Veterans Day 2022

A Tribute to the Latest Veterans to Join LAN

Every veteran has reason to be proud of their service, but it is incumbent on all of us to honor them with the recognition and gratitude befitting their sacrifice. Everyone who served in the armed forces has a unique story to tell and today LAN is celebrating Veterans Day by shining the spotlight on the veterans who joined our firm in 2021 and 2022.

LAN is honored that these distinguished individuals decided to join our team of architects, engineers, and construction professionals. In the workplace they have shown the discipline, dedication to duty, and sense of honor you would expect from someone who served in the armed forces. Below are their stories, from their time in the armed services to their current careers.

How And When Did We Start Celebrating Veterans Day ?

During World War I, a temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany took place on November 11, 1918. The one-year anniversary of that event became known as Armistice Day. Eight years after the ceasefire Congress passed a resolution to make Veterans Day an annual occurrence, and in 1938 it became a federal holiday.

Luis Rosario

Architectural Senior Project Manager

The United States Marine Corps is a great source of discipline and focus and a great place for a young person to start a life!

Luis Rosario is an Architectural Senior Project Manager who works in LAN’s southern New Jersey office located in Voorhees, NJ. Luis served in the United States Marine Corps from 1979-1985 and was at the rank of Sergeant when he was honorably discharged. He signed up for boot camp at the age of 17 and after 11 weeks of training he graduated from Parris Island 2nd Battalion Platoon 2049 with meritorious promotion to private first class. His primary MOS was Machine Gunner. He did primary MOS training in New Rochelle NY, but soon after transferred to Supply in Comm, Support Co. at Fort Schuyler, NY, Marine Corps Reserve Station. Luis later attended Noncommissioned Officer School in San Diego as a newly promoted Corporal. During his years of service Luis qualified as rifle expert five years in a row. He is a range officer, a member of the Marine Corps League, and has served as commandant of the Air Land and Sea Detachment #710.

Luis joined LAN in early 2022 and has shown great commitment to his work and clients. As a Senior Project Manager with over three decades in the architectural and construction industry, he has worked on a variety of projects throughout his career in various market sectors including commercial, industrial design, and K-12 educational design. He describes joining the Voorhees team as becoming a member of a well-oiled machine and enjoys the team collaborations in all aspects of the job. Currently he is working on architectural projects at Haddonfield School District, Winslow School District, Lawrence Township School District, Burlington School District, and Willingboro School District.

Justin Rende

Construction Administrator

My work under the hood of Hueys and Cobras prepared me well for working in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.

Justin Rende is a Construction Administrator who works in LAN’s Goshen, New York office. Prior to joining LAN, Justin served in the United States Marine Corps for six years before being honorably discharged with a rank of E-5. During his time in the Marines, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California, where he served as a helicopter mechanic. His aptitude for understanding how things work served him well working on Hueys and Cobras in the armed services and is now put to good use at LAN on diverse set of projects.  

Justin joined the LAN team in the summer of 2022, and his skills were put to use right away. He acts as a liaison between the clients/design team and the general contractors. It is his job to make sure that the plans drawn up by the architects are followed and the project is built correctly. His other responsibilities are reviewing submittals, performing site visits, and performing general construction administration services. In addition to his duties as a construction administrator, Justin assists the Mechanical Engineering Department with their work. 

Stefan Eitnier

Architectural Designer

I entered the military in 2005 after deciding that I wanted to explore more of what the world had to offer.

Stefan Eitnier is an Architectural Designer who works out of LAN’s Goshen, NY office. He enlisted in the U.S Army in Harrisburg, PA in 2005 after deciding that he wanted to explore more of what the world had to offer, but he always intended on pursuing a professional degree once his service ended. He did Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training for his job as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic at Fort Jackson, SC. He was then stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with the 209th Aviation Support Battalion in support of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade. Six short months after arriving in Hawaii, his unit was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to FOB Speicher, Iraq for a period of 15 months. Once he returned, he remained in Hawaii until 2009. He was then stationed in Fort Irwin, CA with the Regimental Support Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. It was there that he was part of a squadron that facilitated training for all military branches in desert and insurgent warfare through real-world action vignettes. In April of 2012 he finished his service and was honorably discharged.  Stefan received several commendations and ribbons including the Iraq Campaign Medal (Two Campaign Stars), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award).

Stefan joined LAN Associates at the start of 2022 and has been working in multiple disciplines from residential renovation to industrial development and, of course, LAN’s core competency of K-12 educational design. He enjoys being part of a team that he says has given him the support and knowledge to continue succeeding in his position and beyond. Stefan has been taking his ARE 5.0 exams and has already passed five of the six required tests. He looks forward to obtaining his New York State licensure after he completes his final exam, which is scheduled for mid-November. His recent notable projects include the Rockland BOCES feasibility study and preliminary design, and a renovation and reuse of an existing building for Cornerstone Family Healthcare in Newburgh, NY.

Michael Poandl

Electrical Designer

I first pursued the military for the education benefits, but after experiencing the community and living the core values, I decided to stay in long after college.

Michael Poandl is an Electrical Designer who works in LAN’s Midland Park, New Jersey Headquarters. He has served 12 years in the United States Army and continues to serve through the Army National Guard as a New Jersey reservist. Michael is currently stationed out of the NJARNG Armory in Port Murray, NJ as part of E Co 250th Brigade Support Battalion supporting the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He has been mobilized for multiple assignments to include power generation and evacuation during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, convoy and base security in the United Arab Emirates & Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield from 2019-2020, and domestic support against civil disturbance at the Capitol in Washington D.C. in 2021. He earned his rank of Staff Sergeant in February of 2020 after making the Commandant’s List and graduating from Advanced Leader Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Currently month-to-month, Michael serves as a Maintenance Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) to a Maintenance Platoon whose primary role is to ensure local military units have working trucks and equipment ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. At the end of his current 6-year commitment with the Army National Guard, he plans to finish his total 20 years of service by joining the Air National Guard assisting in air defense and technology development.

Michael joined LAN Associates in the fall of 2021 to assist the MEP department with electrical design across a wide range of disciplines. He has worked in various markets throughout his career including K-12 education, multi-family housing, commercial, municipal, ecclesiastical, state, and federal projects. Michael is balancing his family, military service, and career at LAN Associates while he studies to complete his Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam in spring of 2023 as part of his pursuit towards his New Jersey Professional Engineering License. He is currently designing electrical systems for the Riverside County Parks Improvements project and coordinated construction administration for the Garret Mountain Reservation Improvements project. He is also involved in the renovation and HVAC upgrades for the Passaic School District, Haddonfield School District, Lawrence Township School District, Oakland School District,  Plainfield School District, the Division of Property Management, and the renovations for several regional Columbia Banks.

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