Meet Jack Hubbard: Maintenance Services Manager in PennDOT's District 5

​District 5 Maintenance Services Manager Jack Hubbard has been with PennDOT for 27 years. 

Jack's first stint with PennDOT was as a college intern for two summers in the District 10 Maintenance Unit.  

After graduating from Penn State University with an associate's degree in architectural engineering and a bachelor's degree in structural engineering, he went to work for a consultant for several years as a land development designer/project manager.  

In 1991 he accepted a Civil Engineering Trainee position at District 5, and two years later was assigned to the Bridge Unit. Then, in 1994, he became an Assistant Project Manager in the Design Unit. 

In 1999 he left PennDOT for a few years to be co-owner of a home improvement business but returned in 2002 as the District Grade Crossing Engineer. He then became the Local Bridge Liaison Engineer and Design Project Manager. 

In 2005 he accepted a promotion in Central Office in the Right-Of-Way and Utilities Unit as the Grade Crossing Engineer. He held this position until the spring of 2011 when he returned to District 5 as Maintenance Project Manager. Four years later he was promoted to his current position, Maintenance Services Manager.           

While Jack has many great memories of his career at PennDOT, one of his fondest was volunteering as the State Coordinator for Operation Lifesaver. Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit organization committed to preventing collisions, injuries, and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings, with the support of public education programs in states across the U.S. 

"With a passion to promote railroad safety, while holding the Grade Crossing Engineer position in Central Office I volunteered as the State Coordinator for Operation Lifesaver," Hubbard said. "I am glad I was able to educate many people about safety around railroads." 

As Chief Executive Officer for the State of Pennsylvania Operation Lifesaver program Jack provided 70+ presenters, 8 presenter-trainers, various business partners such as the railroads, Bureau of Rail Freight, Rail Freight Advisory Committee, and Keystone State Railroad Association with new information, updates, changes, and directions disseminated down from Operation Lifesaver headquarters. 

Jack has a strong passion for building and home improvement. This passion produced his current residence, a log cabin home atop Pohopoco Mountain in the Poconos.   

Years ago, Jack Hubbard and Bob Rhodes bought a one-acre lot (now a three-acre "compound") surrounded by mature evergreens and hardwoods. In 2014 the time was right to start the process of constructing a beautiful log home located in a private community just outside the town of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County. For 16 months most of their non-working time was committed to completing their log home which they finished in August 2015. 

Bob and Jack both have experience in construction, and they utilized these skills to design and build the home with assistance from Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes of Middleburg, PA.   

The log home's floorplan is open and inviting. On the first floor the living room adjoins the kitchen/dining area with a large center island and easy access to the guest bedroom and bath.  

A second-floor loft includes the master bedroom, a sitting area, and a walk-in closet. A few years ago, the basement was finished to add a family room, second kitchen, half bath and laundry room. A garage and timber-frame pavilion were also added.  

"The home is located in a great spot, with access to the many outdoor amenities the Poconos have to offer, such as skiing, hiking and biking, and the small towns and businesses throughout the region," Hubbard said.   

Their home has been featured in Log Home Living magazine and two times in Log Cabin Homes magazine.  

When he is not working or building something, Jack enjoys spending as much time as possible camping with his friends, or as he calls them his "extended camping family."