The Real Harris: Meet Jason Rodewald

Tell us about your background. How did you get your start in the construction/service/BAS business?

I decided after high school I didn’t want to attend a major university and have another 4 years of schooling. I took a drafting class my senior year of high school and thought maybe that could be a route to take, so I found an 18-month drafting program and went for it. After getting my associates degree in drafting, I landed a drafting job at the Flint Hills Refinery in Rosemount MN. After a few years, I decided a change was needed. Harris was hiring for a drafter and here I am 16 years later.

What drew you to Harris? What makes you stay?

I would say nothing specific drew me to Harris at the time. It is closer to home over my last job which is a nice thing. Reasons for staying mainly center around the type of work we do. It can change day to day, which is exciting. Our team could be working on anything from a simple core and shell building to a complex hospital. It is nice to be able to work on different types of projects. It keeps things refreshing.

What do you enjoy about working at Harris?

The thing that I enjoy most about working here at Harris are the different projects that the company is involved in. It keeps you on your toes, needing to be able to juggle different types of projects and the needs that go with those projects. Also, being able to work on different parts of project like the design, drafting, coordination, fabrication make for a good time as well.

What is the best part about your position?

The best part about my position is getting to work on different projects day in, day out. It helps keep things fresh knowing there are different types of projects to work on. Lately, it has been fun to work with the fabrication group and see their prospective of a project that we in the engineering group have worked on.

What traits do you think are important for someone in your role to be successful?

I believe the biggest trait needed in this roll is an open mind and a willingness to see things from multiple angles. We are all trying to get the best design out there but there are many ways to get there so keeping an open mind to other’s ideas is essential. A willingness to ask questions is also needed. You may not know something but more than likely someone in the organization may know. So, don’t be afraid to reach out when you don’t know something.

What are your main responsibilities and initiatives that you lead?

The main responsibilities for me are working with design engineers to get their designs onto paper and get projects out the door. The initiatives I am currently working on are getting our drafting standards standardized for AutoCAD and Revit for the larger Design Studio group.

What are you passionate about at work?

I am most passionate about working with my fellow coworkers and the interactions that we have every day.

How do you like to re-charge?

The way I like re-charge is just to have a chill weekend with the wife on our patio or hanging out at a local brewery. Other ways I like to re-charge are to vacation up north along the shores of Lake Superior. The best way to re-charge for me is to head to the Caribbean for a week or so.

What keeps you up at night?

The thing that keeps me up at night is the thought of did I do enough to help the team out. Did I put fourth my best effort to help move a project along or work through a complex issue?

What are you most proud of at Harris?

I am most proud of the work that I have put in to help further the company along in respects of standards for drafting.

What is one thing Harris employees wouldn’t know about you?

I really like to cook. I figured; I like eating so why not learn to cook my own food? Plus, it’s a good way to try and stay healthy. You can find me in the kitchen sautéing, out on the patio grilling or newfound passion of smoking different types of meat on my smoker.

What drew you to this industry?

The variety of the work is what drew me to the industry. The chance to work on something different every day make the job worth it.

What do you wish the public knew about Harris?

I think first and foremost would be the type of people we have working here, and the drive we have to always wanting to put our best foot forward. Secondly, the work that we put out is always top quality.

What inspires you? What motivates you?

I am inspired by all the different things that come up in work/life that give me the opportunity to learn and grow. What motivates me the most is always doing your best, whether that be here at work or just in everyday life. Always try to give the very best in every situation.