Describe a person who is good at solving problems

The person I think is best at solving problems is my father's friend, Mr Timur, who works as a civil engineer. I've known him since I was a child, because he often visited our house, and recently I've been talking to him more about my studies.

He solves practical problems of all kinds. At work, he's responsible for fixing difficulties on construction sites, such as when a design doesn't fit the available space or when supplies don't arrive on time. At home, he repairs everything himself, from broken taps to computers. Once, during a family barbecue, the car of one of the guests wouldn't start, and he spent twenty minutes under the bonnet and found that a tiny wire had come loose.

What I admire is how he approaches each problem. First, he never panics. While others are complaining or worrying, he stays calm and asks questions to understand exactly what is going on. Second, he looks for the root cause rather than a quick fix. He once told me that treating symptoms only brings the problem back later. Third, he is resourceful. If he doesn't have the right tool, he finds another way to do the job, perhaps using something unexpected from the garage.

He also involves other people. He asks for opinions, listens carefully, and sometimes changes his plan if someone makes a good point.

I have learned a great deal from watching him. Now when I face difficulties in my own life, for example when a project at university goes wrong, I try to step back, define the issue clearly and then consider solutions one by one. It works better than panicking.