Jason McDonald has had an unusual first month on the job with Harrington Group, but we are still thrilled to have him. Our newest fire protection designer joined the team on Monday, March 9, spent part of that week networking and learning at the SFPE Greater Atlanta Chapter Fire Safety Conference, and has since been working from home, just like the rest of us. HGI is doing its part to help flatten the curve of the novel coronavirus, and we’re grateful to all our staff, new and tenured, for their flexibility and resilience during this public health crisis.
As Jason familiarizes himself with HGI’s processes and meets with others via Skype and Zoom, he draws on more than 15 years in the fields of electrical and technical design. His background includes a technical studies degree in electrical construction and industrial electrical technology from Chattahoochee Technical College, plus a long stint with a company that does fire protection for government facilities.
The highly specialized nature of the fire protection field is what draws him to it, Jason said, and he’s looking forward to digging into different aspects of the industry with HGI.
“There’s a challenge to it, making sure the systems work, and of course the safety aspect of it,” he said, reflecting on the most rewarding elements of the field. “It’s always rewarding to build relationships and trust with clients so that they can rely on you for the next project.”
Keeping him company as he works from home are his wife and two children, ages six and two. He’s a long-time Atlanta Falcons fan, he loves visiting breweries and he uses fresh-picked peppers from his own garden to make homemade hot sauce.