When did you begin working at Sidwell, and what other roles have you had besides Project Manager?
- Van O’Brien: I started Sidwell in 2000 in the Project Management department. In 2007, I became the Business Development Manager and handled contracts and proposals. I moved back to Project Management in 2012.
- Mark Kemper: August 1998, I have always been a Project Manager.
What is your favorite part of being a Project Manager?
- Van: I actually enjoy travelling and getting to know some great people from county governments all over the country.
- Mark: Working with clients and seeing them be successful with GIS. Developing business relationships into personal friendships.
What’s your favorite movie?
- Van: It’s a tie between 2001: A Space Odyssey and Dances with Wolves
- Mark: Saving Private Ryan
What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
- Van: Nothing, because my children ate it all.
- Mark: Not much.
If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
- Mark: Field Marshall Erich Von Manstein.
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
- Van: Invisibility so that I can gain entry into places that very few people can go. However, shooting lightning bolts out of my hands would be pretty great too.
When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be and why?
- Van: I think when I was ten I wanted to fly a helicopter and blow up bad guys, similar to the cartoons I was watching at the time. How that dream developed into what I am doing now is anybody’s guess.
- Mark: Electrical engineer. It seemed like a cool job at the time.
Favorite sport?
- Van: College football
- Mark: Baseball
Favorite meal?
- Van: My wife’s family has traditionally put on an Easter meal that I look forward to every year. Ham, kielbasa, pierogis, potato casserole, green bean casserole and then a bunch of candy lying around for dessert.
- Mark: Pork roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh cut sweet corn, from scratch apple or cherry pie.