Staff Spotlight: Rylan Huff

Rylan Huff is a designer in the Site Civil Commercial department at FOCUS. While in college, his mentors recognized he had a knack for problem-solving and encouraged him to pursue engineering as a career. Rylan started as an intern at FOCUS and after his first year he had the opportunity to witness the completion of a project he had designed as the lead. “Seeing my design constructed in the real world has been the most fulfilling experience of my career so far. I take immense pride in seeing projects completed,” he shares. This memorable experience has motivated Rylan to continue creating great designs for FOCUS.

A Balanced Approach

Rylan combines his natural curiosity for problem-solving with a balanced approach both inside and outside of work. “To me, life is about learning as much as you can to better understand the world. I want to continue working on unique projects and gaining new experiences,” he explains. When he’s not working, Rylan enjoys cooking, playing video games, spending time with friends, and reconnecting with nature. To maintain a healthy work-life balance, he focuses on being present. “It’s better for me to concentrate my energy on what I’m doing in the moment, rather than stressing about things out of my control.”

Reflecting on the challenges in his career, Rylan recalls the difficulty of balancing school with his internship. “It was challenging to juggle work and school because I felt I couldn’t give either my full attention, but it taught me to focus on the task at hand.” Since developing these balancing skills, Rylan has continued to thrive at FOCUS. “It’s been very rewarding to lead design coordination and meetings on my projects. Knowing how much effort I’ve put into the design and seeing it approved gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction when I see my projects come to life.”

The Power of Mentorship

Throughout his career, Rylan has been inspired by his engineering professors and the mentors he found in the industry. “With the help of my mentors and role models, I’ve been able to discover which methods of project and people management work best for me. I wouldn’t be in my current position without the wisdom they shared.” As Rylan advances in his engineering career, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others. “I believe that passing on my knowledge to others in this industry is one of the best ways I can give back. This field depends on young engineers entering the workforce, and I’m passionate about inspiring and positively impacting them.”

Rylan is currently working on a medical office building project that won’t be completed for several years. “I find it very interesting to have so much input on a project of that magnitude. I have a lot of fun driving by the site and visualizing what it will look like when completed.” He recognizes the importance of technology in shaping the future of the industry. “This industry is heavily reliant on the development of new technologies. Only in the last few decades has it transitioned from paper to computer drafting. I think that technology will constantly improve and simplify portions of our jobs. We should embrace change and explore new methods in engineering. Refusing to adapt and change with the times is detrimental to our success. I believe we should embrace change whenever possible.” With a forward-thinking mindset and a passion for continuous growth, Rylan is not only shaping the future of engineering but also ensuring that the next generation of professionals will be equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.