Forward Janesville - TheReport - First Quarter 2022

4 • W W W . F O R W A R D J A N E S V I L L E . C O M When I’m not working, I’m spending time with my family. I have a son who just turned 17 and a daughter who is 18 and heading to university in the fall. My kids are close in age and best friends, too, which is really special. Nothing makes me happier than to make memories, travel and adventure with them; I’m sure all the other working moms and dads out there can relate. We’re a sporty family and spend a lot of time outdoors. I coached my daughter’s lacrosse teams for six years and my son and I hit the driving range together. I think if you’re going to live in Wisconsin, you need to learn how to sport through winter. We taught our kids how to downhill ski at just under two and three years old, so now they are really great at it. In the summer, we switch to water sports and enjoy Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers. Since most would describe me as an extrovert, people would be surprised to learn I was painfully shy and somewhat reserved as a child. Today, I love meeting new people and learning about their life experiences, which forces me out of my shell. HOW DID I GET HERE? s u c c e s s • c h a l l e n g e s • l i f e l e s s o n s • e d u c a t i o n • c a r e e r • f a m i l y • i n s p i r a t i o n s When people tell you or show you who they are, believe them. Gender should not be an issue, but I can’t say I haven’t had to navigate frustrating situations being in a male-dominated field. I remember a contractor coming onto my jobsite looking for the “man in charge.” When he found me, a young woman running this huge project, jobsite and incident command, he demanded to see my business card. He couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that I was “the man.” I don’t let that sort of behavior bother or intimidate me. Just be yourself and the rest will fall in place. 1 2 3 I was born in Janesville and graduated from Milton High School. Coming home has been wonderful. I’m reconnecting with old friends and happily surprised by all the new faces. Janesville has so much to offer—the riverfront, JPAC, the Lincoln Tallman House, amazing parks, a thriving downtown, a growing farmer’s market, the coming children’s museum, great restaurants—we really are surrounded by gifts like those of any big city, yet still in a small town. I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie. The first plane I ever flew in, I jumped out of—what a thrill. I used to race go karts, and my last kart would do about 130 mph on the straight line. Now my son is into racing and from time to time he lets me pit crew for him. • { LIFE LESSONS } My kids and I love to travel, and being able to take them to some incredible places has been one of the great perks of my work. A trip to China and Tibet in 2014 was beyond words, and I was fortunate to bring my mom with us too. After hosting a week-long conference for government officials in Shanghai, we traveled the country visiting some of the most amazing places from the oldest library in the world, to beautiful temples, the Great Wall, and the amazing Terra Cotta Warriors. Floating down the Yangtze River for four days was another highlight. After China we flew to Tibet—we happened to be there during one of their holy weeks. The experience exuded a level of peaceful happiness that words cannot explain—something remarkable that appeared to come naturally from the people of Tibet. It was beautiful to experience that trip with my mom and kids. When evaluating this position, one of the most attractive elements was how engaged the business community has been in Janesville’s revitalization and building community. During a transition period, it would have been easy to coast or hold off on big projects, but the exact opposite occurred. Janesville is a city on the rise with a beautiful setting. It’s exciting to join the momentum—I can’t wait to see where we can take things next! ANGELA PAKES, P.E. PRESIDENT AND CEO, FORWARD JANESVILLE Work hard, so you can play hard. My siblings and I grew up with humble parents who led by example and taught us to be independent and capable; I realize how fortunate that was. For those that may not have had the same support, know you are going to work hard, but that hard work will translate into something great if you make it happen. You are your only limitation to your future success, so don’t be afraid to take risks. When you are just starting out, you’re probably already broke, so you truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Continually challenge yourself and put yourself to the test. If this is your mindset, I guarantee you will succeed. • • { EDUCATION } 1996-1997 Masters, Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 1991-1996 Bachelors, Geological Engineering Bachelors, Geology/Geophysics University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin { WORK EXPERIENCE } 2022-PRESENT President and CEO Forward Janesville Janesville, Wisconsin 2006-2022 Architect/Engineer Manager, Capital Planning and Development Managing Director, Recycled Materials Resource Center Assistant Director for New Technologies Directions, Grainger Institute for Engineering Various Other Roles University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin 2001-2006 Senior Civil and Environmental Engineer Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Michigan 1997-2001 Midwest Regional Manager ENTRIX, Inc. Dearborn, Michigan