meet Jeff Raudabaugh, one of TBG’s newest principals
Q: How did you find landscape architecture?
A: “At my previous firm, I worked on projects with The Broussard Group, Daniel Weinbach & Partners, The Office of James Burnett and others and quickly realized that the LA groups were as much or more in tune with the user experience than the building architect. Understanding this opened my eyes to the depth of landscape architecture and appreciate the often unsung (or miscredited) value this discipline brings to a project.”
Q: What’s your favorite movie line?
A: “It’s the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs. I’ve outrun Imperial starships. Not the local bulk cruisers, mind you. I’m talking about the big Corellian ships, now. She’s fast enough for you, old man.” — Han Solo
Q: Describe your design philosophy in two lines
A: “Keep working and refining until you cannot stop staring at it. When your eye traces through the composition tirelessly, you are done.”
Q. Would you rather be a tiny elephant or a giant hamster?
A: “Elephants are incredible creatures, so I suppose even a tiny one would be great.”
Q: Who’s your celebrity doppelganger?
A: “I’ve been told Stan Humphries from the San Diego Chargers (back when I had more hair AND they were in San Diego). This is obscure I know, so here’s a picture. I can see it, I guess.”
Q: What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
A: “The Island of St. Lucia.”
Q: What was your worst job ever?
A: “I would say selling shoes at Sears, but I managed to learn a lot doing that so it wasn’t awful.”
Q: How do you define success?
A: “This is not my definition, but words I’ve lived by for decades. This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson introduced to me by my mom, is my absolute favorite.”
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch Or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!”― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Q: What road trip would you like to take?
A: “U.S. Route 66 to the Grand Canyon”
Q: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
A: “Somewhere on 7-mile beach, Grand Cayman Island”
Q: Describe what you were like at age 10.
A: “I had just seen Star Wars Episode IV (the “first” one), got my first dog and Van Halen 1 was released, so needless to say I was a happy kid. I was in 4th grade with my favorite teacher Ms. Lapeyre and just becoming aware that I was the “art kid” in my class when people started asking me to draw things for them. I took this honor seriously and still do.”
Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to hit a deadline?
A: “Well, funny you should ask. I once stayed up all night working on a presentation with a design team that included a talented PM named Regina. We made it through the process without being “found out”, the presentation went well and we were married the following year.”
Q: Who’s someone you look up to as a mentor?
A: “My mom for her love, encouragement and creativity. She always told me I could be anything I wanted to be and was convincing enough that I believed her. As I got older she continued to push me down my creative path and to never stop chasing what I wanted which I have never stopped doing. In a more traditional sense I would say Brent Spraggins. He naturally offered the 3 key roles of mentorship to me as a consultant, counselor and cheerleader. His patience, interest and enthusiasm are traits I aspire to develop further in myself.”
Q: Next up on your travel agenda?
A: “Japan. I don’t know when, but I am going!”
