In this edition of Get to Know, we are pleased to introduce Shawn Royster, a member of ASPE’s Wisconsin Chapter.
ASPE: What are your hobbies outside of work?
Shawn: I like to play golf when I can but spend most of my time with my children and getting them to their different activities. This by itself is a full-time job at times in the year.
ASPE: What is your favorite type of music, band, and song?
Shawn: I can pretty much listen to most any type of music, but my favorite is rock music from the 80’s.
ASPE: If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be and why?
Shawn: I would love to be a professional golfer. Outside of a few team events, golf is you vs. the course. I have been playing golf since I was two and really enjoy the game. Many people can hit the ball a mile, but golf is so much more than that. The great Bobby Jones once quoted, “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots—but you have to play the ball where it lies.”
ASPE: What is your favorite meal? Is it prepared at home or found at a restaurant?
Shawn: This may sound very weird, but ever since I was a child, I have liked any type of noodles, with butter and milk. I explain this meal to people as basically mac and cheese but hold the cheese. My kids also like this, and they call the meal “Milk Noodles.”
ASPE: What is your proudest accomplishment?
Shawn: Prior to my current position at HJ Pertzborn, my previous work was in the field of architecture. After completing college, I began working toward my goal and ended up getting licensed as an Architect in the State of Wisconsin back in 2000. While I do not practice architecture any longer, I maintain my license and still work with many of my past colleagues, but now as a plumbing subcontractor on some of their projects.
ASPE: What did you want to be when you were a child?
Shawn: When I was younger, I would see my Grandfather working at his drafting board designing many different things for his business. I knew at that time I wanted to someday be an architect and design buildings.
ASPE: What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
Shawn: Up until three or so years ago, baseball was my favorite sport to watch and play, but now it is hockey. The change happened when my daughter and son began to play hockey in our small community. At the end of each season there is the annual kids vs. parents game, and it has been probably 30+ years since I have been on skates. Ever since that game, I have begun to play more and more hockey myself, even taking part in a 17-week hockey program for adults and a weekly hockey beginners’ game with many other parents of players. The kids make it look so easy and can outskate me any day, but I love playing and watching their games.
ASPE: What’s your favorite type of foreign food?
Shawn: Chinese is my favorite foreign food. We have a local Chinese buffet in town, and we probably go several times a month. Whenever I ask the kids where they want to eat, they say “The Fishy Place” since the restaurant has a large tank of koi fish that the kids like to see.
