River City Six – Michael Wallace
Meet Michael Wallace, the president/CEO of Farris Engineering (farris-usa.com).
Tell us a little about your business. – Farris Engineering designs the systems in a building that make the building work, such as heating, cooling, plumbing, lighting power, and communications systems. Project types we have experience completing include commercial federal, health care, higher education, K-12 education, and physical plant. At Farris, we understand that our clients are critical for project success. What we do is so much more than delivering projects on time and within budget, it’s working together to meet goals, sharing wisdom and insights along the way.
How did you get started in the business? – In high school, I took some drafting classes. I liked designing buildings and figured people will always need buildings, so it should be a pretty secure job for the future.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Moving into the position I currently hold. Nothing I did in school prepared me for this position. I have picked up skills along the way that have helped, but it is very different from engineering.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Passing the PE test and becoming a licensed engineer. It seems so long ago now, but it was a very significant milestone.
Tell us a little about your family. – I’ve been married to my wife Amy for 18 years, and we have two boys, Nathan (16) and Joel (14).
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Getting married. Up until that point, it was all about me. After that it became all about my wife and the life we would build together.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I lettered in college for three years as the coxswain on the rowing team.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Read everything you can get your hands on, but primarily non-fiction books. Even if you do not agree with what someone is writing, it gives you an education into how others think, process, and come up with their opinions.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Responsible.
Which talent would you most like to have? – Communicator. As an engineer it is not natural for me, and yet in my position it is so important.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – Commercial pilot.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – The Rise of Carry: The Dangerous Consequences of Volatility Suppression and the New Financial Order of Decaying Growth and Recurring Crisis. It is a hard book to describe and covers so many financial areas that it is a difficult read, but it does have some valuable insights into how loans leverage and affect different markets and, in many cases, force the government’s hand when economic downturns occur.
What is your favorite movie? – Planes.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Bob Hoover. Dinner would be great, but I would really have liked to fly with him.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 330-5900; mwallace@farris-usa.com; farris-usa.com.