Highlands Circle Spotlight: Ben Fitzpatrick

Ben Fitzpatrick AshevilleBen Fitzpatrick is Lead Software Developer at EATON Corporation. He also serves on the Executive Committee of Highlands Circle, a network of passionate young professionals looking to change the odds for families and Buncombe County communities through positive, lasting change. We get to know him a little better in this month's HC Spotlight.

What is the last movie you watched? The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies. My wife, Katie, and I both wanted to see it, so we went on a date night. It’s not very true to the books, but it’s a pretty good movie, and I was glad it didn’t have a silly action sequence like the second movie’s "Bobbing For Dwarves."

What is the last song you listened to? “Fortune Days” by the Glitch Mob. I feel like you can do the impossible as long as you do it while this song is playing. I was lucky enough to see them at the Orange Peel last year, and they put on a great show as well.

What is your biggest accomplishment? Getting married to Katie. (This October! Yay!)

If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Like who you are. To accomplish anything great, you first have to believe you’re great, and that only happens if you put in the effort to be okay with who you are. Believe in the you who believes in yourself.

Why do you LIVE UNITED? I like the idea that if I were down and out, someone would be there for me. I want to be that person for other people. We’re all in this together, and that means being there for each other when times are tough.

Why did you get involved with Highlands Circle? I like the sense of friendship and community it brings to work on these things together, helping other people as we hang out and have fun with other young professionals who share that mindset.

What is your favorite quote or motto? “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” – Carl Sagan
There’s always layers deeper than this one, or things that happened before this to cause this to happen. We’re awash in a sea of complexity, and it’s only some kind of miracle of consciousness that we’re able to discard those and focus on the now, and on the future.

Each month, we shine a spotlight on a member of Highlands Circle, a group for leaders in their 20s and 30s. If you are interested in being highlighted, please contact Kristina.Dionne@UnitedWayABC.org or call (828) 239-1049.

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