This month, we are proud to spotlight Allen Petersen, our dedicated Sheetmetal Foreman who has been with Hermanson since 2016.

Born in Enumclaw and raised near Bonney Lake on a small farm, Allen comes from a family of loggers and millwrights. After serving in the Army, he met his wife. Together, they raised two daughters and now enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.

Allen's path into the trades started in an unexpected way. After spending years as a residential home builder, constructing homes from the ground up, he transitioned to the mechanical industry when business slowed. He began by running equipment part-time and later stepped into a full-time role as a material handler. Allen eventually found his calling in sheet metal work.

Whether he’s doing work downtown or troubleshooting complex systems, Allen enjoys the variety his job brings.

Allen shares, "I like walking onto a job and being able to visualize everything we're going to do."

“There are times when I’m juggling multiple projects at once, and that keeps me on my toes."

Allen thrives in the challenge of problem-solving, particularly when it involves collaborating with building engineers to deliver quality work. "It's meaningful when we build something and know it's something they'll be happy with," he adds.

One standout project in his career is Harborview Medical Center. For the fan wall replacement, Allen and his team reworked the system, taking apart a previous air handler and rebuilding it from scratch.

Beyond his technical expertise, Allen is passionate about mentoring others. He finds satisfaction in sharing his knowledge, whether drawing from his construction background or teaching new skills to younger tradespeople.

When asked about his experience at Hermanson, Allen said, "I love the team here. It's like an extended family".  

"I also respect the honest approach Hermanson takes. I really appreciate how Rick builds genuine relationships with everyone on the team, not just the clients."

Allen has this simple and short advice for anyone new to the industry: "Just be open to learning and absorb everything that you can."

Thank you, Allen for your leadership and your ongoing contributions to Hermanson’s success!