Welcome to the mentorDINO YouTube Interview Series, your go-to destination for in-depth conversations with professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, and adjacent fields. I’m your host Katelyn Rossier, and I’m on a mission to uncover the fascinating stories, insights, and expertise of individuals who have shaped the built environment.
In each episode, we delve into the unique career journeys of our guests, exploring their educational backgrounds, professional experiences, specializing, and what they do. Whether you’re a budding Architect, an aspiring Engineer, or a construction enthusiast, you’ll find valuable advice, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of these professions.
If you’re new here, consider subscribing to our youTube channel and hitting that notification bell so you never miss an interview with our incredible guests. And for our blog readers, we’ll also provide a mini-transcript below the video to make it easier to follow along. Now, let’s jump right into today’s conversation and get ready to be inspired by the remarkable individuals who have made their mark in architecture, engineering, and construction.
Katelyn
I’d like to welcome Ashton Brooks. She is the co-owner of Staywood Design in Austin, Texas. So thanks again for coming on and taking the time to speak with me about your career and where you are today.
Ashton
Yeah, thank you for having me.
Katelyn
Yeah, so beyond my small introduction, would you mind introducing yourself, your company, and maybe a little bit about your experience and what you’re working on right now?
Ashton
Of course. So, I am not an architect, even though I own an architecture design build firm. My career started in the worst part of the great recession, and I first was trying to get into advertising. My little naive brain thought that seemed like a great career choice, which I have to say it was for everything I learned. But I’m glad I did it, but I’m glad that I’m out of it too. So I graduated undergrad in 2009 with a marketing degree and an international business minor. I was trying to get a job in advertising and it just wasn’t happening. Firms were literally disappearing every day. People were getting laid off by the hundreds. I had this realization that, hey, this isn’t going to happen right now. So I just kind of thought to myself like, okay, what could I do to gain experience right now and hopefully, you know, do something that I at least like if I couldn’t be in the industry that I wanted to be in. And after kind of doing a little self reflection realized that I loved my dog, but I didn’t want to sell dog food. I loved my car, but I the whole industry was being bailed out by the government. And then I loved at the time.
Ashton
I used to be a bartender at a kind of a really nice bistro that had a whole bunch of craft beers and it was kind of just the beginning of the mask part of the craft beer phase. So my favorite beer company at the time was Goose Fallen Beer Company and I just called them up and said, hey, like, are you hiring? Here’s my background. Here’s what I’m doing. And they said, well, we have internships available. And I said, I’ll take it. Like, let’s do it. And they said, great, we normally have interviews, but you did it. We don’t need to interview you. Why don’t you start on Monday? And I said, awesome, can’t wait. And they said, great, the job pays a case of beer a week. So I started my career with a case of beer a week. But because I’m pretty, I was just so excited that somebody wanted me when so many people were laying off, people that were far more qualified than I was…
0:00 Introduction
0:36 Welcome!
7:16 MBA versus Service Sales Experience
13:04 Advice for Starting Your Own Company
21:30 Firm Structure
29:00 AIA Austin Women in Architecture
33:00 Partnership
35:00 Parenthood
47:00 Advice for Young Professionals
Written by
Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, LSSBB
