What is your current position? What is your area of focus?
As a manufacturer's rep., I call on the plumbing engineers, specifiers, architects and designers, contractors and wholesalers throughout most of New England. I focus primarily with the plumbing engineers and designers and assist with plumbing specifications, equipment sizing, lab piping and fixtures, and educating the engineering community, contractors and plumbing inspectors about vacuum waste systems.
What are your career journey highlights?
- I have worked as a plumbing and fire protection design engineer for over 20 years, and as a manufacturer rep for 20 years.
- I have designed plumbing and fire protection systems for a wide range of building types including research labs, hotels, computing centers, public safety buildings, schools, and athletic facilities
- I am a Past President of the Boston Chapter ASPE
- I am current VP Membership for the Boston Chapter ASPE
- I enjoy giving technical presentations on a number of plumbing related subjects and plumbing systems
What motivated you to get into the plumbing engineering industry?
I started out with a summer job as an office boy making blueprints and making deliveries for a small architectural/engineering firm when I was in college for mechanical engineering. Within a couple of months, I was working as a draftsman. I enjoyed learning the plumbing and fire protection side above the other trades so I stayed with it.
What is the most exciting or rewarding aspect of your work?
The most exciting is going out to the site and diagnosing a plumbing system problem and knowing the solution to fix it. Every day I'm involved with different engineers working on different projects so it is always something new.
The most rewarding is seeing vacuum waste systems becoming commonplace on projects in the Boston area. Five years ago vacuum waste systems were rarely specified except for supermarket condensate systems. In the last two years, we have over a dozen vacuum waste systems being designed and installed in a wide array of building types. That's quite an accomplishment.
What value have you gained from participation in ASPE Connect?
ASPE Connect is a valuable resource for ASPE members of all experience levels to get together online and share ideas and learn from other member's experience. The combined technical knowledge of those using ASPE Connect is quite impressive.
What is the most interesting plumbing design challenge you have encountered?
The most interesting plumbing design challenges would when we have to find a solution for some of the building constraints that won't allow a traditional gravity system to work. Vacuum waste systems work even where constraints like structural slabs, contaminated soils, minimal ceiling space, or historical buildings prevents the use of traditional gravity systems.
What is your favorite hobby or pastime outside of work?
I love being outdoors. My three sons are all Eagle Scouts so I've spent a lot of time outdoors, hiking, camping, kayaking, etc. and I go on 20 mile bike rides on the weekends. I enjoy taking classes to learn new things. I recently got involved in Bonsai plants, took a sailing lesson, joined a wire sculpture class and my next class will be to try my hand at glass blowing.
I also enjoy collecting watches. Some of my favorites are from the 30's, 40's and 50's. I enjoy wearing every watch I own, though Daylight Savings is a pain.