Meet Sara Sullivan, EI – Civil Engineer & Jiu-Jitsu Junkie
What drew you to Hoyle Tanner?
Many aspects drew me to Hoyle Tanner including, but not limited to, the value of work/life balance, flexibility to work from home, as well as a raised ceiling of opportunity and not getting “pigeon held” into a particular route.
What’s something invaluable you’ve learned here?
That leaders and co-workers have the capacity to be respectful towards each other. Although tempers are bound to rise during deadlines, and office “ragging” can be fun, there is just a certain level of respect I haven’t experienced prior to Hoyle Tanner.
What’s the coolest thing you are working on & why?
The solar fields in the Virgin Islands. I have never worked with solar before but am an environmentalist at heart. Getting the opportunity to be a part of providing clean energy to the islands, who can benefit from it more than others, while minimizing the impacts on the land has been rewarding.
What’s the best thing that’s happened to you recently (this week, this month, this year)?
I was fortunate enough to enjoy a 10-day trip to Scotland in August! It was hard to leave.
How many different states have you lived in?
I have lived in three different states. I was born in New York but grew up in Maryland. I moved to Florida for college and just never left.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
If garlic and sweet potatoes are involved, I’m in. A medium-rare steak topped with mushrooms and onions, baked sweet potato (or sweet potato fries), and broccoli with a squeeze of lemon. Oddly specific – I know.
What kind of pet do you have & how did you choose to name it?
I have a 6-year-old Staffordshire Terrier. My ex-girlfriend loved the play “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” so we named him Asher after one of the eleven brothers – Ash for short.
What are three things still left on your bucket list?
Hike the Appalachian Trail, visit Ireland, and earn my blue belt in jiu-jitsu (ultimately black belt, but baby steps).
Name three items you’d take with you to a desert island.
I would bring a pot to boil water, a bush craft knife/axe for all things essential, and honestly a bottle of sunscreen to get me through the first few weeks until I made more permanent arrangements.
What characteristic do you admire most in others?
I admire people who can keep an open mind and know there usually isn’t just one right way to get something done.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a veterinarian until I worked for one in high school. I just learned how to channel my love for animals in different ways.
Words to live by? Favorite quote? Why?
Gratitude is the secret sauce to life. Over the past few years, I have found that the daily practice of gratitude has helped reduce my overall stress, as well as pulled me out of feeling stagnant in life.
*It’s Hoyle Tanner’s 50th anniversary this year! Keep an eye on our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter feeds for articles and anniversary news!
