Meet Graduate Engineer Arie Hoekstra

When he is not hunting, fishing, or working on home renovations and projects, outdoorsman and handyman Arie Hoekstra is contributing his talents and expertise to ISG’s Public Works team and its clients. After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering from Dordt University, Arie moved to Colorado where his passion towards public works deepened through his interactions with public utility providers, leading him to move to Sioux Falls and eventually joining ISG.

What brought you to ISG?

I lived in Sioux Falls before starting with ISG and from observation, I noticed their participation within the community. I saw how much of a value ISG places on community participation, whether it’s in engineering design or community initiative. I got excited for the opportunity to be a part of a company that encourages their employees to be involved with the community, and to be a part of a team that works together through vertical integration to create efficiency and success.

Who has had a significant influence on your career path and in what way?

My dad. When I was leaning toward pursing construction management, he encouraged me to go to school for civil engineering. I enjoy it, and going in this direction has opened more doors for me. When working through challenges, he encouraged me to look at the bigger picture. That’s what we do as engineers—we get down into the details, while maintaining a view of the project as a whole.

What do you do for professional development?

Networking and interacting with people in the industry, internally and externally. Interaction with individuals who have a different experience and perspective of the industry have been integral to my professional growth. I attempt to build relationships and have intentional conversations to increase my knowledge and gain an understanding of perspectives that I can integrate into my role at ISG.

How do you spend your free time?

I enjoy hunting pheasant and waterfowl with our two dogs—Ike, a griffon, and MJ, a yellow lab. When I’m not doing that, I am working on house projects with my wife. I also enjoy being active playing fast pitch softball and golfing.

What is your motto or personal mantra?

Teddy Roosevelt has a quote that I live by called the Man in the Arena. Essentially, it’s about being an individual that bears to do great things and not fear failure but be excited about the opportunity to do great things—

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." –Theodore Roosevelt

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