We are W+P!

After a short hiatus the W+P blog is back! 

...what better topic to reignite Sketchbook than to introduce you to our new W+P people.

Willams + Paddon places great value in the power of the individual. We are a company that is strong because of the diverse set of skills each person brings to the table. So without further delay, introducing........... 

Kevin Young came to us from Oregon about a year ago and he immediately fit in (even though he is a Seahawks fan!). His enthusiasm for architecture is only matched by his passion for cooking (and eating). When asked what his favorite food was he said: "I wouldn't even be able to decide if it was my last meal!" That enthusiasm comes across when talking to him, as he is the primary cook in his household and knows his way around the kitchen!

Kevin has been a great addition to the W+P team, contributing to all project types from design to construction details. His proudest work accomplishment to date has been in his role as job captain on Star Academy for Natomas Charter School. It's his first major large project and it's going really well (whew!). Kevin enjoyed working with a very strong team with great collaboration within W+P as well as with the client and consultants. He's excited to see the project through to its completion and will take on any other task that we throw at him.

Cody Carpino joined W+P just after Kevin and has been a fantastic addition to our Learning Environments team as Project Manager. Cody has also added new elements to our culture by establishing a tradition of lunch time Pecha Kucha presentations that inspire creativity within the office. 

While we like to keep him as busy as possible, when he's not in the office you can probably catch him on the golf course or riding down the face of a rock on his mountain bike. Cody is passionate about community involvement, and he is most proud of  his involvement with Leadership Auburn. Cody is a great guy to have around, especially in a golf tournament or if you need someone to reach that window submittal on the tallest bookcase shelf. If you are trying to butter him up to play on your team, take him out for some Cioppino.

We have two Jasons that came to W+P within days of one another. Confusing as it is for them to have the same name, we thought it would make it even more difficult for everyone by having them sit next to each other! Jason Coate (left) and Jason Larsen (right) are both great sports in taking on many nicknames so that we can distinguish between the two. Both are outdoors-men at heart and would rather not spend the day in an office. Jason Coate is an avid fly fisherman, spending any free time waist-deep in a stream. Jason Larsen on the other hand might be seen driving down a windy road on his Harley. Jason C has been busy working on John Adams Academy and various Kuni Car Dealerships. Jason L has been involved in some retail projects as well as the SAFE Credit Union TI and Keller Williams Folsom TI.  

We can't wait for this year's Halloween party with these two. We asked them each the question, "if you were a superhero designer, what would your costume be?" Their responses were very different but equally intriguing. Jason Coate  would be a 6ft tall HB pencil, while Jason Larsen said he would grow out his sideburns and don the leather jacket as Wolverine (the designer).

Carina Abella Huang is our newest team member, she joined us the end of May. She is a Design Architect and is accomplished in her background in Learning Environments, helping her previous company win a SCUP award for the Mission College master plan. Even in the short time since she has been with W+P her contributions have been significant. Star Academy is just one of the projects that has benefited from her skill set, as she made the project come alive with a beautiful walk-through animation. 

Though she does claim that being a mom is her first job, when she's on the job we feel like her number one priority. Balancing her role as a mom and as a Project Architect, she still finds time to rock climb at the gym and sample cuisine from various local restaurants. Love of food is a commonality among the new recruits but with Carina, anything with chocolate or pork belly stands at the top of her list. 

We are thrilled our (relatively) new recruits are part of the W+P team. No doubt you will hear more about them as they immerse themselves in projects.