Choice Mindsets

Choice Mindsets

Brad Walterbusch:
“Does this count as standing?”

Remember how Kyle claimed he used his stand up desk “all them time?” Well, Brad captured photographic proof that Kyle’s data may be misrepresented.

Kyle had a reason for working like this, but no one can remember. So let’s guess!

  • Coming to terms with the Schmidty’d up plan review from Jeff Puthoff.
  • Hiding his face so his crazed fans don’t recognize him since the huge success of his music video a couple of years back.
  • Literally ducking out of the typical office sports talk.
  • Resting his shoulders after cotton ball shotput practice.
  • Seeing if his moustache fell on the ground.
  • His turn to count in the game of hide-n-seek.

Whatever the reason, we’re not sure if this counts as standing or sitting. What we can quantify is Kaye’s confusion—that is pretty obvious. Regardless, at the end of the day, Kyle is a real stand-up guy, whether he’s photographed that way or not!

Luke Hemmelgarn:
“It’s not a purse. It’s a lunch bag.”

 

We have lots of folks who carry bags in and out of the office, but Luke’s pink fabric “lunch bag” did sort of stand out as an unusual accessory for him. But sometimes, when you’re in a rush, you grab whatever is available. So with two daughters, it’s no surprise there’s a bit of pink hanging around Luke’s house. But we’re still going to pick on him.

As engineers, surveyors, and landscape architects, we often carry some unusual work-related accessories. We’ve already covered how hard hats are a girl’s best friend. But there are lots of strange things we carry in and out of the office related to our work, like measuring wheels, manhole hooks (Google it if you’ve never seen one—they’re vicious-looking), sledgehammers, and traffic cameras (also big and sort of unidentifiable if you’re not a traffic engineer). Add that to the non-work related things we keep in our cars, and we have quite the collection of items far more random than a pink purse… ahem, “lunch bag.”

So don’t feel ashamed Luke, and carry that uncommon bag proudly. Besides, it’s not that your bag is pink, it’s that it doesn’t have Choice One green on it (if only we knew where to get you one of those…). Regardless, if you keep your keys in it, Luke, it’s a purse. No matter how much lunch is in it.

The First Annual ONEsie Awards:
“Couldn’t Break a Habit: Brian Goubeaux”

It’s New Year’s Eve, and if you’re working today, you might be looking for some kind of distraction. So, here you go.

This year, Choice One celebrated the end of 2021 with some unique “awards” acknowledging the laughs we’ve had over the past 12 months. One honorable mention was a goof from a Choice One company meeting quiz, as Brian Goubeaux just couldn’t help but identify himself. Other “winners” included the rookie mistake of getting locked out on the fenced patio, getting trucks stuck in the mud, and general embarrassments like falling down or getting repeatedly scared.

Speaking of getting scared, the ONEsie of the Year went to our official social media team and unofficial office scare team of Brittany, Megan, and Sammy, who collaborated for the delightful Choice One Scare-tober video. Congrats, ladies—we hope you were the ones surprised this time!

Happy New Year all. Now back to work!

Caray Schmiesing:
“Alright, I’m thinking too hard. I need to get back to work.”

As the year comes to a close, our Controller Caray is working hard to close out the books on 2021. So it’s understandable that sometimes she works hard enough to lose her thinking just a little bit. Which makes us wonder… is she excited or stressed in this Choice One group Christmas photo? (Considering she’s surrounded by the rest of us goofballs, we’re voting “stressed.”)

 

Looking back over the year, 2021 has been an enjoyable one for Choice One. We welcomed seven new people into the Choice One group of goofballs (poor saps), celebrated the retirement of our long-time resident project representative Mike Sovinski, and made sure Jeff Puthoff felt another year older. We welcomed four Choice One babies (with nine more on the way!), ate hundreds of slices of pizza, Skyline cheese coneys, and doughnuts, and hopefully made you chuckle a time or two with 24 of these Mindsets.

 

As we wrap up the year, we would be remiss if we didn’t wish you glad tidings of the season. We hope you are able to spend some time this holiday season enjoying the fruits of both your hard thinking and your hard work. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Choice One Engineering!

Paul Coors, Ryan Homes:
“Choice One sponsored horse?”

 

We have to admit, the horse our friend Paul spotted at Keeneland Raceway sure does look to be branded by Choice One. Alas, we are not in the horse-racing business. But if we were, we’d have to somehow buy the rights to this jockey’s silks.

 

The owner of this horse was probably hoping for a sure bet when he put something darn close to the Choice One logo on his mount. But this horse, named Voodoo Loa, didn’t win—she was a 30-1 longshot that came in dead last—making her and her jockey possibly the only thing that doesn’t get more awesome dressed in purple and green. Guess the Choice One logo empowers engineers, surveyors, and landscape architects and not thoroughbreds.

 

We appreciate that you see purple and green and think Choice One, Paul. The folks at Choice One are generally pretty sporty, so associating purple and green with a race winner seems like a sure bet. This time, however, the speed of purple and green was a little more Jeff Puthoff than Mitch Thobe.

Casey Reichert:
“Um, I think I’m getting a sunburn.”

 

As we move out of Daylight Saving Time and things just feel… darker, we’ve tried to infuse some extra brightness into the Choice One office. No, we haven’t put on fluorescent spandex again (thankfully!), we removed the diffusing panels from some light fixtures. Apparently the initial shock of the fresh lighting was just a little too much for Casey.

 

We try to keep our offices “light” in many ways. In addition to adding brighter bulbs, we make embarrassing videos, laugh at each other’s harmless mistakes (until the Governor calls), and jab each other endlessly… and publicly. And while it’s ALWAYS dark when Jeff Puthoff shows up at the office at 5:00am, we’ll keep flipping on the lights, cranking out some engineering design, and saying enough ridiculous things to make each other (and you) chuckle from time to time.

 

Hope this Mindset has made your Friday brighter. Not painfully brighter (like Casey), but brighter nonetheless!