Awards, boards, meetings and extracurricular activities aren’t as important as they used to be for Kevin Fitzpatrick. The 36-year-old information systems director of Roel Construction Co. has a new passion: his 8-month-old son, Jordan.

Now mostly computers and diapers fill the hours of his day. Weekends are spent giving his wife of 13 years, Karin, a break from her full-time mothering duties. While relishing watching his son change and grow, Fitzpatrick remains involved in his community.

He still is a member of Toastmasters and has remained on the board at his homeowners association. He has just scaled back for the time being.

The Information Systems Department at Roel was created by Fitzpatrick. He joined the company in 1992 as a field manager on construction projects. At that time, computers were just a hobby. When the department was formed six years ago, about 75 employees used computers and Fitzpatrick was a department of one. Today about 300 within Roel use computers, and Fitzpatrick supervises about 10 employees.

One of Fitzpatrick’s greatest achievements is teaching classes on construction scheduling at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies. “It’s a great thing,” Fitzpatrick says of the course. “They draw on experience from those in the industry.” Fitzpatrick also is the administrator for the San Diego Technology Forum, a platform for San Diego technology professionals to collaborate.

As a Toastmaster, Fitzpatrick has received the Competent Toastmaster Award for completing at least 10 speech projects. Accolades also have come to him from Roel as Fitzpatrick has been recognized in the past for his employee contributions.

Fitzpatrick and his family, which includes two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, live in Mira Mesa.

— Maria L. Kirkpatrick