Meet Travis Gelinas – CADD Designer & Creative Craftsman
What drew you to Hoyle Tanner?
I previously worked for a company that supplied vending services to Hoyle Tanner and was informed about an open position in support services (read more about my journey here). Donna Akerley hired me, and I am grateful for her and the opportunity I was afforded. It’s been nearly 24 years now and I have transitioned out of support and into the Ground Transportation Division where I am now a CADD Designer.
What’s your favorite part of the company culture?
I really enjoy the collaboration process we have. Being able to work together as a team to identify design challenges and come up with a practical solution to the potential hurdles we may face is very rewarding to me.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned from a colleague or what’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
“Every day is a school day” is more of a saying than advice, but I enjoy learning and have no intentions to ever stop.
What’s one thing you wish people knew about your job?
The challenge of being able to juggle. As a CADD Designer you typically need to be able to operate in many different softwares (ex: OpenRoads, MicroStation, and AutoCAD Civil 3D, to name a few). You also need to be familiar with the design and CADD requirements for each state you work in while managing multiple projects in those states at the same time.
What did you want to be when you were growing up / how did you get to be on the path you’re on?
To be honest I don’t think I had any specific aspirations to be anything, I was too busy being a kid. I’ve been drawing since I was 6-years-old and taking things apart to see how they work from even younger. So you could say I’ve always been drawn (pun intended) to do things with a creative or mechanical twist.
Outside of work you will find me typically engaged in some type of creative project, typically founded around old cars (but not always). As long as I’m working on something creative, I’m usually content. I enjoy shaping metal, welding, airbrushing, and custom upholstery, to name a few.
