Meet Construction Administrator Ryan Booth

Striving to find a career that paired his enjoyment of the outdoors with an interest in Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, Ryan headed to Nicolet Area Technical College to study land surveying. He now puts this background to good use as a Construction Administrator in ISG’s Civil Engineering Group.

What has been the most interesting project you have worked on at ISG?

State Trunk Highway 35 in Wisconsin. It was a complete reconstruction of a two-lane highway with a lot of elements including adding a two-way left turn lane, dedicated right turn lanes, two roundabouts, multiple large retaining walls, and many other features. I’ve also worked on some interesting bridge reconstruction projects here at ISG.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

It’s hard to pick just one. Being part of transportation improvement projects is gratifying because it really makes me feel like I made a difference. I also get to work on a variety of projects at ISG, it isn’t always just transportation projects, so that keeps things interesting. This position also allows me to spend time outdoors in the summer so I can’t complain about that.

How did you come to work in this field?

My first position out of college was hydrographic surveying on Lake Superior. I was on a boat every day and quickly learned that I was prone to motion sickness. From there I learned more about construction administration and found it to be a better fit for me. I take pride in remaining active and going above and beyond to get a project done. Being in this field really allows me to do just that.

What kind of project would you love to work on in the future?

It would be great to work on another complete reconstruction project. While transportation improvement projects can fix many issues, total reconstruction projects offer even more opportunity to really start over and find the best solution.

What is something about you that people might find surprising?

I have been making maple syrup and selling it to friends, family, and around the community my whole life. I tap 480 trees each March and April. To collect the sap, I run a high vacuum tubing system with approximately 24,000 feet of tubing throughout the woods. I typically collect 8,000 gallons of sap in a season and boil it down to approximately 150 gallons of syrup each year.

Besides making maple syrup, how do you spend your free time?

I enjoy hiking and snowshoeing in the wooded parks nearby. My wife and I also like to go to the North Shore of Lake Superior hiking. Someday I would love to take a trip to Vermont to see the maple syrup operations there.

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