About Jarod
Jarod joined Barton in 2014 as a Mechanical Engineer and now serves as a Project Manager at our State College Office. He attended The Pennsylvania State University where he earned his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering with an emphasize in Mechanical Engineering and a Master in Architectural Engineering.
When asked what do you like most about the ESOP , he states, “It signifies that hard work, dedication, persistence, and resiliency have a positive impact on the company which directly benefits its employees in the long term”.
Tell us a little about your family/home life.
My wife, Erin, and I have been married for 16 years and have two kids, Eli and Emma. We are involved in our Church, love to be outdoors, and love playing sports. Family time is very important to all of us and we love being active throughout the year.
What was the first job you got a physical paycheck?
I worked at Eckerd Drug Store as a Porter (my official title). I stocked shelves, managed inventory, and cleaned the store initially before working my way to a pharmacy technician.
What was your first job in engineering like?
I interned at a Civil Engineering firm in Bethlehem, PA. I was tasked with working with plot lines and survey points early on, which then developed into performing utility locations for the PA One Call system. I got pretty good at removing manhole covers. In my second summer at the firm, I was able to assist with percolation tests and since I knew how to drive a manual transmission, I was able to drive a modified F-150 with a water tank. I also was able to inspect reinforced concrete piping (RCP) for storm lines lying on a skateboard with an older “miners” headlamp.
What does being part of an ESOP mean to you?
A future retirement plan that I have a level of control over.
What do you love most about your job?
Figuring out how things work, and sometimes figuring out why things aren’t working. There are so many aspects to mechanical systems design, from hydronics, refrigerants, controls, equipment, etc., that learning new things is a given. New technologies force different ways of thinking but understanding the basics is still important for diagnosing technologies that are currently in place.
If I wasn’t an Designer, I’d be?
Either a tradesman or in the military.
What’s your favorite sport (professional, college, or other)?
It typically revolves around whatever my son is interested at the time, which had been baseball consistently for the past several years.
When I’m not at work I’m doing……
Helping coach my son’s sports teams, playing games with my daughter, spending time outdoors, working on vehicles, at church, and trying to catch up with my wife after long days.
What’s on your “stranded on a desert island” playlist?
Grew up listening to classic rock (Boston, CCR, Aerosmith, AC/DC, etc.) and big hair bands during the 80’s (Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, Poison, etc.), but usually enjoy all types of music.
What’s on your bucket list?
Being able to provide my wife with a beach house and traveling around the world to see some of the most dangerous places (hiking trails such as Mt. Huashan Cliffside Plank Path, El Caminito del Rey, Taghia, etc.).
What’s the one movie you can watch over and over again?
I don’t really have one, but the only movie I went to the theater multiple times to see was Jurassic Park (the original).