Charles Ramey – Environmental Engineer & Novelty Seeker
1. What drew you to Hoyle Tanner?
When I moved from Colorado to Vermont, I was looking for any position in the industry that would allow me to learn. Hoyle Tanner stood out because they had job listings in Burlington for a few different positions I was interested in, and I knew I would have an opportunity to develop a wide variety of skills.
2. What’s something invaluable you’ve learned here?
You don’t need to do anything alone. There are great people with a lot of knowledge and experience to share, both within Hoyle Tanner and outside the company.
3. What’s your favorite time of year to work at Hoyle Tanner & why?
I’ve only been with Hoyle Tanner for half a year, so we’ll see what the summer brings. That being said, I enjoy late winter/early spring because it’s a time when we get to complete a lot of design work as we head into construction season.
4. What’s the coolest thing you are working on, and why?
Everything I work on is cool! If I had to pick one project it would be assessing the Bolton Valley Ski Resort’s water system. Coming from Colorado, I’ve spent a lot of time on the slopes, so it’s cool to see the unique challenges of a ski resort’s landscape, weather, and seasonal occupancy.
5. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you so far this week?
I just completed hockey lessons yesterday, and now I’m able to play my favorite sport!
6. How many different states have you lived in?
Two. I lived in Colorado for the first 25 years of my life and just moved to Vermont in August.
7. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
My grandmother’s pasta. We all love family cooking and nothing beats my Italian grandmother’s homemade pasta sauce.
8. What kind of pet do you have and how did you choose to name it?
I have a three-year-old American pit bull terrier super mutt who I rescued in October. We kept the name Piper, which was given to her by her previous owner.
9. What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?
My hometown has a coal mining history that is older than the state of Colorado itself, and many of the mines still exist underneath the town!
10. What are three things still left on your bucket list?
- See the Aurora Borealis (and visit Antarctica, two in one!)
- Visit the 7 Wonders of the World
- Go on an African safari
11. Name three items you’d take with you to a desert island.
- My guitar
- A ball (any ball, just something to play with)
- My favorite book series (Red Rising by Pierce Brown)
12. What characteristic do you admire most in others?
Patience
13. How old is the oldest item in your closet?
I have a vibrant ski jacket from the 80s that I bought at a thrift store.
14. Words to live by? Favorite quote? Why?
There’s no such thing as failure until you give up on yourself. Every “failure” is an opportunity to learn and grow. Even if we decide to stop trying something, it’s important to have self-confidence and self-respect.
15. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was really young I wanted to be a professional athlete, and through my teenage years I wanted to be an architect. Being an engineer in a civil field isn’t too far off!
16. If you were to skydive from an airplane what would you think about on the way down?
I have skydived from an airplane and I can say that all I could think was how exhilarating it was and how happy I was to be falling from the sky…I only wished it could last longer!
