At Ambit, one thing we are incredibly proud of is the strength of our team, both overall and as individuals. Leadership development, teamwork, and drive are some of our most highly held values and we are proud to have a team who convey these values in their own work every day.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with the recipient of the 2022 M.V.P. award, Kevin Cunnagin, to learn about his passion for architecture, motivations, and a few fun facts you may not know!
Before learning about Kevin from his own perspective, we also wanted to provide Matt’s:
“Kevin was on our team for a couple of years before deciding to leave and pursue his life-long dream of being a farmer (What?! Why?!) We didn’t get it, but we all like and respect Kevin so we hesitantly said goodbye. About a year later I had relocated to a remote location in Northwest Washington State and found out that Kevin and his better half were actually living in the same town. Fate you ask? I think so.. We reconnected and as it turned out Kevin was done farming and was ready to rejoin the magical and glamorous profession of Land Surveying. The rest, as they say, is history! I think I speak for the entire Ambit Family when I say “Damn, I’m glad I moved where I did when I did!” We are super fortunate to have such an intelligent and driven leader on our team, and we hope that he never ever wants to be a farmer ever again!”
As a distinguished Survey Field Specialist, with over 15 years of experience, Kevin is extremely knowledgeable about the industry and what it takes to be successful.
Here’s what he had to say…
Q: When you were young, what did you imagine doing when you grew up?
As a kid, I was always drawing and rearranging my bedroom furniture. I had planned to go to school for architecture, but I know I enjoy surveying more than I would have being a designer in a suit.
Q: Why did you decide to join the Ambit team?
I had just relocated to Central Oregon and the idea of working independently and seeing a lot of the PNW that I previously hadn’t was very appealing. Seven years in, I think I’ve seen most of it now.
Q: What do you feel sets Ambit apart from other companies in the industry?
I think all of us at Ambit reiterate the same thing, that we are dedicated to excellence and do whatever it takes to be the best in our industry. It seems like every day business to us, but when we see some of the competition out there it really lets us hold our heads high. I most enjoy the familial feeling of our team. No one person ever stands alone at Ambit.
Q: What advice do you have for individuals looking to pursue a career in surveying?
The surveying field has already changed so much over the last 15 years that I have been in. My advice would be to embrace changing technologies, enjoy the profession for its varied applications and take pride in its rich history.
Q: If you could change one thing about this industry, what would it be?
One thing about this industry is that most tower sites are pretty much the same so it can feel quite repetitious. I feel fortunate that I get the opportunity to learn and build relationships from the office side of things and still have the challenge and adventure of doing fieldwork.
Q: What’s the most challenging experience you’ve had while at Ambit?
Maybe I’m just still recovering and/or traumatized, but I just had a project along the Northern California coast where myself and another teammate had to cut grid with machetes on about 7 acres of dense hardwood vegetation in order to complete a topographic survey. Probably the most physically challenging job that I have completed.
Q: What’s your favorite way to spend your free time?
I’m definitely an outdoors person and here in Central Oregon the opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless, so I dabble in a bit of it all. My wife and I also put up a pretty solid vegetable garden every year that keeps me busy and I spend a lot of time planning future travel itineraries, whether they happen or not.
Q: What is the last show you watched/binged on Netflix/Hulu/Amazon?
I’m currently watching “Better Call Saul” Season 4, and just binge-watched “Keep Sweet Pray and Obey” (fascinating).
Q: Where is your favorite place to vacation?
I like to travel internationally as much as possible and have a fondness for Latin cultures. We have friends that live in Hawaii and going out there feels like a home away from home.
Q: What is your drink of choice?
I’ll always be a beer guy. For cocktails, I’ll go with a fresh Margarita and when I’m feeling fancy it’s a Gibson Martini (thanks Matt).
Q: How would you describe your ‘life motto’?
“Hakuna Matata” – I try to not let the little things bother me.
Q: What did you take away from your recent hike of Mount Baker Summit in Washington?
Doing something like this helps me remember that I’m always driving to challenge myself whether it’s professionally, recreationally, physically, or mentally. I got all of that out of this one hike. I was surprised at how much more of a mental challenge it was, putting yourself in a mindset to just keep moving. It was a lesson in persistence.
To learn more about the Ambit team, or to apply for an open position, visit our About page here: https://ambitconsulting.us/about.