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PRINCIPAL ENGINEEr prohns llc
Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Minor in Mathematics, Washington State University – Go Cougs! Community work: Supporting the Glacier Peak Institute and their STEM education programs; being a volunteer and Governor-appointed member of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission, donating to local non-profits and charities. I’m most passionate about mentoring and providing career advice to younger engineers and students who are interested in pursuing careers in engineering. There is a lot of nuances you learn in the profession that are not shared when you are in college, information I wish someone would have shared with me. Family: My wife Brittany and son Icem are the center of my universe, as well as our dogs Rainier and Maggie. We also have a cat named McCoy, he’s just ‘okay’, but if you have both cats and dogs you probably get that! I have to give a ton of credit to Brittany for supporting my career choices and professional development. When I was considering whether or not to join proHNS as an Owner back in 2016, she pushed me towards doing so and has been my rock ever since. Thanks and love you Britt! Hometown: A beautiful but small timber town called Darrington in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. I graduated from the same high school as my father, his father before him, and same as many other Gladsjo family members encompassing several generations. Current city: Juneau What is your most memorable Alaska experience? “Cabin” trips with the boys. Whether it is hunting, fishing, camping, or just exploring, we always make the most of each experience and our time in the outdoors. The locations change, the accommodations are different, but the “Cabin” is always the same.
michael penn photography
Name the person you most respect and why. There have been a lot of mentors, coworkers, fellow professionals, and others I could choose from, but the one that stands above the rest is my late father Ernie Gladsjo. He too was a small business owner and, along with my mother Carol, instilled a strong work ethic and moral compass in both my brother and I. He also had a knack of knowing when to be friendly and warm, as well as when to be firm and unyielding in his decisions. As I grow older I begin to notice more and more of his mannerisms in my own actions. He was always well respected by his peers and those who knew him, and I can only hope to someday be as well respected as him by my own peers. What is your favorite pastime or hobby away from work? Anything involving being active in the outdoors, from the
GARRET KARL GLADSJO, PE
casual after work dog walk at Dredge Lakes, to hunting, fishing, hiking, golfing, rec league softball, disc golf, and more our beautiful surroundings have to offer. Favorite quote: When my father retired, I would often ask him what day he was doing something, and the common response was “Son, every day is Saturday when you’re retired.” I look forward to someday experiencing Saturday seven days a week! What was your first job? Sales clerk and parts stocker for an auto parts store while in high school. What is the book you most often recommend? “Never Split the Difference – Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It”, by Chris Voss What has been your most rewarding community service, and what is your pitch when you are seeking others to get involved in a cause? Mentoring young engineers and students, providing career advice and sharing knowledge I wish others would have shared with me. I feel that if I can impart even 10% of my knowledge on them, they will be a far better engineer than I by the time they reach my age. If I’m pitching professional peers on getting involved in mentoring, I think the biggest point I try to make is that supporting the next generation is supporting the professional growth and technical skill development of our entire profession, which in turn helps build a better world. Engineers are problem solvers, and both we and the coming generations have lots of world problems to help solve. In your professional life, what has been a project or achievement you have found to be the most fulfilling? Becoming a licensed Professional Engineer. Much like doctors or lawyers who become licensed to practice in their field, obtaining your PE license is a major step forward in the career of an Engineer, and one I think many outside of the profession often fail to recognize the importance of. I know it has really changed the trajectory of my career and I always encourage younger engineers to someday pursue their own PE licensure. During the past year, what has been your biggest pandemic-related challenge either personally or professionally and how have you worked to overcome it? Just learning to navigate the waters of pandemic-related travel and work restrictions as a small business. In the end, we were fortunate our challenges were much less impactful than many other businesses. 13