Welcome to our series, Getting to Know the Team! If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a structural engineer or simply wanted to learn more about the people behind Engineering Solutions, this series is for you. We’ll feature a new team member every month, so be sure to check back regularly and enjoy our next installment below!
Name – Phillip Weatherly
Location – Harrisonburg
Title – Engineering Technician
Years with Engineering Solutions – 6 years
When did you know you wanted to be a structural engineer?
My degree is mechanical, but right out of school I worked as a designer in a truss manufacturing plant and that experience pushed me over to the structural side.
What is your typical day at work?
I do some drafting, some engineering, and even some IT stuff here and there. No two days are alike.
What is the best part about your job?
I enjoy meeting with builders or homeowners on site and seeing the progress from the start of a project to the end.
What are some of the challenges in your job?
Being the “reality check.” It’s no fun going into a meeting knowing what the client wants can’t be done and having to convince them of it.
What is one of the coolest projects you’ve worked on for Engineering Solutions?
I worked on the McKnight Residence for Oxman Architects. It is one of the more interesting houses I have ever seen, and the only one I know of with a steel moment frame running through the middle.
What is your favorite Core Behavior and how do you live it out?
Be Productive. I don’t like to sit around doing nothing, and I am constantly trying to streamline processes both at work and at home.
If you had to give one piece of advice for working with a structural engineer, what would it be?
Know what you want. Nothing is more frustrating than a client making changes at the eleventh hour.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Playing softball and basketball, sporting clays, saltwater fishing, and working on my car.
Tell us about your family.
I’ve been married for 10 years and have a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son.
Fun fact about yourself?
I grew up 20 minutes from Virginia Beach but spent more time in OBX.
What is your favorite restaurant?
My favorite restaurant is Captain Bob’s in Hertford, NC. You can get some great seafood there and get some North Carolina BBQ to go.