Employee Spotlight: Troy Swendal

A member of the Parallel team for 20 years, Troy Swendal’s wide range of expertise has made him an invaluable asset to the company.  Read below to learn more about Troy in his own words.

Briefly describe a typical day for you at Parallel.

When you wake up in the morning and don’t know how your day is going to start!  My phone rings from 8 am to 5 pm with people needing help.  A typical day is hard to describe…

What’s the best thing about your job?

I know it’s a challenge every day. It’s not mundane, there’s always something new.  It keeps me excited and I love being here at Parallel.

What is​ it about the challenging things that you like?

It’s knowing there is always a solution that can fix a problem, then going out and finding it.  We dig into our arsenal, pull everyone together, and test it in the lab.  Ultimately telling the customer we fixed it when everyone else said it couldn’t be done.

What’s been one of your proudest moments working at Parallel?

Helping a customer that lost 50% of their building due to a construction fire.  I came from the office wearing dress shoes and ended up soaking wet.  I grabbed equipment that could be salvaged once the fire fighters finished spraying. I found the circuit wires that came into the building an was able to get them working before the next day.  A proud moment and this guy is a life long customer.

What is your favorite pastime?

Golfing.  Dying sport but I still enjoy it.  I love taking my son out and letting him drive the golf cart.  He is actually becoming a very good player and that’s been enjoyable to watch.

What inspires you?

Mostly my dad.  Learning from his hard work and dedication and knowing when things get tough, there is always an option to get around it.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

How much?  If I won a $200M, I’d start buying land in Florida, Lake Erie, the Caribbean – places to travel.  If I won $4M, I’d still have to work.

What would be the title of your autobiography?

The Simple Life of Troy Swendal

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

Key West, Florida, January 24, 2004.  I asked my (then girlfriend, now wife) to marry me.  We were laying on the beach and we both saw a shooting star. I had planned a different place to propose, but I just pulled out the ring and asked right then and there.