Blog

Employee Spotlight: Aaron Schemeck

STATS

  • Name: Aaron Schemeck
  • Title: Designer
  • Branch: Gainesville and Alexandria, VA Landscape Management Branches
  • Ruppert Tenure:  1+ year

Pictured L to R: Pat Gillette, Scott Schoffstall, and Aaron Schemeck at Management Development Days (MDD) 2020

Q&A

  • Briefly describe what you do all day (at work). Provide design support (including renderings and sketches) for the area managers to help propose enhancements to customers.
  • What’s the best thing about your job? As a designer, I get to work on a variety of sites which keeps the development of ideas constantly flowing!
  • What’s your favorite thing about the company? Ruppert is a much smaller outfit compared to the global offices I have previously worked for and this means you aren’t just a number on a sheet. I appreciate the level of process and professionalism Ruppert has ingrained in their culture.
  • What’s your favorite memory at Ruppert? Getting my one-year anniversary coin!
  • What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this? I would have really enjoyed trying to become a professional golfer/coach.
  • What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now? Currently I am putting together a “way forward” encompassing enhancement plan for a portfolio of 18 projects.
  • Who has been your greatest mentor and why? I had previously worked for a high-end landscape/planning design firm where my first boss there was a WVU alumni who had worked for the company for 40 years.  He could design a space with his eyes closed and was more than willing to explain the process of how to improve design.
  • What are five words (or less) of advice for others in your profession? The grass is only as green as you make it.
  • What inspires you? Its an online ‘magazine’ which showcases projects from around the world and includes high-resolution photos which are great for support images.
  • How do you define success? One day at a time!  The meaning of success differs person to person.  I believe if you are making goals and striving to tick off the boxes, that is success!
  • What is your proudest/favorite moment of your Ruppert career so far? I thoroughly enjoy meeting Craig Ruppert each year at MDD.
  • What’s your favorite movie and why? Beverly Hills Cop.  Eddie Murphy is classic.
  • Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I have two classic cars and I am engine illiterate.
  • What would you name the autobiography of your life? JUST ONE GO…
  • What are you passionate about? Car detailing. I can’t get enough of a highly detailed vehicle.
  • If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Put money away for my daughter’s college fund.
  • What was the last experience that made you a stronger person? Started doing Yoga in the morning.  It really sets the tone for the rest of the day and makes me feel healthier in general.
  • How do you balance your career and family? Having the freedom within my schedule to drop off and pick up my daughter from school.  Unfortunately, my wife’s job is very demanding so I don’t have much of a choice. 
  • How do you like to spend your free time? I have a three year old daughter, so I don’t have any free time!!!!! Ha ha ha
  • Do you have any hobbies? I am currently upgrading the landscape at our new home.  A shovel and some sweat equity have been my stress relievers.
  • What is your favorite family tradition? Our larger family circle gets together for Thanksgiving every year in Cold Spring, NY.  A very quaint area to spend time with family.

  • What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity? Golf…fore!!!

  • If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Rebuild an engine / paint a car
  • Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why? Portugal was an awesome place to sight-see and the food was awesome.  Just a great vibe all around! Also, Iceland should be on everyone’s bucket list! (Aaron pictured in Iceland)
  • Where’s your favorite family vacation location? Our full family of 89 people get together for a family reunion every four years.  The destination changes but the good times stay the same.
  • Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best? Hmmm…fair to say that getting divorced from my first wife led to meeting the most wonderful woman I have ever met.
  • What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? Don’t wait for anything. By the time you are 40 it still won’t happen unless you make it happen!
  • If you could be any animal, which would you be and why? I guess maybe an elephant. To roam freely in some of the most beautiful places on earth would be a pleasure.