What is your current position? What is your area of focus?
My current position is Principal and Plumbing Discipline Leader. I am responsible for design and oversight of plumbing systems on different building such as laboratories, hospitals etc., as well as training and mentoring junior employees, code compliance, system safety and sustainability.
What are your career journey highlights?
- Principal and Plumbing Discipline Leader at SmithGroup.
- Drafting and piping design services owner.
- Serving in the U.S. Navy
What motivated you to get into the plumbing engineering industry?
Having served in the US Navy Seabees, I have always been drawn to anything related to piping. Additionally, my experience as a yacht technician involved troubleshooting engines and piping systems. From there, I found myself crossing paths with the HVAC/plumbing industry. I immediately identified that there is a big need for plumbing engineers and designers. I was also intrigued by the methodology used in designing such systems, especially for specialized buildings like hospitals and laboratories.
What is the most exciting or rewarding aspect of your work?
Being part of a team that designs various types of significant buildings is incredibly rewarding. As I travel and observe the structures we have designed, I am filled with a profound sense of fulfillment. It's comforting to know that these buildings will stand long after I'm gone, continuing to serve the community and making a lasting impact.
What value have you gained from participation in ASPE Connect?
I am currently new to the platform, but from what I have observed to date, ASPE Connect is a powerful tool that bridges the past, present, and future of plumbing design and system approaches. This can ultimately help with elevating the industry as a whole.
What is the most interesting plumbing design challenge you have encountered?
What I love about our industry is that it is difficult to single out one interesting design challenge over another. There is an abundance of interesting design challenges encountered.
One example, not necessarily the most challenging, is when we designed a dewatering system for a Crime Lab. Site limitations necessitated a basement to support all the program spaces. Unfortunately, the site also had a high water table. Though challenging, I loved to have fun and incorporate my previous military experience. I provided a concept where the system design for the dewatering system was modeled after techniques used in designing a U.S. naval ship, where compartmentalization is a critical element in flood mitigation. The dewatering system has two zones. The pipe routing and cleanout locations are strategically placed, with an option to add a sensor to identify where the water is coming from. Each zone is then connected to a basin with a dual sump pump. The two basins are also interconnected in case one basin is out of commission for maintenance.
What is your favorite hobby or pastime outside of work?
This is always an interesting question for me to answer, especially when followed by "outside of work." Although I am a strong advocate for disconnecting from work, having been in the industry for a long time and genuinely enjoying what I do, I don't even consider it work. I also enjoy spending time with my family and engaging in DIY tasks and home improvements. Love to eat out!