Fast Facts

Position: Client Liaison

Hometown: Terre Haute, IN

Education: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (BS, Civil Engineering), Eastern Michigan University (MBA)

Currently Watching: NCIS

Dick Butwin recently joined Schmidt Associates as a Client Liaison, leading our Workplace and Lifestyle studios. Learn a little more about him below!

Tell us about your background.

I am a Hoosier, born and bred. I grew up in Terre Haute and lived there until I graduated college. I come from a large family with two brothers and two sisters. I started going steady with my now-wife, Ann, when we were only 14. Truthfully, I think we were only allowed to because our mothers had gone to high school together. We were married while I was still in college, and we have grown our family through the years with a son (Ben) and a daughter (Emily), five grandkids, and two dogs (Bosco and Boone)!

What made you decide on Civil Engineering?
My dad was a civil engineer, and I always did well at math and science in school, so it only seemed natural. Growing up, I remember seeing all of the drafting tools my dad had—a drafting board, T-squares, triangles, you name it. Rose-Hulman is also somewhat of a family tradition. My dad and brother both went there, as well as three brothers-in-law and probably half a dozen cousins.

What is the best part of your job?

People! I know it sounds cliché, but relationships are what drive our business. There are many technically talented people and companies, but what sets Schmidt Associates apart is our emphasis on people (both clients and employees) and community.

What advice would you have for someone entering the field?
Patience. Learn as much as you can and absorb as much as you can. Just absorb and your career will go the direction it is meant to.

What do you do in your free time?
I love sports, so we spend a lot of time attending grandkids’ sporting events (football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and soccer). I also love to watch the Colts and Notre Dame play, whether that is live or on television.

When we aren’t busy doing that, we can oftentimes be found at the stables or a horse competition. We own an American Saddlebred horse named King Silver Ace (we call him Monty). He is a very regal horse with a long neck and an animated walk. Though I don’t ride anymore, I still enjoy our time at the stable and watching my wife compete. My daughter, Emily, also shares the passion and was on the Equestrian Team at Indiana University for four years.

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
Personally, London. We went on a big family vacation and spent a week there over New Year’s. It was a lot of fun.

Professionally, I traveled to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Because of all the political unrest, there were soldiers with guns everywhere. It was definitely unnerving. I also spent a lot of time in Central Mexico and saw some interesting things there.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Indy?
I love going to the Indy 500 and have gone for 47 years. Growing up, we knew the George family. I went to high school with Nancy, and they lived in the same subdivision as my wife. My father-in-law was a doctor, so he got tickets through Lilly and my love for the sport started.

Do you collect anything?
When I was younger, I had a huge baseball card collection with all the 1960s Yankees. I wish I still had that! These days, my biggest collection is the official gameday T-shirts from every Notre Dame football game I have attended. I probably have 50 shirts that have never been worn with the tags still on them.