Meet the Team is a blog series highlighting the amazing individuals of ZELUS. Every month, you’ll get to know a little bit about what drives us personally and professionally. And maybe even a few quirks here and there.
This month, meet Bo Hatfield. From getting his initial introduction to 3D laser scanning to some incredibly memorable project experiences, Bo has witnessed a lot with ZELUS and continues to be an integral part of our success and supportive company culture.
Without further ado, we introduce you to Bo Hatfield.
What’s your role at ZELUS?
I am the National Acquisition Manager, where I oversee all of our field operations. My responsibilities include the management of four departments including the New York acquisition team, the Phoenix acquisition team, the translation team, and the field training team. Additionally, I’m responsible for the recruitment and development of new employees, while also helping create and update processes and procedures. Basically, I handle a lot of logistics.
What’s been your favorite project at ZELUS and why?
From a strictly project-based standpoint, my favorite project has to be the work we did at the New Orleans Superdome. I visited the site to kick the project off (no pun intended) and I got to see all the inner workings of a professional sports stadium. Being a big football fan, seeing what makes a stadium tick, the owner’s box, the locker rooms, and so much more was incredibly neat.
What’s been the most valuable thing you’ve learned since joining ZELUS?
One of the greatest takeaways since joining ZELUS is how to not only overcome challenges but to be able to thrive in that environment. The field acquisition side is very fast moving and every project is unique. We run into challenges on every project and the entire team is really good at adapting and overcoming. Facing those challenges and adapting has really helped me grow professionally, and I think it’s something the whole team benefits from.
Working directly in the field, what’s one of the most unique, exciting, or memorable stories?
Every project is unique and has its own set of challenges, often accompanied by an interesting story, but for me, a few instances stand out.
Earlier this year, we had a particularly busy week where the team documented over two million square feet in a single week. The work included six different projects, 13 technicians, and t13 laser scanners (three different models). The total numbers we captured that week were surely memorable. We ended up completing 3,700 scans, getting 9,800 photos, and 3,500 [Z]RV images, which are 360 degree images in our proprietary viewer. That’s just a tremendous amount of work in such a short timeframe.
The Superdome project also stands out as one of the most memorable for the entire team. We had a team of as many as seven, working full time on site for several months. We had two rental houses in New Orleans housing the team. We created friendships, stories, and memories that I hear whenever we get together. The project really bonded the team as we collaborated between our Phoenix and New York branches.
What's one technology in your field you geek out over the most?
Definitely the laser scanners. We use several different types based on the requirements of the job. They’re incredible machines that capture millions of very accurate points in seconds. It makes you wonder how people did it back in the day with a tape measure.
What drew you to this industry?
It was the opportunity to build great relationships with great people. When I started, ZELUS was only doing 3D laser scans and I had no idea what a laser scanner was. I knew our CEO Ken Smerz from previous work in the construction industry and seeing his passion and excitement for construction technology really got me excited about the industry and the company.
Where did you grow up and what were your early years like?
I was born and raised on the outskirts of Phoenix, AZ. I grew up playing sports and was around a very mechanical family. I was usually playing football or riding and racing dirt bikes and cars.
Did your upbringing influence your career choice at all?
Absolutely. I come from a family of mechanics and fabricators, people who built things with their hands or figured out how to get things running again. So, growing up, I did a lot of work with my hands and was often encouraged to figure things out. That’s an approach to work that I continue to use every day.
What’s one thing you hope to achieve in the next year?
We’ve always been a company that’s able to get together often and we thrive on those interactions, so being a remote workforce has been, and continues to be, a challenge. Trying to keep that going virtually by introducing and nurturing different ways to communicate and stay connected is something I hope we can achieve.
