Interplan’s Jay Schoneman on Building More Than Spaces

Meet Jay Schoneman, Director of Architectural Services at Interplan LLC.

What is your favorite time to get things done?

Absolutely in the morning. I love getting up early.

What is the soundtrack that plays in the background of your office?

It would be all different types of music. Usually more upbeat. No specific soundtrack. It’s a wide variety of music. I like most types of music depending on the mood. More often something upbeat.

Name the band you cannot take off your playlist.

Chris Stapleton

What does a typical workday look like?

Up at 4 a.m. to catch up on any emails or items remaining from the previous day. A little break to get my son up and off to school by 7 a.m. To the office by 7:30 a.m. The rest of the day varies greatly.

It can be meeting with team members to work through situations, discussing staffing needs, working through project challenges, reviewing drawings, training staff members on all aspects of the business, reviewing financials, coordinating HR items with our HR team in Orlando, the list goes on. I really enjoy working with all of our team members.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you on a job site?

It might be that a GC ordered the wrong beam and it was supposed to have a bend in it so instead of having a new one fabricated by the steel manufacturer they tried to bend it using a forklift. Hard to believe, but it did not work well.

What are you binge watching right now?

I haven’t binge watched shows in a long time. I prefer watching sports when I find the time.

What has this experience taught you?

It’s definitely a lot of work but I enjoyed talking through all of the design ideas and logistics with my teammates to settle on what we hoped to be the best options for a fantastic office that would be enjoyed by all of our employees.

Favorite comfort food?

Sushi and Tacos (Not at the same time)

Best advice you ever received?

I have been given a lot of good advice over the years but one that sticks out recently is the 1% rule. The 1% rule promotes open-mindedness and continuous improvement among colleagues. By considering even a 1% truth in feedback or differing opinions, we can foster better communication and collaboration. More explanation on the 1% rule can be found here: Understanding the 1% Rule.

Biggest influence in your life?

My family and friends

What trait do you most admire?

Integrity

What advice would you give your younger self?

Spend time learning about emotional intelligence. It can help you in all aspects of your life.