Ozarks Profile: Jana B. Funk

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Tell us about your firm.|ret||ret||tab|

Hood-Rich Inc. is a client-centered commercial architectural and engineering firm. We work hard to create designs that capture the vision of our clients, yet stay within the client's budget. We offer a full range of services including architecture; civil, structural and electrical engineering; surveying and land planning; and interior design. We are locally owned and managed by a team of seven architects and engineers. We take pride in the involvement of our principals in all stages of the project, including the creation of working documents. In most instances, a principal architect and engineer is the project architect and engineer.|ret||ret||tab|

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Specifically, what do you do?|ret||ret||tab|

My specific duties include developing client relations, working with clients to develop preliminary designs, developing these drawings into construction documents to receive bids for construction by general contractor, and working with the contractors during the construction phase to keep a job running smoothly. My main goal is to make the building process a pleasant experience for my clients.|ret||ret||tab|

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What attracted you to this career?|ret||ret||tab|

I was exposed to architecture all of my life. My father started Hood-Rich when I was two years old, and as a teen-ager I worked for him during summer breaks. In school my two favorite subjects were math and art, and not many careers combine the two disciplines as well as the field of architecture. |ret||ret||tab|

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What are the biggest changes in your industry?|ret||ret||tab|

Our industry, like many others, has been changed by technology. The instantaneous answer of questions by e-mail, product information on Web sites and the transfer of drawings by electronic means processes, which used to take days or weeks, now only require hours.|ret||ret||tab|

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What prepared you for your work?|ret||ret||tab|

I obtained degrees in both architecture and interior design from Oklahoma State University and University of Missouri, respectively. I truly enjoy the challenge of merging both perspectives into my design of buildings.|ret||ret||tab|

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Tell us about your family.|ret||ret||tab|

My husband, Gary, is the executive vice-president of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. We have two children, Megan, 13, who attends Jarrett Middle School, and Thomas, 9, who is a student at Rountree Elementary School.|ret||ret||tab|

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Have you ever considered another career?|ret||ret||tab|

Besides being an astronaut? No.|ret||ret||tab|

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