Member Spotlight: Rick "ROCK" Cannon with ERS
What is your current company & position? ERS for 4 years—Senior Engineer.
What do you want to do when you grow up? I don’t want to grow up. I have been married 35 years and the secret is strong communication with each other. I want to let you know that I’m a South Austin Native and graduated from William Travis High School.
If your company had a theme song, what would it be? We are family by Sister Sledge. The reason I like that song is because I use it as the Culture of the agency. It helps with aid in retention by having a family culture, make employees feel welcomed, loved, appreciated, and valued. We Are Family.
What are your Hobbies? Travel & Turning Wood Worker. I love to work with wood by turning it. It is like a lathe and spins the wood and carving it while it spins. Called a Wood Turner. Favorite place to travel is the Coast to get to a beach.
Do you have pet peeves? Inconsiderate Drivers, especially here in Austin.
If there is anything you can change, what would it be? No change. I don’t want to change anything.
Do you have a favorite quote, saying or song? Why is it your favorite? The quote from Bruce Lee: “Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend. The philosophy: “Be like water” means that you should be formless. When Lee says to be "formless", he means that people shouldn't allow themselves to be trapped in a certain mindset. Instead, a person should be able to adapt to certain situations, grow, and change; that's how one can adopt the qualities of water.
One of your goals for this year? I have a major construction project renovation and my goal is to get it done by the end of the year and that it gets done right.
What is your favorite thing about AAFAME? There are many reasons why I love AAFAME, but my favorite reason is how it has help me become the engineer that I am today. The knowledge and training that AAFAME has is for anyone who would like to learn and be a successful engineer. I have been in AAFAME for many years, Amy should know that. The reason why I am still a supporter is because they invest in those who desire to do better in this field. They supported me with scholarships & educational resources. They provide networking contacts and the knowledge in the industry with codes and relevant in keeping up with changes and technology. If it wasn’t for AAFAME, I would not be where I am today. Thank you AAFAME!
Interview conducted by Art Cardenas with Valor Fire & Security