MILES FROM HOME

More than 8,000 miles from where he grew up, Crow Wing County's new highway engineer's journey to Brainerd took him across nations and an ocean.

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Lyndon Robjent was chosen to take on the highway engineer's role following the retirement of Duane Blanck, who was on the job for 32 years.

Robjent, 40, brings a new perspective, an interest in technology to improve the highway system and its maintenance and an accent that he says people can find hard to pin down.

Born and raised in Zambia, Africa, Robjent's father was in the British Army, serving in Africa to train troops, first in Uganda and then Zambia.

"He loved the country so much it's a beautiful, wild place - kind of like Crow Wing County - that he stayed and he left the army and became a farmer," Robjent said.

Lyndon Robjent, Crow Wing County highway engineer, traveled a long way from his youth in Africa to his new role at the helm for the county's transportation system. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls » Purchase reprints of this photo.

Robjent went to elementary school about 500 miles away in neighboring Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia.

"It was an interesting time," Robjent said. "The local population in Rhodesia back then, you know, didn't really want the white government to be there any more. There was a lot going on."

A security fence with armored stations surrounded the school. But to a child, Robjent said there wasn't a sense of being unsafe or thinking anything about the security precautions.

"Any time we went on a field trip our teachers had automatic weapons, but it was a great school."

The white-run government stepped down and the country had a general election during his last year in school. Then, without many options for continuing education in Zimbabwe, came the decision of whether to go to England or South Africa for high school.

"They kind of left it up to me, which was kind of cool in a way," Robjent said. "So I went to England. I could have chosen South Africa and my whole life would be totally different."

Robjent stayed with his grandfather in Devon in southwest England and went to a boarding school there for high school. It was a big culture shock for Robjent and for his classmates listening to his thick accent - kind of a mixture of South Africa and Rhodesia that sounds similar to Australian.

"Now I've got kind of a mixture of everything," Robjent said.

While in his second year in college, Robjent met Stacy who would become his wife. She was a University of Minnesota student on a year-long exchange program. After marrying and looking for work here, Robjent found a job in Denver where he worked as a highway designer with a private firm. With holidays and vacations spent in Minnesota, they eventually made the big decision to move here to be closer to family. They settled in Maple Grove and in 1994 Robjent started work for SRF Consulting Group in Plymouth in its water resource group. In 1998, Robjent had an opportunity to became an assistant county engineer in Anoka County and worked there for nearly nine years. It was a good learning experience, he said. His wife's parents had a home in Hackensack and they spent summer weekends in the lakes area. Robjent got to know Blanck through the county engineers' association.

"He's one of the most well connected people in the state as far as engineers go," Robjent said of his predecessor. "He's known all over the country and the world to some extent. I always looked up to him. I thought if Duane ever retires that'd be a job I'd be interested in. And then it happened."

Making the move was a difficult decision as his wife would have to change her career as well. She was working as a controller for a medical company in Maple Grove. But the family decided the move to a smaller community would be good for their children. The couple has three children, James, Julia and Katie.

And for that fateful decision to go to school in England, which led to the United States.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said.

Robjent's first experience in the United States was in New York City. Everything was bigger, right down to the refrigerators. Stores were open 24 hours a day. And people willing to work hard can carve a good life out for themselves without a university degree.

"It's just a great place to live. There is so much available for people do to. Frankly, the opportunities are incredible here."

Growing up in a tropical environment with two seasons - hot summers and a rainy season - the climate change here was a bit of an adjustment.

"Coming to the States is one thing, coming to Minnesota in the winter is a big shock."

Tamra Laska, Crow Wing County human resources director, said she admires the fact that Robjent was out in the field after the big snowfall riding with a maintenance supervisor both to praise staff for good work and look for opportunities to improve.

"I think he's an excellent communicator," Laska said. "I think he believes in two-way communication."

Laska said Robjent is knowledgeable and asks for input when meeting with staff and is willing to incorporate it.

"He's been very well received," she said.

Michael O'Donnell, facilities manager, said Robjent is easy to work with.

As for following Blanck in the engineer's role, Robjent said he wants to build on that legacy. "I have big shoes to fill. I'll try my best to do that."

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.