Jim is the incoming Chapter President! He will serve for the 2015-2016 year. Learn a little more about him with some Q&A.
- Name: Jim Rosick
- Company and Position
I work for Burns & McDonnell’s St. Louis Regional Office as a Regional Practice Manager. I’m responsible for the Aviation, Federal, and Commissioning services for the St. Louis Region.
- What does your company do/provide?
We’re a full-service engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting firm. We’re headquartered in Kansas City and employ over 5,000 professionals.
- How long have you worked for them? How long have you worked in this industry?
I’m in my 9th year with Burns & McDonnell and my 16th year working in the St. Louis engineering community. I first started attending ASHRAE St. Louis Chapter meetings in 2000.
- How did you come to work in your field?
I think my answer is probably the same as most ASHRAE members: I’ve always enjoyed science and technology. That enjoyment guided me toward engineering school, and the rest is history!
- What is your main job function? What are you responsible for?
I’m responsible for managing our Aviation & Federal division in St. Louis and helping represent our Aviation business nationally. That means I spend plenty of time on airplanes and in airports! I’m also a project manager, and even sometimes a mechanical engineer.
- What is the biggest challenge you face in your job?
Recruiting talented people. That’s why ASHRAE is important to me. The education and development opportunities the ASHRAE chapter provides to our local members helps increase the level of talent in our entire region.
- What’s your favorite thing about working in this industry?
I feel like most people associated with our ASHRAE chapter are good people. I enjoy working in an industry where my clients and colleagues can also be my friends.
- What’s your least favorite thing about working in this industry?
Low enthusiasm for involvement in professional societies. I’m not just making a pitch for ASHRAE, I swear! I think we all benefit when most of our peers are actively engaged in the professional community.
10. What’s your involvement in ASHRAE?
I’m presently serving as the President-Elect of the St. Louis Chapter, as well as Programs Chair. I’ve also been involved with ASHRAE Region VI as an RVC.
11. What is your responsibility on the Board?
Our chapter bylaws permit up to four officers who are responsible for the chapter. These are the President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. I’m currently the President-Elect. I’m also chairman of the Programs Committee, which means I’m responsible for arranging all of the meetings for the 2014-15 season.
12. What advice would you give someone just graduating college and starting in the HVAC world?
Network. Come to ASHRAE meetings and meet new people.
13. What’s something you’ve learned through your involvement in ASHRAE?
I can’t even begin to answer that! The technical knowledge I’ve gained from the ASHRAE handbooks, as well as chapter meetings has been invaluable.
14. What made you want to be involved in ASHRAE? (Either on the board or as a regular member.)
I became involved in ASHRAE as a member out of a desire to network with other professionals in the industry. Work is so much more enjoyable if you take the time to meet new friends. I became involved on the board as a result of my failure to say “no” J
15. Name one person who has been a mentor or an inspiration to you in your life (does not have to be in ASHRAE or in your professional career). Tell me about how they influenced you.
This may sound contrived, but I sincerely look up to all of our chapter past presidents. These folks have all put years of volunteer work into improving the professional community in St. Louis. Do yourself a favor and introduce yourself to the past presidents during our September meeting. Most of these folks are not only highly experienced in the industry, but they’re sincerely devoted to helping our community.
16. Do you have a favorite sport or team?
Don’t tell anyone, but I’m a cheesehead. I actually made Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field the first stop for my honeymoon.
17. What’s your favorite type of music or favorite band?
My wife sings in a band, so her band is my favorite! I like classic rock though. KSHE is #1 on my car’s memory.
18. What’s your favorite thing to do for fun?
I love camping with my family. Being disconnected from cell phones at a camp site is one of the most refreshing things in the world.
19. Where is the coolest place you have traveled? Or what was the best vacation you’ve ever had?
Coolest place: Taipei. I made a few trips there for work recently and the differences from American culture are intriguing. You can literally see a street vendor selling dried squid right outside a Starbucks.
Best vacation: a cabin in the mountains.
20. When you retire and have a lot more time on your hands, what will you do?
I still have plenty of time to think about that, but the first thing I’ll do is travel the US. Maybe it will be an RV, or maybe a Honda Goldwing, but I want to see all the amazing things in our country.
