In her own words: Candice George of Petty & Associates

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your company.

Candice George: Petty & Associates was formed in 1984 by William R. Petty and currently has a staff of 11. The firm's bank of collective knowledge is available through services including the design of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and life safety systems; systems diagnostic analysis; life-cycle cost analysis; building energy management studies, reports and consultation; and preventive maintenance operations, procedures program development, and guidance.

Projects include educational facilities, medical facilities, office buildings and office parks, correctional facilities, hotel/casino/restaurant, community and recreational centers, computer centers, industrial facilities, housing, historical renovations.

The firm is a member of the U. S. Green Building Council. A number of the staff are LEED Accredited Professionals certified by the U. S. Green Building Council.

NNBW: What role do you play in the company?

George: Project design and construction administration.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

George: I was exposed to this profession while I was in college through the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers. They invite mechanical engineering students to their monthly meetings.

NNBW: What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed in this job?

George: In order to succeed in this job you need to be able to learn quickly, be proficient with a computer, be willing to learn new computer programs, and be able to coordinate with clients and other consultants.

NNBW: If you could have had any other profession what would it have been? Why wasn't it your first choice?

George: Another profession I considered pursuing was becoming a doctor. I decided I couldn't handle the blood.

NNBW: What do you like to do when you're not working?

George: I like to spend time with my family, wakeboard, and hunt.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

George: If you are attending college, my advice would be to find an internship with an engineering firm as soon as possible. There are a lot of skills that I use at work that I was not taught in school.

NNBW: Would you rather be younger, thinner, richer or smarter? Why?

George: I would rather be smarter and use my intelligence to achieve all of my goals.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

George: Work hard, play hard.

NNBW: What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?

George: It is satisfying and fun to see a building completed after putting in so much time and effort. It is sometimes challenging to make a decision on what direction to go with a design, because there are so many different options.

NNBW: What are five things you can't live without?

George: Captain Morgan, my iPod, my running shoes, my sunglasses and peanut butter.

NNBW: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why would you want it?

George: I would have the ability to transport myself around, so I could get to where I'm going faster.

The basics:

Name: Candice George, P.E., design engineer, Petty & Associates, Inc.

How long have you been in this job? Five years.

How long in the profession?

Seven years.

Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

What's on your iPod?

Mostly rock, but a little bit of everything.

The best movie ever? "American Pie."

Spouse, kids or pets? I'm married to Jimmy George, with one adorable daughter, Brylee, and two dogs, Bert and Stoli.