Work

First of all I would like to thank the entire staff at Elliott By Design Group for putting up with me for the past 6+ years. I was employed as a contract designer for 1 1/2 years before being hired as a permanent full-time employee more than 5 years ago. Since that time, we have grown together and experienced many things. Sure, the core staff is still all there, but a lot of designers, drafters, front desk staff and engineers have come and gone. This industry has a lot of ups ad downs and the September 11th attacks on the twin towers in New York had a bad impact on both new builds and major renovations. It seems that everything is back pretty much on track and we had a record in 2005. This is not by accident. The owners have put a lot of time and energy into growing the company and have very high ambitions and expectations that they have shared with the entire staff. They have created an exciting and challenging new mission statement aiming to become the premier naval architecture firm in North America and empowered each of the staff to make a real difference in order to reach that goal. We have grown to an all-time record of 50 employees and implemented a bonus plan that has made all of our lives a little more "comfortable". Since we have so many new people, we are also moving into a new office that is being built for us right now. The estimated relocation date is January 1, 2006.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working at EBDG is the personal responsibility that each of us is expected to to only exhibit, but also develop. This is the only place that I have ever worked where there are no apparent power struggles or major personality conflicts to hamper the success of the many projects that flow through our office. There are 50 different people with 50 different personalities who have learned to work with each other for the benefit of all.

Sometimes it is difficult to keep all this in mind when you are up to your knees in stinky muck doing a dry dock survey in San Francisco or a sprinkler system "as-built" in Mexico. Actually, that is the part of the job that I like the best. In the past few years, I have been sent to Alaska about 15-16 times and will probably go that many more. In addition to the many local vessel inspections, I have also been sent me to Mexico, Portland, and San Francisco.

So it is a good match. I think I'll stay a while.

You can click on the thumbnails below for a larger version of the photo.

Me at work This is not a recent photo, but it's one of the few I have from the office. Much like home, the desk is piled high with many things to do.	WaterHawk II The company yacht is owned by the president, but he has graciously offered her services as a place to stay overnight, entertain clients, etc. She was built during WW II and is a one of a kind beauty.	Columbia Dry Dock This shot was taken when the M/V Columbia was in dry dock in Ketchikan. She's in Portland, Oregon now having her engines re-built, but I am working on the crew space refurbs coming soon.	Ketchikan Ferry The airport in Ketchikan is on a small island and you have to take the little ferry to the mainland where the shipyard and motel is.
TODD photo This is an old shot from when I was working at TODD Pacific Shipyards in Seattle	Keevin in tie I don't usually wear a tie to work because you never know ehn you will have to go aboard a smelly fishing boat or rusty old barge.	Hardly working This is where I sit now, but we will be moving into a new office soon. The new office is in the same building - just about 150 feet closer to the company yacht.	Shanakee II This is a 75-ft performance cruiser that I worked on at Admiral Marine in Port Angeles. Look her up on the web. There are numberous articles, reviews and a owner web site, too.
Dave Pedrick Design She was designed by Dave Pedrick for Jim Warmington. She's 75 feet of pure luxury. Admiral Marine went bankrupt while she was being built, but my friend, Andy saw the project through to the finish.	Big Wave I think most people do not understand how big waves can get out there. Fasten your seat belts, folks. This is one hell of a ride.	Seasick I like being out there, but not on a day like this. I think I'll stay away from cruises in the North Pacific.	La Paz, Mexico Wow - what a great place to be sent for work. This was where I got aboard to ride for a week in February.
San Diego This shot was taken while I was doing the same sprinkler system as-built drawing.	Ensenada, Mexico This is where the ship was going to have some work done. It was pretty crazy with no passengers except for the crew and about 50 construction workers.	Ketchikan You might not think of it as a big tourist spot, but wow! They get hundreds of thousands of tourists through there every year. It is their biggest industry.