I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since I started working at Banning Engineering. Looking back, it reminds me a little of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, (great movie, by the way, if you haven’t seen it) because my time here has had a little of each.
The Good:
I started on November 13, 1995. I was young, eager, and excited to be part of something that felt like it was going somewhere, and it was.
The Bad:
Jeff Banning loves to tell this story. At our Christmas party that first year, we went to Milano Inn and then headed downtown to Circle Centre Mall. We stopped at a place called Flashbacks, a popular bar in the 1990s, and I heard someone say, “Well, Steve, we’re going in! See you later!” I was only 20 at the time, so… yeah, I wasn’t going anywhere. Let’s just say it was “bad” for me, but probably a great time for everyone else!
The Ugly:
Then came 9/11. At first, air traffic was chaotic, and then suddenly, the skies went silent. Work slowed down as developers waited to see what the economy would do. It was an eerie, uncertain time.
The Good (again):
Eventually, things picked up, fast. We were busier than ever and even moved from our old Tower Road office to our current location.
The Bad:
A few years after that, things slowed again.
The Ugly:
The Great Recession hit hard. We lost good employees, and for a while, I wasn’t sure if Banning Engineering would make it.
The Good:
But we did. Banning pulled through, and I’m proud to say I’ve been part of this team for 30 years.
At this point, I don’t really have any more “bad” or “ugly” stories, just good ones. I’m grateful to still be here after all these years (and I still can’t believe Jeff has put up with me this long).
I could tell a hundred more stories, but I’ll keep it short.
Working here has truly been one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me.
Steve Hayes is one of our talented CAD designers, working primarily in Site Development and serving as a trusted resource for questions and guidance. His 30 years of dedication to Banning Engineering have been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for his contributions to our team.
Congratulations on 30 years, Steve!!!