smarts will allow me to continue to manage site/civil projects, while providing the opportunity to diversify further into transportation.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Teaching, training, and helping others to succeed.
What is (and has been) your greatest business challenge?
Keeping up with ever-changing development regulations and design requirements.
What is your business philosophy?
Always maintain your focus on serving clients. By providing prompt and excellent service to your clients, repeat work will come and new opportunities will be created.
What makes your work stand out?
High-quality, detail-oriented, and complete.
Professional pet peeve?
People who over-promise and under-deliver.
Trait you value most in people?
Integrity - Do what you say, and say what you do.
Family?
I'm married and we have a 4-year old daughter.
Favorite hobbies?
Running, hiking, hunting, and fishing.
What was your first job?
My first job was working on my family's farm and other local farms (baling hay, tending to cattle, and managing crops) in my home state of Ohio. During college, I gained valuable field survey experience while working on an Ohio DOT survey crew. While in graduate school, my research focused on transportation and the development of a software program for the Ohio DOT for the acoustical design of highway noise barriers.
Recent Design of a US Army Sniper Range project:
Having the opportunity to serve the US military was a rewarding experience. Delivering a quality project that will directly benefit our country's soldiers, who are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect me and my family, provided a great sense of purpose.
Lessons learned?
There is no substitute for hard work.
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| Q & A with Shane Haniford |
Shane Haniford joined Street Smarts in January as Manager of Subsurface Utility Engineering.
What brought you to Street Smarts?
I had the opportunity to see Street Smarts in action and I was impressed that quality was of great importance to them. Our goals and ideas of how SUE belonged in the engineering field were one and the same.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Watching people grow in my profession. Teaching.
What is (and has been) your greatest business challenge?
Overcoming misunderstandings of what Subsurface Utility Engineering is designed to accomplish and how our clients can better utilize our services.
What is your goal yet to be achieved?
Standardization of SUE processes country wide and grandchildren, but I have some time for that one.
What is your business philosophy?
Find the best way to serve our clients and in ways they didn't expect. Concentrate on serving others.
What makes your work stand out?
Our technicians are continuously training and upgrading their skills. I believe if you want an excellent technician then train him to be a supervisor and if you want an excellent supervisor then train him to be a manager.
Professional pet peeve?
Many companies in our industry have a severe lack in training procedures and do not give their technicians the motivation to improve.
Trait you value most in people?
Honesty, hard work and determination.
Family?
I'm married and have 8 children, ranging from ages 6 months to 13 years old.
Favorite hobbies?
Gardening, chess, reading and playing with my children.
What was your first job?
When I was 10, I started working for The Herald Banner in Greenville, Texas. My first paper route was approximately 175 to 200 customers and I received $1.25 per customer per month. By the time I was 13, I had built up the route to 800 customers and used part of my earnings to rent 5 acres with a barn in order to raise sheep and cattle for breeding and sales.
Lessons learned?
Have standards to live up to and then live them. Expect the very best from everyone.
For more information about Subsurface Utility Engineering, check out Shane's article, Spending a Little Up Front Can Save Money and Lives with Subsurface Utility Engineering.
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