Little Known Fact:

I try to make it to Italy for at least a week every year. If you have been there, you understand why.

Client or Design Philosophy:

What I love about my job is that we make a difference to our clients and the world. We design complicated structures for buildings that will serve our communities. We design seismic retrofits of buildings that can keep those buildings in service for years to come. We can see and we can touch the final product. The results of our collaboration s with the team and the resulting effort put into developing a great design is something real. It is something that I am proud to be part of making it happen.

Virtues:

I lead my life seeking to make a difference whether it is by providing quality structural engineering , so that an owner has an efficient safe structure, to volunteering as a building inspector in Saint Bernard Parish after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — and everything in between. It is how I can give back for the great family, friends, and opportunities that I have been blessed with during my life.

Vices:

Fore! I always enjoy a round of golf on a sunny afternoon unless I am catching a professional baseball game somewhere.

Special Interests:

The ACE Mentoring program is a great program where a team of volunteer mentors introduces a group of high school students to the design and construction industry through an after-school program. I am fortunate to be a Board Member for the LA Metro Section as well as the team leader. Our team consists of mentors from several leading architecture and construction firms and some amazing students from Belmont High, Camino Nuevo High, Oscar De La Hoya Amino High, and Los Angeles School of Global Studies. During the yearlong program, we take students to job sites and offices and then we guide them through a large design project. The year concludes with a great banquet and scholarship opportunities for students who will be pursing a career in the construction industry after they graduate high school. It is amazing to see what these students can do when given the opportunity and encouragement.