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Employee Spotlight: Bradley Schlosser, Associate Principal
Meet Bradley Schlosser, Associate Principal. He led the team on the recently-completed Westerly Chicago in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. Hard-working, loyal, risk-taker, new tech buff, and musical artist are just a few descriptors we’d use for Bradley. He’s unafraid of the ever-changing world of tech, not accepting things as they come, deconstructing and reconfiguring them to achieve their best use for his needs. He gets excited being a mentor and supporter of anyone who brings him new ideas that they have been exploring. His zest for technology naturally blends itself with his love of music in his talent of being an artistic DJ, creating custom songs and mixes. Brag: He’s hosted DJ Happy Hours for us during quarantine (cue at-home dance party.)
Being a risk-taker, it’s no surprise Bradley’s vehicle of choice is a motorcycle. One day, he’d like to visit the Isle of Man and watch a Tourist Trophy race for the 1.5 seconds of excitement watching a superbike fly past at 200mph. You’ll see in the photos, his affinity for them started very early with a ride from his Uncle Jerry. What did he originally want to be when he grew up? What bad hairstyle did he have at one point? Find out the answers to these and more in the questions we asked him below. We also invite you to get to know him further through his staff bio.
We took some time to get to know Bradley, and here’s what we learned:
What’s something – big or small – that you’re really good at?
“Navigating, exploring, and learning new technology. I know some people can find the ever-changing tech world to be a bit daunting, but I don’t have that “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mentality. If it’s not broke, take it apart, toss the extra, unnecessary parts in a separate pile, put it back together, and build something new with the leftovers. Bring on the jetpacks, robots, and the flying cars!”
What’s something you saw recently that made you smile?
“I have a video of my nephew and one of my nieces with some of my old headphones on, watching Daft Punk videos, and teaching each other to dance. Of course, I can’t actually hear what they are listening to, which makes it even better. If I’m having a bad day, that’s about all I need to get back on track.”
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
“For a long time, it was third basemen for the Chicago Cubs. But somewhere around 13 or 14 I started toying with the idea of architecture. Once it got in my head and I started thinking about college, that was it, there was no turning back.”
What real or fictional place would you most like to visit?
“I would love to go to Isle of Man and watch a Tourist Trophy race. Just hard to make the journey for that 1.5 seconds of excitement with a superbike flying past you at 200 mph.”
What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?
“I tend not to think in terms of “mistakes”. I have made a lot of decisions in my career and each one has become an opportunity, one way or another. If you fear that you might make a mistake, then you are less likely to take the risk that just might lead you to the solution you are looking for. Sure, I’ve had many things that didn’t go as planned, but those are often the most important learning experiences, that you may not recognize if you see them as a mistake.”
What’s the worst fashion or hair decision you’ve made?
“Braids. Nuff said!“
What energizes you at work?
“Watching others try something new or come to me with new ideas that they have been exploring. They may not always be something we can implement, or even the best ideas, but taking the risk and watching them investigate is one of those things that makes every day enjoyable.”
How do you take your coffee?
“Black. If I am feeling a bit crazy, then maybe a splash of sugar.”
If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?
“Batteries Not Included”. Then you open it up and it is nothing but batteries. Why…because you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Also, I wouldn’t want to waste the paper, so it’s probably an audiobook, in which case you’ll need some batteries for a listening device.”
Who has influenced you the most when it comes to how you approach your work?
“My parents, for sure. My Dad taught me about working hard for your family and putting in the extra time. My Mom taught me a lot about loyalty and keeping an eye on the future. Of course, there were plenty of teachers, coaches, and other family members that all helped me along the way, but my parents gave me that rock-solid foundation.”
