20 under 40: Barrett Lipomi

Favorite quote or saying, why?

“Youth is a quality, not a matter of circumstance.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

I like this quote because so often I’m inspired by people who think and act much younger than their age. My grandfather is in his 80s but has more energy and passion for life than many of us in our 30s. So for me it’s a reminder that age doesn’t have to limit or define us; we can be as young as we feel despite the number of times we’ve seen the earth travel around the sun.

Community or professional highlights:

Professionally, my highlights include the day I became a licensed architect and the day we celebrated the first anniversary of my firm. The architecture licensing process is a long one and obtaining my license had been a goal since I was in high school, so to get that letter in the mail was a great feeling. The first-year anniversary of my business was amazing because I saw how far our company came along in that year and how I grew professionally. I was trained in design and architecture, so starting a small business was a crash course in finance, payroll, HR, business loans and corporate structure. Luckily I have great partners and employees and we all worked together with a common goal. Just last month we passed the four-year mark and are going strong!

My top community highlights include the work I’ve been a part of with the Modesto Art Museum and AIA Sierra Valley. Included with this is the annual Modesto Architecture Festival, which is now in its ninth year. We have been able to grow the event from a one-night movie screening to a nine-day festival with hundreds of participants each year. I was also part of the Modesto Art Museum as we developed the Building a Better Modesto program. This program was a direct response to Modesto’s ranking as the “Least Livable City.” Rather than sit with that title, we decided to set out and improve the quality of life in Modesto through art, architecture, landscape, and urban design. The efforts of this program gave the museum and Modesto positive national and international recognition.

Your life changed when:

I met my wife. She has been the strength behind everything I have accomplished over the past 11 years. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you have the love and support of a spouse or partner behind you. My wife encouraged and supported me every step of the way. When I spent every evening with my head in a book studying for my exams, she was by my side. When I decided to leave my job and start a new business, she supported me. When I was asked to join yet another committee, board, or volunteer effort, she always said: Go for it! As with most people who are involved with community organizations, it takes a strong partner to keep everything else in line. While balancing her own career, she has gone above and beyond to make sure our family is taken care of while I’m out at board meetings and events.

What do you want people to know most about you?

To me, it’s not important what people do or don’t know about me. What is important to me is what people know and feel about our community. We have so much potential here, and the sky is the limit for what Modesto and the surrounding communities can become in five, 10, 50 years. Too often my peers have been apologetic about our community, labeling it subpar when compared with Bay Area cities. The fact is that we, the residents, have the power to make our community the most vibrant, livable, successful community in the country. We just have to roll up our sleeves and make it happen. I want people to know that we have an amazing group of young leaders in our community who are working toward this goal, and I encourage others to get involved. Much progress has already been made, and there is a long way to go. However, I’m confident that together we can build an even better Modesto for generations to come.

What do you like most about living here?

The people. Through my friendships, business, and community service I have met some of the most amazing people in Modesto. My wife and I both grew up here, and this is a great community in which we can raise our family.

Why is community involvement important?

I always go back to the verse in Luke: “To whom much is given, of him much shall be required.” I have been blessed with an amazing family, friends, talents and opportunities. Much has been given to me and in return I want to give back anything I can. Growing up, I saw my father involved in many community organizations and charities, so it just always seemed like the right thing to do. Our community isn’t static; it is dynamic and ever-evolving. So where there are elements that we can improve, why not get involved and make a change? I’ve been a part of quite a few organizations and had the pleasure of leading several boards and committees. What I always tell people is: You get out of it what you put in. My most rewarding experiences with these organizations have been the ones that took the most work.

This story was originally published August 21, 2016 at 5:45 AM with the headline "20 under 40: Barrett Lipomi."