ZACH HILL

Growing up in the Bay, I loved the Bash Brothers and my sports hero growing up was Mark McGwire. He was by far my favorite baseball player on a team I grew up loving. I had all his baseball cards, posters on my wall and even tried to bat like him in little league (to very little success). It was sad day when he left the A’s. I know there’s a shadow over him now but how fun was the summer of 1998?!

The first trip my then girlfriend (and now wife) Katja and I went on together was to Quintana Roo, Mexico. We flew into Cancun, spent a few days exploring Playa del Carmen and Cozumel and then took a bus ride down to Tulum where we visited ruins and went swimming in cenotes. After several years we’re finally planning to go back this summer, without kids!

This is a tough one because I love all types of music. But if I have to pick just three I guess I’m going with Springsteen by Eric Church, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and What I Got by Sublime. I’m going to leave it at that before I second guess my choices.

The biggest surprise for me has been the weather. I knew the summers were hot but I didn’t realize how much it was going to rain and how intense thunder and lightning is here. I also wasn’t expecting it to be 80 degrees on Christmas but no complaints there!

I love how supportive everyone is in the success of the industry. Employers coming together with educators to make sure there is a pipeline of skilled employees. All of the collaboration and thought partnerships. With groups like ARMA leading the way it’s hard not to be excited about the growth of manufacturing in Central Texas.

Well, if we’re in Austin it has to be breakfast tacos. A place that was recommended to me and didn’t disappoint was Veracruz All Natural. Can’t go wrong with anything you order but you have to try the Migas. Their location in South Austin also has coffee and cocktails so you are set no matter what time of day you visit!