Greyson's Summer at PathHouse
By: Greyson Rynders, Economics Research Assistant at Marriner S Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis
Introduction
My name is Greyson Rynders and I am starting my senior year and final semester as a Quantitative Analysis of Markets & Organizations major with minors in Information Systems and Mathematics at the University of Utah. I am a Utah native and have lived in the state for over 18 years. As a long-term resident of Utah, I have taken the pleasure of visiting the state’s five national parks, engaging in the rock climbing and snow sports scene, and pursuing state policy with Utah’s legislature in Salt Lake City to improve the lives of Utah’s residents, newcomers, and visitors!
Internship Experience at PathHouse
Overview of PathHouse
Over this past summer, I interned as a Policy Writer & Analyst for PathHouse, an Oregon-based, off-site, mass timber modular home developer working to lower the costs of homeownership. PathHouse utilizes mass timber materials in its modular homes to promote carbon sequestration (carbon capture) to combat carbon emissions contributing to climate change.
Key Responsibilities and Learning Outcomes
Interning for PathHouse has been a truly unique opportunity for me. As a Policy Writer & Analyst, I strengthened my skills in quantitative analysis and legislative writing by researching and analyzing the status of the forestry and housing industries and creating policy proposals that tackled the issues associated with each industry, with affordability and sustainability at the forefront. I helped PathHouse build a state-wide policy framework that allows for cheaper modular housing development, long-term environmental sustainability for the forests of the Pacific Northwest, revitalization of local industries, and overall increased housing affordability for new home buyers and renters.
Networking and Advocacy In housing affordability
The internship has also given me the opportunity to connect with legislators and interest groups across the Pacific Northwest. Through these connections, the policy proposals I created are now being advocated for at the state level in Oregon and other states governments in the Pacific Northwest.
Challenges and Lessons Learned in the Lawmaking Process
My duties and experiences as a Policy Writer & Analyst for PathHouse taught me about turning ideas into law. The process was not as straightforward as I initially thought, and required me to succinctly convey my ideas to others, gain political perspectives, and garner support from locals and officials. It was a tacit expectation of mine to quickly learn the needs, wants, and general expertise of foresters, housing developers, environmentalists, Oregonians, and Pacific Northwesterners before meeting with these interest groups, constituents, and legislative offices to address our policy proposals. This taught me that policy writing and ultimately lawmaking requires political advocacy just as much as it requires researching and writing.
Memorable Summer Experiences with PathHouse
Visiting PathHouse’s Headquarters
Beyond the skills and learning, the internship had fun and memorable moments. In early July, I traveled to Portland, Oregon to visit PathHouse headquarters and see completed architectural projects by PathHouse CEO, Benjamin Kaiser. During this tour, I also had the chance to better understand the products and value PathHouse provides by doing a factory site visit of several PathHouse modular home prototypes.
Participation in the Council of State Governments West
I could not end this blog without mentioning my attendance at the Council of State Governments West that was hosted in Portland while I visited. There, I was able to hear about pressing issues facing the U.S. from representatives of various western state legislatures as well as share my own policy ideas with several state house representatives and senators.
Conclusion
The above being said, this past summer has certainly been one to remember! I feel accomplished with the work I have done with PathHouse over the summer, and am happy to have been able to pay a visit to PathHouse in Portland. The skills I strengthened and the ones I learned, along with the connections I have made over the summer have me looking forward to my future career endeavors in policy!
A big thank you to Ivory Innovations and Benjamin Kaiser from PathHouse for giving me this tremendous summer opportunity!