91ÊÓƵ

Every so often an engineer or someone in our industry comes forward with something that’s completely unexpected. And that’s the case with Dr. Richard E. Klein, who is an expert in engineering; he has a Ph.D., in fact.

Trained as a mechanical engineer with a focus on the sophisticated field of systems observability, Dr. Klein had an interest in bicycles. His day job was working for companies such as Caterpillar, Hughes Aircraft and Corning Glass Works.

However, using that interest and his engineering background he developed bicycles to help disabled people to learn to ride bikes. It was a complex problem because first he had to decide what made a bicycle work and then design one for people who are challenged.

Like many engineering challenges, the final solution was rather simple: replacing the bicycle’s rear wheel with a set of conveyor rollers to provide some stability. As the rider becomes more experienced, the taper on the rollers increases until the bicycle can be mastered.

D10 tractors are a far cry from bicycles. Sometimes passion takes over and creates a synergy that results in something completely unexpected. We had a chance to watch this in action here in Portland recently as the teaching team taught about 15 youngsters how to ride a bicycle.

As a business, we often look for opportunities to support community efforts. So we made a contribution and got our name on T-shirts that about 100 young people were wearing. The last day we were invited to observe the graduation. And as you watch these disabled kids make their way to the front to accept recognition of their accomplishment, you have to be a pretty tough person not to get just a little bit choked up. Kids show appreciation for what they have accomplished and for those individuals who taught them. It makes time taken out and money put aside for this kind of thing well worth it.

Supporting community efforts such as this is an important part of any industry, and no less so in construction. Because our industry is a major economic driver of the local economy, it is important that we be recognized not only for our physical improvements but for the role we play in our community. Being involved in the community provides not only potential additional business, but also makes this the kind of place that we’d like to live in.

There are many places a firm can invest their energy and efforts these days. But as an industry, the construction sector – the small and midsize businesses, in particular – do not seem to stand out. That’s an opportunity missed. While it is important to be on the golf links making connections, the ones made in other areas can generate benefits that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

Christian Steinbrecher is president of Ukiah Engineering Inc., a senior consultant at Capital Project Consultants and president of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Oregon section. Contact him at [email protected].