Meet Joe Ripley, PE – Senior Structural Engineer & Endurance Sports Junkie
What drew you to Hoyle Tanner?
I am going to change this to “what has kept me at Hoyle Tanner” since it’s a better story. What drew me to Hoyle Tanner was the fact that I graduated at the end of the Great Financial Crisis and Hoyle Tanner was the only firm of the 20 that I applied to that gave me an interview.
What has kept me at Hoyle Tanner is the variety of projects, the career opportunities, and the relationships that I have developed with my coworkers.
What’s something invaluable you’ve learned here?
The power of the “hive mind” for problem solving. It’s amazing what ideas you can generate if you lock four engineers in a conference room and tell them to start thinking of solutions. Some of my favorite days at work have been when I was part of one of these meetings. It really shows that a team of people working together is so much more powerful than any individual working alone.
What’s your favorite time of year to work at Hoyle Tanner & why?
Definitely the summer. It’s the time of year that I get to spend the most time outdoors to visit construction sites and complete bridge inspection. It’s also a good time of year to get out for a lunch time run.
What’s the coolest thing you are working on & why?
We are wrapping up a group of bridge load ratings for MassDOT. I know it does not sound super exciting, but it’s our first assignment under a new contract for us. So much of what we have been doing is going “from 0 to 1” so it’s been really cool to see everyone involved figuring out the best ways to actually organize and get the work done.
What’s the best thing that’s happened to you recently (this week, this month, this year)?
My oldest son started kindergarten [a few months ago] and he is really enjoying it. He loves to recreate the activities he did at school with his little brother. Due to the hectic life of two working parents, I get to wait with him most mornings at the bus stop. I have really enjoyed this one-on-one time with him where we have nothing to do but talk.
How many different states have you lived in?
Two. Massachusetts (where I grew up) and New Hampshire.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
Definitely cheeseburgers and French fries.
What kind of pet do you have & how did you choose to name it?
A lab/collie mix dog named Riley. We named her after my favorite UMass Lowell ice hockey player, Riley Whetmore. He was the team captain during my year at graduate school when UMass Lowell made it to the Frozen Four. Sidenote: he had a breakaway in the Frozen Four and ended up losing his balance and crashing into the goalie…Rewatch it here.
What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?
In the 1800s there were three rich men, Nevins, Searles, and Tenney who built huge walled estates along with other large civic buildings such as our library, a music hall, and a school which is now the City Hall. It’s really cool to see the architecture of those buildings.
What are three things still left on your bucket list?
- Visit Alaska
- Go trail running in Chamonix, France
- Buy a camper van
Name three items you’d take with you to a desert island.
- A good book
- My hammock
- My running shoes
What characteristic do you admire most in others?
Hard work. A willingness to roll up your sleeves and dive headfirst into a challenge.
How old is the oldest item in your closet?
I have a camouflaged army surplus boonie hat that I bought when I was around 10 years old to wear on family hiking trips. I still have it and sometimes my kids like to borrow it when they are playing.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An astronaut or a sailor in the Navy.
What’s one of your most ridiculous/nonsensical fears?
There is a dream I have sometimes where I signed up for a college course but have never gone to class and now I need to figure out a way to not fail the final.
What’s your pump-up playlist or song lately?
If I need a quick energy burst, I really fall back onto something like Matt and Kim. They have plenty of happy, high-energy songs with a good beat.
If I need to get pumped up for a work task that requires focus, I need classical music or a movie soundtrack. I can’t listen to music with lyrics while working. I save the Lord of the Rings soundtracks for when I need to really buckle down for work.
Words to live by? Favorite quote? Why?
“A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love. These things cannot be bought – they must be earned.” – Naval Ravikant. I like this quote because it reminds me that the basics of a happy life are fully in my control and that there are no shortcuts to achieving them. They only get better the more time I spend working on them.
It’s not really a quote, but I also really like the “Man in the Arena” speech by Teddy Roosevelt. It reminds me that not every project will go smoothly and not every decision I make will be the correct one. What is important is to keep trying, learn from your mistakes, and never be afraid to shoot for the stars.
