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At Larson Design Group, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset. Meet Jen Rodgers, PE, a Senior Engineering Associate based in our Williamsport office.
What drew you to apply to LDG?
After graduating college, my husband and I moved to the Washington, D.C. area for a few years. When we decided to move to the Williamsport area to be closer to our families, I was looking for a company that would have large and interesting projects to work on, but with a much shorter commute than I was used to in D.C. When researching opportunities around Williamsport, LDG checked those boxes and many more, so I applied.
What do you enjoy most about working for an employee-owned company?
I really enjoy the culture that comes with an employee-owned company. We don’t make every company decision (thank goodness), but each person still has a voice and vested interest in the company. This generates a sense of loyalty and responsibility in employees that creates a pleasant and productive work environment.
Before joining LDG, what was the most interesting or unique job you had?
One summer in high school I had two summer jobs that were very different: I worked at the retail store Express and was also a lifeguard at a community pool. Some days I felt like Clark Kent walking into the phonebooth – I would arrive at the pool with my sunscreen and ponytail and then leave in heels wearing my Express clothing and mandated “minimum pieces of flare” to the mall.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
The summer before my senior year at Penn State, I studied abroad in Australia with about 20 other engineering students from across North America who were interested in energy efficient design. For part of the program, we camped in “the bush” for a few days. Some of the boys in the program decided to buy clippers and shave their heads for easy maintenance while we didn’t have access to showers, so I decided to shave my head, too! The byproduct of changing my appearance like that for my senior year of college ended up being a super interesting social experiment that was eye-opening.
Which one of LDG’s core values do you most identify with and why?
I think if I had to pick one, I would choose Teamwork. There are always things that we can gain from each other. By working in an environment that promotes teamwork, we can tap into knowledge, solve complex problems, expand our thinking, and become more well-rounded at work and in life in general.