Emily Belisle – Civil Engineer & Aspiring World Traveler
1. What drew you to Hoyle Tanner?
I knew a few employees here at Hoyle Tanner from my graduating UNH class and had heard good things. When I was searching for a new job, the Portsmouth office had a job posting out for my level in the area, so it was a no brainer to apply. After my interview, I knew that I’d enjoy working with the people in Portsmouth.
2. What’s something invaluable you’ve learned here?
That the people you work with is one of the, if not the, most important component contributing to how much you enjoy your work.
3. What’s your favorite time of year to work at Hoyle Tanner?
My favorite time of year to work at Hoyle Tanner is the summer. That is when the construction projects are in full swing, and I can get a little bit of time out in the field.
4. What’s the coolest thing you are working on?
Currently the coolest thing I am working on right now is a COVID-19 memorial garden. The project involves a walkway and garden through the woods that leads to the Solstice Stone. The Solstice Stone is a giant stone cut in half and positioned just so the sun beam at solar noon on the solstices will shine right down the center.
5. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you so far this week?
The best thing that happened to me this week is my discovery of portable extra monitors. They plug right into your laptops UBS port and are the size of a notebook. Now I can work from anywhere once I buy one!
6. How many different states have you lived in?
I have only lived in one state, New Hampshire.
7. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would eat Tuscan chicken pasta. Chicken, spinach, sundried tomatoes all in a parmesan cream sauce over whatever pasta you like, it’s delicious.
8. What kind of pet do you have and how did you choose to name it?
I don’t have a pet, but I do have a plant my sister bought me. I have managed to keep it alive for seven months so far, it is a spathiphyllum.
9. What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?
Dunbarton, NH was home to John Stark – “The hero of Bennington” for his service as the Battle of Bennington in 1777 during the revolutionary war. There’s a statue of him next to the town library that is dressed up for all of the holidays every year.
10. What are three things still left on your bucket list?
- Visit at least one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
- Live abroad for a while. Nowhere specific, just not the US.
- Really learn to speak another language, not just the greetings.
11. Name three items you’d take with you to a desert island:
- My kindle
- Sunscreen
- Wifi hot spot (so I can download more books)
12. What characteristic do you admire most in others?
Reliability
13. How old is the oldest item in your closet?
I still have my Uggs from high school, so those are probably the oldest thing I have around. They even came back in style this year after nine years.
14. Words to live by? Favorite quote? Why?
“Nothing matters very much, and few things matter at all.” – Arthur Balfour
I like this quote because it reminds me not to take life too seriously.
15. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a lawyer up until I was a sophomore in high school, but I figured out how much school that took. Then I decided on Environmental Engineer, although I didn’t really know what that was until I was already in the major in college. I picked environmental engineering because I was an environmentalist and I liked physics – turns out neither of those things are involved much.
16. If you were to skydive from an airplane, what would you think about on the way down?
Probably trying to remember to breathe.
