Get to Know: Joey Staats

September 9, 2019

Joey Staats, RA, NCARB, joined JAI in 2015.

 

What is your role at JAI?

Project manager.

 

What three words best describe you?

Caring, dad, tired.

 

What is your favorite aspect of being on the JAI team?

Being exposed to a range of challenging and exciting jobs. Where else can you go from working on a school to a half-scale pagoda?

 

What three words best describe the culture at JAI?

Relaxed, passionate, family.

 

How has working at JAI enhanced your professional development?

JAI is a firm that gives people the opportunity to work on a variety of project types. All of those experiences have given me confidence to step outside of my comfort zone and learn new things.

 

Who is your go-to source for work inspiration?

My father, hands down. I was inspired by watching him do drawings when I was a kid, and I enjoy getting to compare project stories with him now.

 

If you could switch places for a day with any JAI team member, which one would you choose?

Jeff Williamson. I’m a very jumpy person, and his back isn’t to the entire office.

 

Before joining JAI, what was the most unusual job you held?

Guitar Center. I’ve heard “Stairway to Heaven” played badly more times than I can remember.

 

What do you look most forward to at the end of a workday?

Going home to my wife and two boys. They are the reason I get up in the morning – and don’t sleep at night.

 

What is your secret talent?

I can wiggle my ears one at a time.

 

What are your favorite places in the world?

Munich, Germany, or Poros, Greece.

 

What are you currently watching?

“Mindhunter” on Netflix.