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.
Our sixth installment features Rachel Beachy, our marketing coordinator. Learn more about what she does below!
Name – Rachel Beachy
Location – Charlottesville
Title – Marketing Coordinator
Years with Engineering Solutions – 1 year
When did you know you wanted to be in marketing?
I knew I wanted to be in marketing after an internship in college. I studied journalism and business and marketing was a great way to combine the two. Marketing is a creative outlet in a business setting.
What is your typical day at work?
I am responsible for social media, internal company-wide emails, continuing education, and the website – blogs, projects, updates, etc.
What is the best part about your job?
I like learning about a new industry, even better if I can do it with hands-on experience. Sometimes I’ll get to go to a site visit or take photos of our projects. I’ve learned a lot in a short amount of time!
What are some of the challenges in your job?
Without an engineering background, I have to figure out what needs to be communicated and who we are trying to reach. While this is challenging at times, it allows me to learn a lot.
What is one of the coolest projects you’ve worked on for Engineering Solutions?
One of the coolest projects was redesigning the website. It took a couple months and some back-and-forth with our web designer, but seeing it all come together was very rewarding and I’m very pleased with the result.
What is your favorite Core Value and how do you live it out?
My favorite Core Value is Community. Giving back is important to me and being part of a team that also values that is amazing. Every week I volunteer with the Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle, and the support and flexibility from Engineering Solutions to pursue that opportunity has been great.
If you had to give one piece of advice for working with a structural engineer, what would it be?
In my experience, structural engineers value efficiency. Being able to convey relevant information concisely and effectively is important and appreciated.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors (hiking), reading, trying new recipes and restaurants, and working on my indoor garden of houseplants.
Tell us about your family.
My husband, Nathan, and I have been married for four years. He is a neurology resident at UVA. We are both born and raised Hoosiers who relocated to Charlottesville last year. We’ve enjoyed this new adventure and like hiking in Shenandoah and having happy hour on the patio when we can.
Fun fact about yourself?
My husband and I were on the front page of The Washington Post on Christmas Day 2016 in a feel-good story about our first anniversary together. The article is online here.
What is your favorite restaurant?
I have several and am always discovering more, but Monsoon Siam is some of the best Thai food I’ve ever had. Smoked for BBQ in Crozet is also delicious!