Can’t decide where you’d like to go on your dream vacation? You need to talk to Rachel! With bucket list items like a trip to Australia and a beach vacation in Italy, her get-away ideas are sure to inspire you! We asked Rachel to tell us a bit more about her life on the clock as an architectural designer and off the clock. 

I am an architectural designer at ms, so I am constantly learning new things everyday to help prepare me for licensure. I will be celebrating two years at ms as a full-time employee this summer. Prior to that, I worked here as an intern while going through school. I received my undergraduate degree from Kent State and still enjoy living near the university. As for my little family, I am getting married this fall, which has been very exciting! I also have a sweet little dog named Olive.

What was your first job?
I was an accounting clerk and a babysitter.

What is one item on your bucket list?
Go to Australia and/or have a long, summer vacation on a beach in Italy.

Last album you downloaded?
Memories…Do Not Open – The Chainsmokers

If you had your own talk show, who would be your first three guests?
Steve Martin, Aaron Paul, and Jennifer Aniston

Favorite restaurant?
Luigi’s in Akron

Last thing you read?
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Best vacation location?
Florence, Italy!

If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, which color would you choose?
Blue

Last movie you watched?
Dunkirk (It was very stressful)

If you could live in any sitcom, which one would it be?
Friends

If you could live one day over again, which would you pick?
I would pick the day that I landed in Italy to start my semester of school abroad.

What sets ms apart from other engineering & architecture firms?
We are lucky enough to get to do a lot of renovations and restoration in historical buildings downtown, right next to our office. This has been one of my favorite parts of working at ms!

What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned while working at ms?
I am so surprised that everyone sticks to the rule of bringing in a snack on your birthday! It’s a great rule and I’m glad that it has been working for so long since eating snacks is one of my favorite hobbies.

Which project are you most proud to have been a part of, and why?
I am the most proud to be part of our Stambaugh Doubletree Hotel project. I have loved watching this historical building turn from a worn down, decrepit, 12-story building to what will soon be a beautiful hotel, right in the center of downtown.

If you weren’t an architect, what would you be doing?
I would definitely be a veterinarian, I would love to hang out with animals all day!

What were your favorite hobbies as a child? Did they mimic what you do today?
One of my favorite hobbies was drawing and making little books when I was little. I used to make up houses and draw them on the inside and outside, which is almost exactly what I do now, just with big buildings.

You’re looking for inspiration. What do you do? Who do you turn to?
Whenever I need inspiration, I usually try to remove myself from whatever I’m doing and go somewhere to clear my head. My backyard is surrounded by trees and very serene, so that’s usually where I go to try to get inspired.

You’ve got one day in Youngstown. What do you do?
I would sit in the MVR and eat as much Tressel Tortellini as I possibly could. Then I would go relax in one of the beautiful Youngstown parks.