Welcome to a new monthly feature in which we go behind “Behind the Scenes” to learn more about a member of the Capstan team.   If you’d like to see someone specific featured, let us know!    

Project Engineer Andy Murdie is the quintessential “sports dad.”  Raising three top teenage athletes isn’t easy – if Andy’s not on the ice at a hockey game, he’s supervising drills on the soccer field, or driving the crew to an out-of-town softball tournament.  Each of his kids is an elite performer, participating in national and international events at junior Olympian levels.   All this travel dovetails with Andy’s on-the-go lifestyle as a Capstan engineer, and he talked a little with us about his work-life-sport balance.  

Andy, tell us about your busy family.   

Well, I’m married to my high school sweetheart, P.J., and we have three great kids.  I mean, I want to say they’re great, but they are teenagers… 

Say no more.   

My boys, Cameron and Jacob, are 17 and 15.  They each play soccer for two different teams and play hockey as well.  My daughter Madison is 9, and she keeps up with the boys in every way – she’s also on two soccer teams, and plays softball and basketball.    

That must translate into a lot of games and practices.   

Don’t get me started.  Every kid has practice for at least one thing every day, and weekends are full of travel games.  Our kids travel internationally with their teams too – this summer we’re all going to Portugal for soccer.    

How do you fit it all in?  You and your wife both work full-time, and your role as a Capstan engineer involves a lot of travel.  Seriously, how are you doing this?  Time machine? 

[Laughs].  I wish!  It’s more about making the most of the time that we have.  I work early every morning and late every night.  I bring my laptop to every practice so I can catch up on emails.  The biggest thing is probably planning ahead.  Whenever Ziv assigns me a job, my wife and I take a look at our huge family calendar, and figure out which travel dates would result in minimal disruption.   

And of course, I don’t travel like a normal person.   

How do normal people travel?  

Normal people schedule flights at convenient times, and don’t mind spending a night or two away.  I prefer the day trip, even when it becomes a very long day.  For example, I just got back from a site visit in Minnesota.  A normal person would have done that project in two days, but I took a 6:00am flight to MN, and a 10:00pm flight home, so I could be back in time for my family’s morning routine the next day.   

Andy, your life is exhausting.  Are there any times this craziness works to your advantage?  

Actually, yes, all the time.  For example, I was recently in Columbus for a soccer tournament and a client called with a rush 4/15 job in – guess where? – Columbus.  We were able to make that project happen because I was already there, and the client was thrilled.  

Speaking of thrilled, we’re thrilled that you’re part of the Capstan team, Andy.   

So am I!  We recently met with a financial planner who asked about my retirement plans.  I told him the truth – I’m one of those people who is lucky enough to love their job, and retirement isn’t on my radar at all.  Capstan is a great place to do what you love.   

I have to ask — do you guys ever relax? 

We do, of course, but everyone is busy.  Our kids put a lot of time into their academics too — they’re all High Honor Roll students and I’m really proud of how they balance school and sports.  

I’ll repeat the question – do you guys ever relax?  

[Laughs.] We do, we definitely do.  We have family game night, and sometimes family movie night, although that’s always a bust because Madison is the youngest and gets to pick the movie.   

So you end up watching “Frozen” on repeat? 

Yep. Or what’s that other one?  The new one where the guy lives behind a wall and no one talks about him?  

Bruno? From “Encanto”? 

Yes!  If I hear that song one more time… 

Let’s not talk about it.   

Andy Murdie can be reached at amurdie@capstantax.com.  He’s open to discussing cost segregation and efficient travel, but will not talk about Bruno.