Joel’s passion for mechanical systems began at a young age when his curiosity led him to take apart anything he could get his hands on, just to understand how it worked. With a dresser full of parts and pieces, his love for mechanics naturally evolved into a career in HVAC design, which he’s enjoyed for over 19 years.

At APD Engineering & Architecture, Joel spends much of his time reviewing the work of the talented team of designers, passing on his wealth of experience. He finds the most fulfillment in projects that require deep thought and research, such as a unique dog kennel design that included living rooms for the dogs, complete with couches and TVs, which challenged him to study how dogs transfer heat.

Outside of work, Joel’s hands-on nature extends to his hobbies. He once spent six months building a pop-up camper shell and prides himself on being able to fix almost anything with moving parts. Joel enjoys camping and fishing, and he and his wife now live on a 60-acre farm with goats, horses, and chickens—with plans to expand their animal family in the future.

University of South Alabama, Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

University of Richmond, Masters of Business Administration (mini)

Registration/Licensing

Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Favorite Project

Joel has had many interesting projects: ALDI Chicago, Florida, New York, and Minneapolis. Countless Publix, Harris Teeter, and The Fresh Market. His favorites are the non-prototypical projects.

Joel in Three Words

Communicative, Collaborative, Innovative