It is a busy profession being a civil engineer, and our engineers don't just excel in the office and on job sites; they're also making waves on the sidelines of our local sports fields (and mats). Beyond their roles as engineers, they've taken up another title — that of coach and mentor to aspiring athletes in our community.
We wanted to shine a spotlight on a few of our team members who are nurturing talent, fostering teamwork, and shaping the future generation through their dedication to coaching.
First up is one of J2's very own Principals! Bob Brown, PE, is a Varsity Baseball Pitching Coach at Herndon High School.
Q: What inspired you to become a coach for athletes in our community?
A: The two biggest reasons are (1) it is a way for me to give back to the community by sharing my knowledge of the game and inspiring our athletes, and (2) it has also been rewarding for me to spend time coaching my sons.
Q: What values or lessons do you aim to instill in the athletes you coach?
A: Effort, hard work, and having a plan of attack are not guarantees for success. Failures still happen. Goals may be missed. However, effort, hard work, and an attack plan exponentially improve the likelihood of success.
Q: How do you believe your experience as a coach translates to your role within J2?
A: Coaching is very similar to my role at J2. Both require strong leadership and organizational skills; the ability to teach and to communicate what are often complex issues; and learning the best ways to motivate each individual on the team so that the team can be best positioned to achieve the desired outcomes.
Next up is Zoe Foxhall, PE, Project Engineer, who works in our Leesburg office on the transportation team! Zoe is head coach of the varsity girl’s soccer team at Heritage High School, which also happens to be her Alma Mater!
Q: How do you see your role as a coach impacting the lives of the athletes you work with?
A: I try to create an environment where the kids can get away from the day-to-day pressure that a lot of them feel. A coach is often more than just someone who gives them guidance in sports but also their everyday life and I love that. Even if it's for something small, I can be someone they look to for advice. They impact me just as much as I impact them, and I am very grateful for my girls who make my life better by knowing them. It is truly a rewarding experience.
Q: In what ways do the leadership skills you've developed through coaching benefit your professional endeavors?
A: I have learned to lead very intentionally while coaching because there is a lot of room for interpretation when I may have a specific vision for the team. This has allowed me to better provide direction and use my influence to positively impact my team, helping us achieve our collective goals. I find that it translates over to the office because we work as a team every day and utilize the same methods.
Our final coach spotlight is Sean Hoffman, EIT, Project Engineer, and a part of the transportation team out of our Leesburg office! Sean is the Assistant Wrestling Coach at Riverside High School.
Q: How do you believe your role as a coach impacts the personal development of your athletes?
A: I see my role as a coach impacting the lives of the athletes I work with by instilling confidence in the work they do. Because wrestling is an individual sport first, there are great opportunities to build confidence through self-growth and reflection.
Q: Can you share a memorable experience or moment you've had while coaching?
A: The most memorable experiences are the ones where you see an athlete break through or have that “ah-ha!” moment. This past season, I was able to see the culmination of hard work from one of our athletes. This individual was not satisfied with how their season ended the year prior, so they took to the offseason to grow their skills. They did just that, and fast forward to the postseason this most recent season, and they qualified for the state tournament as a second-year wrestler. I saw an athlete get inspired by a goal and took the steps to reach it on their own.
We're proud to have such dedicated and compassionate individuals as part of our team here at J2, not just for their professional skills but also for the positive impact they make outside our office walls. So here's to our coaches, our mentors, and our community champions – thank you for all that you do!
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