Alex Spieler, EIT – Structural Engineer & Ski Enthusiast
1. What drew you to Hoyle Tanner?
First and foremost I was relocating from the New York City region to Burlington, Vermont and looking to stay involved within the bridges industry, but in particular I liked that Hoyle Tanner is a medium-size company (regional, not national or global) and that a wide variety of services beyond the transportation field are offered.
2. What’s something invaluable you’ve learned here?
I’ve learned that receiving genuine compliments is a big morale boost, which is a great reminder to give them whenever you can.
3. What’s your favorite time of year to work at Hoyle Tanner & why?
Well I only joined in August of this year, so the jury is still out on this question. But, in my personal life, winter is my favorite season. Having been raised in the south, I still find snow to be magical.
4. What’s the coolest thing you are working on & why?
So far the coolest thing was getting to draw a detail in 3D. Up to this point in my career I have stayed in the 2D world. I am looking forward to try many of the new experiences that I’m sure are on my path.
5. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you so far this week?
It got cold enough outside that some of the ski resorts started to blow snow!
6. How many different states have you lived in?
Texas, then New York, and now Vermont.
7. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
Pizza – preferably pepperoni and sausage.
8. What kind of pet do you have & how did you choose to name it?
No pets at the moment, but if I do get some I’ll start naming them after foods. First up is Pepperoni, then Cheesecake, and finally Cinnamon Roll. After that I’ll have to do more brainstorming.
9. What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?
I’m from Pflugerville, Texas. That’s a silent ‘P’ in front of a ‘f’… and we are very proud our unique spelling. So much so that we add P’s in front of words beginning with F, such as the high school football stadium named “The Pfield” (which has a capacity of 10,000 in stereotypical Texas fashion).
10. What are three things still left on your bucket list?
- Skiing in the southern hemisphere
- Getting to use my engineering skills in a humanitarian manner
- Going to space
11. Name three items you’d take with you to a desert island:
- A comfy bed
- An AC unit
- Some pizza
I may not survive long but I’ll be comfortable.
12. What characteristic do you admire most in others?
Intellectual humility/honesty about not knowing something.
13. How old is the oldest item in your closet?
I have a St. Louis Cardinals jersey that I bought when I visited the stadium in 2011. Looking back it must have been quite the massive jersey on me back then because it still fits loosely now…
14. Words to live by? Favorite quote? Why?
I think the quote “They may forget what you said – but they will never forget how you made them feel” and my grandfather telling me to “be a reporter” (i.e. ask people a lot of questions and show interest in their stories) go nicely together. They remind me to listen to others and to try to make them feel valued.
15. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
There was a brief stint of garbage truck worker, but for the majority of childhood it was a carpenter/inventor.
16. If you were to skydive from an airplane what would you think about on the way down?
I’ve only been skydiving once, but I remember thinking afterwards “why didn’t we pay to do the higher altitude one?”
