Cheesecake and gardening and winners

Consulting-Specifying Engineer announces the 2010 40 Under 40 winners.

July 22, 2010

I have no idea what cheesecake has to do with gardening, but I’m not complaining. I just returned from an evening of answering questions about gardens. My time was spent in the parking lot of Eli’s Cheesecake (a Chicago institution), where a local farmer’s market invites produce hunters and avid gardeners. They fed us free cheesecake, so it was worth every minute.

I’m University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener, and to keep up my certification, I must complete 30 hours of community service each year. These service hours can be completed in many ways. I often answer “Ask a Master Gardener” questions, which are submitted online to a team of “electronic plant clinic” volunteers. I also attend in-person events, like the farmer’s market, where I answer questions and give guidance in person.

Volunteering follows the motto of my high school, “Men and women for others.” I’ve volunteered as long as I can remember; giving back to the community and teaching others has always been important to me.

That’s probably why Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s 40 Under 40 program is so important to me. Not only are each year’s winners incredible engineers and building professionals, they also give back to the community. Some do it through their personal passion, while others offer up their engineering skills. Either way, they all deserve some cheesecake. Read about this year’s winners.