This month’s employee spotlight features Peter Stoutenburgh. Peter is our expert Drafter & Estimator and has been working with Castle for just over a year now. Before joining the Castle team, Peter worked for another residential remodeling company as well as served as the Building & Grounds Associate at his home church.
Peter, a lifelong Minnesotan, graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with a minor in architecture. When not cycling around his favorite lakes, he can usually be found at his computer intently enjoying one of his many passions such as science fiction, music, and military history. He jokes, “My childhood heroes wore different uniforms than most.” More than anything else, he loves puzzles, both creating them and solving them.
Since high school, he has been involved in the designing, building, and maintaining of residential and light commercial buildings. Over the last 2 decades, he’s been a laborer, a draftsman, an estimator, an office manager, and an independent consultant within the industry. As one of Castle’s newest team members, he looks forward to putting his skills and experience to productive use.
Our marketing team sat down with Peter to get to know him a little more, here’s what he had to say:
What are three fun facts about you?
- The first home I ever designed & built was a balsa wood model house for my hamster’s nest when I was 12.
- I’ve built a bed loft using the same materials & techniques in deck construction.
- During my off hours, I’ve been assisting with the design & specification of an ADA compliant house for a family member who has been diagnosed with ALS.
Why did you choose this profession?
It just worked out that way. After I earned my degree in Civil Engineering (just in time for the great recession), I needed to get some work experience in the construction industry, so I took what I could get at the time, and here I am, happy as I can be.
Can you share an industry related piece of advice for those who want to join the remodeling industry?
Making sure that the little details are accurate and up to date now prevents big problems later.
What inspires you?
I love creating and solving puzzles and this job lets me do both at the same time.
What is the best advice you have received?
Don’t hang onto bad decisions just because you invested so much into them.
Can you share your favorite quote?
“Nothing so sharpens the thought process as writing down one’s arguments. Weaknesses overlooked in oral discussion become painfully obvious on the written page.”
- Hyman G. Rickover, Admiral, USN
