The Civil Engineering Podcast

In this episode, I talk with Jamison Morse, P.E., R.A., principal and director of buildings and structures at PVE-LLC, and Alan Mabry, co-founder of Turbine Workforce, about how tech is reshaping the AEC industry. We dive into solving the challenges of knowledge transfer, boosting productivity, and capturing more business with centralized platforms.
Engineering Quotes:





Here Are Some of the Questions I Asked Jamison and Alan:

With the increasing retirement rates in the AEC industry, how challenging is it to transfer knowledge to the next generation of engineers and architects, and what strategies have you implemented at PVE to address this?
How does Turbine Workforce’s platform assist in transferring knowledge within firms like PVE, and what specific features help share expertise from senior professionals to newer staff?
How has the adoption of technology at PVE impacted the collaboration and productivity of your technical professionals, particularly on diverse projects?
Can you share any tools or examples that have improved teamwork across different disciplines in firms, and how has technology streamlined project coordination?
What factors do you consider when deciding whether to adopt a software like Turbine, and what does that evaluation process look like?
Could you share a project example or insights into how Turbine has helped PVE capture more business or improve efficiency in your workflow?
How do you measure the return on investment (ROI) of using Turbine, and what value has it brought to your organization, especially in terms of knowledge retention and training?
What final piece of advice would you give civil engineers on staying ahead with technology adoption and improving knowledge transfer within their firms?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Triumph in Knowledge Transfer Among Engineers:


Knowledge transfer is a key factor in long-term growth, and reducing friction in sharing expertise is essential. PVE implements simple, accessible tools that capture and pass on knowledge effectively, freeing up valuable time and improving collaboration across teams, ensuring that critical expertise is preserved for future generations.
Turbine Workforce’s platform assists by creating a centralized directory of skills, projects, and expertise that is easily accessible. It helps quickly identify internal resources and connect senior professionals with newer staff, streamlining the knowledge transfer process, and improving collaboration across disciplines.
The adoption of technology at PVE has significantly improved collaboration and productivity by providing a central, accessible directory of skills and tools. This allows team members to work more effectively across offices, identify expertise faster, and streamline workflows, ultimately boosting productivity.
When evaluating software like Turbine, a key factor to consider is its centralized directory, which categorizes skills and projects, making it easier to connect teams and improve collaboration. The evaluation should focus on whether the system streamlines communication and supports growth by helping capture more opportunities.
When evaluating software like Turbine, the focus must be on how effectively it consolidates tools and resources into a single platform, simplifies access to information, and supports real-time client interaction. The assessment considers whether the platform can streamline processes, reduce redundant systems, and enhance overall efficiency.
By utilizing Turbine, PVE has captured approximately 30% more business opportunities that were previously outsourced. The platform offers instant access to project expertise, enabling rapid responses to client needs, streamlining communication,

In this episode, I chat with Jacqueline Dirmann, P.E., CME, CFM, client manager at T&M Associates, about how better communication strategies can elevate your projects and career, from engaging stakeholders to keeping the public informed during capital improvement projects.
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions I Asked Jacqueline:

How do you approach communication with different project stakeholders, especially in municipalities where community involvement is key, given your experience as both a consulting and municipal engineer?
How do you keep the public informed and engaged throughout the entire lifecycle of capital improvement projects?
In your experience, how important is it to involve contractors early in communication with residents and stakeholders, and how does this affect the success of a project?
How do you balance technical requirements with the concerns of local communities when addressing compliance issues related to zoning regulations and stormwater management?
Can you share your approach to securing and managing grant funding for infrastructure projects, and how it affects the overall success of a project?
Can you share an example of when proactive communication with residents helped prevent or reduce challenges during an infrastructure project?
How do you adjust your communication strategies when working with different stakeholders like planning boards, zoning boards, and redevelopment agencies?
Can you share some best practices for engineers looking to improve their community engagement skills when holding neighborhood meetings with local residents?
What final advice would you give civil engineers wanting to improve their communication skills, especially when working on projects that greatly affect communities?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Enhance Projects With Better Communication:

Involving the right stakeholders early in a project is crucial to understanding their needs and expectations. Clear, concise communication without technical jargon helps ensure that all participants, including non-technical ones, can follow along and make informed decisions as the project progresses.
Since residents often see projects as disruptions rather than improvements, it’s essential to approach the situation from their perspective. By clearly communicating throughout the process and addressing their concerns, engineers can minimize frustration and maintain public engagement.
Involving contractors early in the communication process is vital to project success, as it ensures residents' concerns are addressed by those managing the site. Contractors, being visible on-site, can answer specific questions and help mitigate potential issues before they escalate.
When explaining complex technical requirements, it’s essential to break things down in simple, non-technical terms. By using relatable analogies, like comparing stormwater detention systems to a bathtub, residents can better understand the reasoning behind technical decisions, leading to greater acceptance and cooperation.
It’s crucial to follow the specific rules and requirements set by grant agencies. Establishing a reputation for effectively managing grants ensures future funding opportunities, as agencies are more likely to allocate resources to those who consistently meet their criteria.
Involving residents early in project discussions can uncover insights that might not be apparent in technical plans alone. Listening to their local knowledge and adjusting designs accordingly leads to more effective solutions and helps build trust with the community, reducing challenges later in the project.
Each stakeholder has different concerns and priorities, so it’s important to understand their specific needs.

In this episode, I talk with Aakash Prasad, co-founder and CEO of InspectMind AI, about how to optimize engineering projects through AI integration, boosting project efficiency, and helping engineers blend purpose with profit through sustainable solutions and thriving businesses.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions I Asked Aakash:

How do you balance your business goals with the mission of helping underserved customers in the industry?
What are some of the most time-consuming tasks your AI technology helps civil engineers with, and can you give us some examples?
What are your views on the ethical concerns of using AI technology in civil engineering, especially regarding its impact on the workforce?
How do you see the future of civil engineering changing with the increased use of AI technology, and what impact do you think it will have?
What should firms do to improve their workflows with AI technology, and how can they begin integrating it to boost productivity?
How do you see the future of civil engineering changing with the growing use of AI technology, and what impact do you hope to make?
What final piece of advice would you give engineers who want to successfully blend purpose and business in their careers, especially in civil engineering and AI technology?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Optimize Engineering Projects Through AI Integration:


By focusing on solving real customer problems, AI technology streamlines civil engineers' work, automating tasks like report writing. This approach boosts productivity and builds trust, leading to long-term growth through word-of-mouth from satisfied clients.
AI-generated reports enable engineers to quickly produce high-quality documents, reducing the time spent on formatting and writing. This frees up time for essential tasks like design, calculations, and decision-making, improving overall project efficiency.
While concerns about AI replacing jobs exist, AI technology in civil engineering primarily automates repetitive tasks, allowing engineers to concentrate on higher-value work. This increases productivity and helps firms meet growing project demands without needing to hire additional staff, addressing workforce shortages.
The integration of AI transforms civil engineering by automating mundane tasks, improving workflow efficiency, and enhancing project capacity. As firms adopt AI technology, they can handle more business, boost productivity, and grow without the constant need to hire more talent.
Firms improve their workflows by incorporating AI tools that simplify repetitive tasks, such as report writing and data management. These user-friendly tools allow seamless integration into processes, increasing efficiency without requiring extensive training.
AI technology plays a key role in reshaping civil engineering by enabling engineers to focus on creative and high-impact work. This enhances productivity, reduces time spent on administrative tasks, and creates a more efficient industry that better meets the needs of clients and engineers.
Engineers achieve success by focusing on solving customer problems with authenticity and transparency. By viewing sales and business development as opportunities to provide genuine solutions, they build lasting relationships, advance their careers, and find fulfillment in their work.

More Details in This Episode…
About Aakash Prasad
Aakash Prasad is a seasoned entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in EdTech, HR SaaS, and the AEC industries. He has founded and led multiple successful ventures, including LearnStreet, Lytmus, Design Everest, ProStruct engineering, and InspectMind AI.

Understanding contracts is essential for protecting interests and avoiding risks. AI streamlines contract management by quickly reviewing terms, flagging issues, and ensuring compliance—saving time, reducing disputes, and boosting efficiency.

Unlock the keys to construction success with expert insights on mastering project management, prioritizing safety, and embracing sustainable practices. Discover how to elevate your projects and achieve lasting impact in the industry.

A master’s degree in Civil Engineering can be the key to transforming your career. It opens the door to exciting opportunities, giving you the skills to tackle more challenging projects and stand out in the industry. If you're ready to take your expertise to the next level, this could be your game-changing move.

In episode 085 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Sam Schwartz, PE, President, and CEO of Sam Schwartz Consulting, LLC, a firm that specializes in transportation planning and engineering. During the episode, Schwartz discussed his career journey that started with him as a taxi driver, but has evolved into Schwartz today, being known as a globally recognized transportation engineer.
Here are some of the questions I ask Sam Schwartz:

How would you describe yourself?
Tell us about your experience as a Taxi driver and how it helped your overall professional development?
What is Gridlock Sam?
What are your goals in building your company?

Engineering Quotes:


Here are some key points discussed and quotes from this episode:


It was my job to restore the bridges of New York City and I had to do a lot of quick learning, which I did. The Bridges of New York City are stronger today than they ever were before.
Traffic does repeat itself to some extent, so every year I put out a Gridlock Sam Calendar that shows the predictive future traffic on the roads.
There are so many predictive elements in traffic. We know for instance that, the day before Thanksgiving, there will be a five mile long traffic jam at the George Washington bridge at 5 pm.
Getting people out of their cars has health and environmental benefits to it. It allows cities to function better and use less space for automobiles. We can build more parks, where automobiles used to be.
People embarked a century ago on how to move vehicles faster, not thinking about how they will ultimately make people move slower.
Researchers are realizing that people are the problem. They can solve every vehicular problem, but they can’t solve the problem of pedestrians.
In regard to personal productivity, it’s important to get back to people within 24 hours. If you can't get back to people within 24 hours, you have to make a effort to let them know.
Engineers are typically people who stay in their own shells. Learn to get out of your shell and communicate with people.
If you want to move up in an engineering organization, you’ve got to be able to sell. When you learn to sell and communicate well, you will be able to dictate your own future.

More details in this episode…
About Sam Schwartz
Sam Schwartz, PE, also known as Gridlock Sam, is President, and CEO of Sam Schwartz Consulting, LLC, a firm that specializes in transportation planning and engineering. He also writes columns on traffic for The New York Daily News and the NY Downtown Express. Previously Mr. Schwartz was New York City’s Traffic Commissioner and was the Chief Engineer of the NYC Department of Transportation. He started his transportation career in the late 1960’s as a NYC cabbie and joined the Traffic Department, as a junior engineer, in 1971.

Sam has received more than a score of awards for his work, including 2016 NYC Zoning Advisory Council Honor Award, 2014 AAA Traffic Safety Award, 2014 Brooklyn Technical High School Distinguished Alumnus Award, and a whole host more...

He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics at Brooklyn College and received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Florida
Sources/References:
Sam Schwartz Consulting, LLC
Gridlock Sam Website
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (Online) | 5 PDHs
TCEP 084: The Importance of Sustainable Infrastructure Featuring Kristina Swallow

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TCE8 for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com/resources

In episode 084 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is the first episode of a 5 episode Infrastructure Series, I talk with Kristina Swallow, PE., ENV SP, F. ASCE, who is the current President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), about the importance of sustainable infrastructure.
Here are some of the questions I ask Kristina on sustainable infrastructure:

Why should we be concerned about our infrastructure in the US?
How can we as civil engineering professionals help to improve infrastructure?
How can we advocate for infrastructure funding?
Could you describe one of your typical days as ASCE President?
What parts of your job as ASCE President do you find most challenging?
What do find most enjoyable in your job as ASCE President ?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on sustainable infrastructure:


We should not just go around and build things, we need to understand the “why” in regard to why we are building them, and also think about long term sustainability.
Our infrastructure is how we ensure we are able to keep the public healthy and safe. When we fail to invest in our infrastructure, it ends up not just potentially causing harm to us in the realm of public health and safety, but it also hurts our economy.
We may have an adequate supply of water, but we don’t have an abundant supply of water. We certainly don’t have any water that we can afford to waste.
Civil Engineers can help to improve sustainable infrastructure by being an active advocate for infrastructure. We all must get out there and advocate, or else our infrastructure will not improve.
We definitely don’t have enough money to build anything twice, and we need to make sure that we consider sustainability and resiliency from the outset of a project design. To do that, we need to become better system thinkers.
We as engineers need to get back to big picture thinking, and be willing to have greater conversations between us as well as our elective leaders.
We also need to make sure we are considering the life cycle cost of projects and focusing deeply during the design phase of the project to reduce the overall life cycle cost.
Read broadly as a engineer, because it helps you to become more creative and develop better solutions.

More details in this episode…
About Kristina Swallow, PE., ENV SP, F. ASCE
Kristina Swallow, PE., ENV SP, F. ASCE is the current president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (also known as ASCE). Kristina is a civil engineering leader with more than 20 years of professional practice in water resources, transportation, and land development. Among her many past roles, she served as Region 8 Director, Region 8 Governor, Chair of the Education Activities and the Diversity and Women in Civil Engineering committees, and ASCE's 150th Anniversary Steering Committee.

Kristina has a diverse professional background that includes serving as a program manager in the capital improvements division for the City of Las Vegas, as a transportation policy advisor for a U.S. Senator in Washington, DC, and working as a land development consultant in the fastest growing city in the United States, including five years as a small business owner.  She is passionate about civil engineering and the benefits of infrastructure for communities, especially transportation systems. Kristina is married to a civil engineer, Dave, and has three dogs and a cat. In her spare time, she enjoys running, aerial acrobatics, exploring new cities, and just trying new things.
Sources/References:
TCEP 069: The Involvement of Civil Engineers in Legislation
TCEP 065: How our Cities and Towns are going broke and How Civil Engineers can Help Long-Term

In episode 083 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Mel Lester, Management Consultant from BizEdge, about how civil engineers can create added value for clients. Mel gives some very specific strategies that you can start implementing right away in your career to create added value for your clients.
Here are some of the questions I ask Mel:

Why is it so important to create added value for your clients?
Can you talk about developing a client centered perspective?
How do you deliver business-driven results?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on how you can create added value for your clients:


Value drives business success. The more value we deliver to our clients, the more value is returned to our firms.
Value creation is a huge business topic that is getting more popular as time goes by.
Creating value for clients is something we do not talk about enough as an industry.
Engineering firms do things that are significant, but they don’t articulate them well. It’s important to learn how to better connect the work engineers do to the significant results their projects achieve.

Here are 5 strategies for creating added value for clients:

Develop a client-centered perspective:
Project Myopia - It's the tendency, common among engineers, to get caught up in the details of executing a project and not see the bigger picture. It's a focus on project tasks rather than goals. We should not just focus on the technical aspects of a job, but also on the non-technical aspects that matters to our clients.
Deliver business-driven results:
Understanding the why behind what we do is a simple but very powerful concept. We need to better understand the business drivers behind our projects. We can break business drivers down into 3 levels namely:

Strategic Needs;
Technical Needs and
Personal Needs.


Provide outstanding client experiences
Build strong client relationships
Create and share valuable content

More details in this episode…
About Mel Lester
Mel Lester is a management consultant, trainer, and contrarian strategist helping architecture and engineering firms improve business performance and build competitive advantage. Mel has been blessed with over 40 years of diverse experience as both consultant and manager in the A/E industry. He does a good deal of speaking and writing on a wide range of issues relevant to A/E firm leaders and business developers.

His Specialties include Strategic planning, leadership development, operational efficiency, project management, business development, client service, quality assurance, behavior-based safety, human resources, professional development, personal productivity, and executive coaching.
Sources/References:
TCEP 080: Is Civil Engineering Becoming a Commodity?
AE Resource
Mel’s LinkedIn Account
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (Online) | 5 PDHs

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TCE8 for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
 Managing The Professional Service Firm



Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you can create added value for your clients.

In episode 082 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Alexis Clark, E.I.T about her passion for culture and community in civil engineering, and several other interesting topics related to Civil Engineering.
Here are some of the questions I ask Alexis:

Tell us how you ended up working for Hilti and what it's like working for such a large company?
You're passionate about engineering and culture both, so let's discuss how the two intertwine.
Do you work outside of the US?
What do you do in your life in general to try and integrate culture?
Tell us about your passion for culture and volunteering, and why you are so interested in them?
Where do you think Civil Engineering is heading in the future?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed about passion for culture and community:


People who like to help other people, do well in Civil Engineering, because it allows knowledge and expertise to be applied to help the greater good.
There is such a demand for people with technical proficiency across the world. If you're willing to travel, there are people that are more than willing to put you in a situation. People tend to underestimate what they can make happen in their careers, especially in the world we live in.
Doing some creative things can help you to be a better engineer overall and more well-rounded (i.e. learning a new language).
I believe there is no greater pursuit in life than to help the next generation, especially those that have never heard of something that you are passionate about.
Having expectations and goals set for yourself, makes it easier to make decisions.
Civil Engineering is such a noble position that it is often overlooked. The profession of Civil Engineering has a long way to go as far as its recognition in the public's eye.
It is okay to ask for help as it is one of the most basic connections between humans.

More details in this episode…
About Alexis Clark, E.I.T
Alexis Clark, E.I.T, is the Structural Field Engineer of Hilti North American in Fort Worth and West Texas. In her time at Hilti, she has been a leader in several initiatives outside of her role, including the inception of an outreach program for technical services team members, serving as an ambassador for a female-driven career pathing program, and the development and field testing of innovative design software. Alexis graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2014, where she served as American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter President, Concrete Canoe Captain, and other leadership roles. She and the UT-Austin Student Chapter received national recognition in 2014 under her leadership team.

Outside of work, Alexis is passionate about inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. A past Conrete Canoe Captain, 2018 will be her fourth year as a Texas-Mexico Region Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge Judge. Additionally, she has judged K-12 competitions across the state of Texas ranging from Future Cities to the Dallas ISD Bridge Build, has spoken at several events for girls and women in K-12 and in higher education, and dedicates her Tuesday nights to ACE mentor program in Fort Worth to mentor high school upperclassmen in their pursuit of a career in architecture, construction and engineering. In 2015, Alexis was awarded the Texas Section Professional Service to Student Award for her volunteer efforts to engage students’ interest in STEM across Texas. Alexis is fluent in German and aspires to influence the integrity of infrastructure across the world.
“Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and I have the power to do so. - Alexis Clark, E.I.T”
Sources/References:

In episode 081 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Grady Hillhouse, P.E.,  a Civil Engineer in San Antonio, Texas about Engineering on YouTube and how he has grown his YouTube channel to almost a half million followers, and more importantly how he is making more people aware of engineering.
Here are some of the questions I ask about his work discussing engineering on YouTube:

How did this YouTube channel hobby start for you?
What are your goals for this youtube channel?
Is maintaining this channel very time-consuming?
How often do you publish videos?
How does having this channel affects your civil engineering career?
What are your future plans for your YouTube channel?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


People don’t have much exposure to the field of engineering. I want to make engineering interesting to other people and explain the passion I have for my job.
This YouTube channel is a hobby for me and something I do in my free time.
My YouTube channel communicates engineering in a way that people who are not technical or don’t have a lot of exposure to that field, can also understand.
I have a responsibility to the profession which I take very seriously. I want to make sure that people see the best side of what we do.
Exploring parts of engineering that I did not have much knowledge on before, has helped me to become a more well-rounded engineer.

More details in this episode…
About Grady Hillhouse, P.E.


Grady Hillhouse, P.E. is a civil engineer and project manager with Freese and Nichols, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. He specializes in public sector water resource projects, primarily in the field of dams and hydraulic structures. Grady also runs the YouTube Channel “Practical Engineering” providing demonstrations of engineering concepts geared toward the general public.
Sources/References:
Engineering Management Accelerator Live One-Day Workshop - New Brunswick, New Jersey Engineering Management Accelerator Live One-Day Workshop - Orlando, Florida
Practical Engineering Website
Practical Engineering Youtube Channel
Freese and Nichols, Inc
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (Online) | 5 PDHs

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TCE8 for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com/resources
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
Einstein: His Life and Universe



Elon Musk: Biography of a Self-Made Visionary, Entrepreneur and Billionaire 

 

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below in regards to engineering on youtube.

In episode 080 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Shane Sheldon, a civil engineer and listener from Oregon, about whether or not civil engineering is becoming a commodity. We also talk about the question that several civil engineers might be asking themselves today, which is: “Can civil engineers really be successful?”

Shane emailed me a few weeks ago, bringing up some of these points, which I felt were valid, but often overlooked, so I felt it important that he come on the show to discuss them.
Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on whether or not civil engineering is becoming a commodity:


I got to a point in my career where I started thinking long-term and bigger picture and wanted to be sure that I was doing things that would set me up for success.
Civil Engineering is not a track that you're just running around on with no hurdles. There are a lot of hurdles that many people don’t always talk about.
Is civil engineering becoming a commodity because everyone is just trying to low bid jobs?
Can you live a comfortable life on the salary of a civil engineer?  It's certainly not easy to do.
Building your individual expertise can help you to protect yourself from becoming a commodity.
If we as civil engineers can innovate and do something different, then we might be able to create career paths that are less stressful and more successful.
Networking and building relationships are very valuable actions in your civil engineering career and can help your firm avoid the commodity issue.
Getting more involved in your community will allow you to meet more people which will drive more success in your career.

More details in this episode…
About Guest
Shane Sheldon has diverse consulting experience spanning 10 years across a broad range of civil engineering disciplines. He has a particular expertise in water resource infrastructure and hydraulic structures. He has also been an integral part of business development and expanding engineering consulting services to new and existing clients within a small team environment. Shane is a dedicated self-starter focused on client needs and committed to delivering high-quality engineering services.
Sources/References:
TCEP 078: A Deep Conversation on the Philosophy behind building a Civil Engineering Firm
TCEP 013: Advice on Business Development and Building a Business and Career from a Civil Engineering CEO – The Civil Engineering Podcast
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (Online) | 5 PDHs
Developing An Entrepreneurial Mindset that will Drive Opportunity for You And Your Company (1 PDH)
Engineering Management Accelerator Live One-Day Workshop
April 27, 2018 | New Brunswick, New Jersey
Engineering Management Accelerator Live One-Day Workshop
May 18, 2018 | Orlando, Florida
TCEP 035: The Benefits of Looking at an Infrastructure Project in 3D

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TCE8 for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com/resources
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

 

Janesville: An American Story 



Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on whether or not you think that civil engineering is becoming a commodity?

In episode 079 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will give my opinion on why I don't believe it's a bad thing to work for same civil engineering company for a long time, possibly even your entire career.  I constantly hear people say that you have to make a move from one company to the next in order to really advance your career, which I don't agree with.
Engineering Quotes



Here are 7 benefits of working for the same company for a long period of time

1. Comfort creates confidence
Working for the same civil engineering company for a while will allow you to become comfortable with the company’s procedures, systems, equipment, etc. This comfort helps a civil engineer to be confident in his or her work every day.
2. Loyalty conveys trust
Often, when a company knows you are committed to them for the long term, they will place more trust in you than they might if they were unsure about your future, which again leads back to more confidence for you.
3. Time Gives you Seniority
This isn't always guaranteed, but typically, the longer you stay with one firm, the higher on the ladder you will reach, partly because of your longevity with the firm.  That being said, staying in one place for a long time doesn't mean you can sit back and just expect to be promoted, you still need to work hard.
4. The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
Many professionals fall into this trap of seeing everything that they don't have as better. The result is that they don’t enjoy the outcome of the decisions they make. Be aware of this syndrome because what you don't have may not be as great as you think.
5. Professional Reputation is Important
If you are hopping around from company to company and you don’t have longevity somewhere, it could potentially threaten your reputation, and you ability to create opportunities for yourself.
6. Longer Leash
Think about the leash you have with your company. If you have worked for one firm for a while, you build up confidence from your superiors, that may give you flexibility to take more risks.
7. Your ultimate career goal
I think one of the best measures of the health of your employment as a civil engineer is growth, both career and personal. You should be asking yourself on a regular basis if you are growing in your career, if not then you might consider evaluating your employment situation.
Sources/References:
ASCE News
TCEP 078: A Deep Conversation on the Philosophy behind building a Civil Engineering Firm
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (Online) | 5 PDHs
Developing An Entrepreneurial Mindset that will Drive Opportunity for You And Your Company (1 PDH)
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (In-Person) | 5 PDHs – Austin Texas
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (In-Person) | 5 PDHs - New Brunswick, NJ


This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TCE8 for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com/resources

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on working for the same company your entire civil engineering career.

In episode 078 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Robert Mora, PE, PLS, ENV SP about the philosophy that he and his partner are operating under in building Batture Engineers + Land Surveyors, a unique civil engineering firm based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Here are some of the questions I ask on building a Civil Engineering Firm:

Tell us about your experience with land surveying and how that has helped in growing your firm.
When did you realize that you might want to start your own business?
What did you do to prepare for starting your own business?
Tell us more about networking and personal relationships and how it has affected your career?
What was your goal in creating a local mastermind group?
Take us through the first year you started your business.
At what point did you decide that you want to seek out a partner?

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed and quotes from this episode:

I always thought about the bigger picture in my career and looked for roles that would benefit me in the future.
To a certain extent, I was not really focused on salary, it was more about mobility and opportunity. I would take less money to work someplace if it was going to give me the opportunity to do something that I wanted to get better at.
Part of what made things easier for me is that I've always enjoyed the process more than the results.
You become confident in certain things because when you are good at doing something, you are typically confident in it.
Overreacting to something is not going to change what is happening. It’s just going to change your perspective on it.
When building a civil engineering firm you might not immediately enjoy doing all of the different tasks, but through consistency, you can find enjoyment in it.
It’s important to build relationships and to listen to people in doing it, and help them, instead of immediately just trying to sell what you are doing when building a civil engineering firm.
Doing good work and being mission driven is more important than profits. You can't do bad work and blame the price you gave the customer, for doing the bad work.
Don’t let money drive your decisions and what you do, but also don’t ignore it. As you grow in your business, you have to think differently about your company finances than your personal finances.

More details in this episode…
About Robert Mora, PE, PLS, ENV SP
Bob Mora, founder of Batture Engineers + Land Surveyors, has over 15 years of experience in land surveying and civil engineering, providing civil design services for both private developers and municipalities. He has successfully managed and completed projects for the Sewerage and Water Board, the Department of Public Works, the Regional Planning Commission, the Orleans Levee Board, and St. Bernard, Ascension, and Plaquemines Parishes. As a sub-consultant for the Army Corp of Engineers, Bob managed the construction of over $100 million of flood protection, earning a Certificate of Appreciation for Exceptional Achievement from the Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction System Mission. A native of New Orleans, Bob graduated from LSU with a degree in Civil Engineering and Land Surveying. He is the past president and an active member of the New Orleans Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, helping engineers identify pro bono opportunities both locally and around the globe.
Sources/References:
Batture
The Engineering Management Accelerator
Engineering Management Institute Training
Bob's LinkedIn Page

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TCE8 for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com/resources

In episode 077 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP, who has hosted several episodes of this podcast. Chris provided a framework that he has used to make many career transitions, and also talked about building the confidence needed to make engineering career transitions.
Here are some of the questions I ask Chris on career transitions:

Tell us about some of the career transitions you had to deal with?
What are some of the skills and strategic approaches one should take when transitioning in their career?
How can engineers build their confidence and adopt a mindset towards taking risks in their careers?
Tell us about the planning and preparation you did when you transitioned in your career?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


My ability to move between opportunities, different situations, and jobs, as well as different people essentially came from being in the military, where I learned to easily adapt to changes in my career.
Establishing goals and having a vision in your career is an essential part of career transitions.
As you move between projects, you should look for opportunities within our firm where you can build yourself up. If there aren’t any opportunities within the company you work for, start networking. Look for other opportunities in other firms to get yourself in an upward vector position for other projects.
To mitigate risks, you must have accomplished good due diligence on the transition that you are trying to make. Do your homework and get very clear on yourself of what your vision and professional goals are. Spend some time thinking about a financial safety net and make sure you’ve got the financial resources to support you during your career transitions.
You never know when the right opportunity might come up in your career, so be prepared and make sure you have the supporting structures around you.
People that are successful in general, keep learning, keep reading and keep finding new ways to give them an advantage in what they are doing to get to that expert level in their field.
Consider creating an overall life plan for yourself of where you would like to be in 20 years’ time. When you have an overall plan mapped out for yourself, you can start making decisions of where you want to on-or off-ramp in certain points in your career and life.
When someone has clarity in their life and career, their productivity and engagement level is so much better, whether it is in your personal life or career.

More details in this episode…
About Christian Knutson:


Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP is a practicing civil engineer and program manager, and an author and podcast host.  Chris is a retired field grade U.S. Air Force civil engineer officer with over two decades of active duty service leading engineering organizations and multi-million-dollar programs around the globe.  And most recently, he’s branched into environmental security and protection work in Europe.
Sources/References:
TECC 87: Reinventing Yourself So You Can Stand Out in Your Engineering Career
The Engineering Management Accelerator
The Engineering Mastermind
Career Progression Chart

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com/resources

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how to handle career transitions.

In episode 76 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview two guests that work in the Civil Engineering world and have worked on very special engineering  projects that are helping our community and the world as a whole. They are Alan Lloyd, CIH, CSP, Associate Vice President and Corporate Health and Safety Officer from Pennoni, and Menzer Pehlivan, Ph.D., P.E., from CH2M who was one of the stars in the Dream Big Movie.
Engineering Quotes:
 




Here are some of the questions I ask our guests on impacting the world through these special engineering projects:


How did you decide to work on such a special project in a country so far from here?
What has your experience been like working on this special project with Wine to Water?
How has this project changed your outlook on life?
How did you end up deciding to be a part of Dream Big?
How did working on this movie make you feel when you started to get feedback from children?

Here are some key points discussed on impacting the world through volunteer projects:

Wine to Water is a non-profit firm that is based in Boone, North Carolina. In 2005, the founder Doc Hendley, who was a bartender at the time, started a fundraising while he was tending bar. This lead him to start the first Wine to Water fundraising effort. In 2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time for three years, Doc officially launched Wine To Water. In 2009, Doc was named as a top ten CNN Hero for that year, and the ripples continued to grow.
One of the missions of Wine to Water is too not just come in and fix the problem, but to teach the local people how to fix their own problems to create a more sustainable culture.
Wine to Water is all about community and relationships which starts at the local chapters.
Women in engineering sometimes battle to fit in because of the public perception that engineers are men, and this is one of the main stereotypes that we need to change as a community and in all engineering projects.
This statement is a powerful statement from the Dream Big Film website, describing the movie: The project is so big, it is more than a movie—it’s part of a movement aimed at bringing engineering into the forefront of our culture. Dream Big is the first giant-screen film to answer the call of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiative, which aims to inspire kids of diverse backgrounds to become the innovators who will improve the lives of people across our entire planet as we head into the 21st Century and beyond.
Since the release of the Dream Big Film in February 2017, more than 1 million people have seen the movie. ASCE has led the initiative and hopes that by the end of 2018 Dream Big will be available in every single public school.

Here are our guests in action…
Menzer Pehlivan, PhD helping to inspire the next generation of engineers (photo reference: American Society of Civil Engineers, courtesy of MacGillivray Freeman Films)

Alan Lloyd of Pennoni working on a special Water to Wine project which served to bring clean water to communities in Nepal.

More details in this episode…
About our Guests:
Alan Lloyd, CIH, CSP
Photo Reference: Pennoni

Alan Lloyd, CIH, CSP, from Pennoni serves as Associate Vice President and Corporate Health and Safety Officer and Industrial Hygiene Practice Leader in the firm's Haddon Heights, NJ office. Alan has over 16 years of experience in industrial hygiene and environmental remediation, having worked on projects throughout the United States. He has been responsible for conducting asbestos building surveys, abatement oversight and air monitoring, Indoor Air Quality Investigations (including mold assessments), air permitting, noise assessments,

In episode 075 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am going to give you 5 steps for selecting 80/20 goals to boost your civil engineering career. I will also discuss how you can use Pareto Principle, which is also known as the 80/20 rule, to maximize your planning efforts.

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on selecting 80/20 goals:


The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) states that 80 % of the results that you generate in your life and in your career comes from 20 % of your actions. That means that only 20% of the actions you take are contributing to 80 % of your success.
Focussing on high impact tasks will help you succeed even quicker and better than most people.

5 Steps to selecting 80/20 goals in your career:
1. Pick at least two 80/20 goals that will drive massive success for you. You can do that by:


Talking to people that have been in your field longer than you and that have, and have found success.
Do online research on successful people. Make a list of them and see what habits or other patterns there are among them.
Consider the time, the energy and financial risk or burden that pursuing one of these goals will take.

2. Determine your deadlines as well as the deadlines for the key drivers that will help you achieve those goals.

Add this deadline to a calendar and create an action plan.

3. Define your KPI’s (Key Progress Indicators)

Develop this dashboard in a simple spreadsheet and monitor your KPI’s as often as possible.
Monitor your KPI’s weekly or monthly.

4. Build accountability into your plan.

The best way to build accountability is to make a pledge to someone. It can be a pledge to your coach, supervisor, or even a public pledge.

5. Measure your progress with your KPI’s and flex your goals accordingly.

This will help you to identify when you are off-track and help you flex accordingly.
Stay consistent and keep pursuing your goals.

Here are some examples of selecting 80/20 goals in your Civil Engineering Career:

Consider getting credentials as they can give you a credibility boost.
Land a new client for your firm that will result in $50,000 of work in the next year. Being very specific will be helpful for your pursuit of your goals.
Add a new service line to your firm.

Sources/References:
The Engineering Management Accelerator

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for a 20 % discount at ppi2pass.com/resources
Books by Richard Koch:




80/20 Sales and Marketing: The Definitive Guide to Working Less and Making More.
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
The 80/20 Individual: How to Build on the 20% of What You do Best
The 80/20 Manager: The Secret to Working Less and Achieving More
Living the 80/20 Way: Work Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More
The 80/20 Principle and 92 Other Powerful Laws of Nature: The Science of Success











Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on selecting 80/20 goals to boost your civil engineering career.

In episode 074 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Steve Soldati, PE about how to communicate effectively on civil engineering projects.
Here are some of the questions I ask Steve about communicating effectively on civil engineering projects :

Why is communication important for engineering professionals?
What are some things you have done to improve your skills?
Are there any tools that you use or recommend to improve/streamline communications?
Can you give examples of positive/negative communication instances in your career?
Talk about team communication early in project development.
Tell us about conflict resolution within a team.

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


Engineers work in an industry where there is constant problem solving happening and our solutions affect everyone in our society. To reach these solutions there are several steps to get through which take time, teamwork and focus to deliver civil engineering projects under budget and within schedule.
Communication is more than just being able to write well, give a presentation or making eye contact with people, it's a two-way street every time you interact with people.
All leaders should be able to communicate well and be comfortable with public speaking.
Act confidently when communicating with others, as body language goes a long way.
Good communication starts with understanding what works well with your team members as well as in the environment in which you work.
By taking action before a meeting or prior to some sort of communication that's planned, you can streamline that communication.
Setting expectations for others to be sure what their goals are is very important when communicating with your team, as it can reduce stress or errors in communication.
It's important to ask a lot of questions upfront early on in project development and to identify what the end goal of a civil engineering project is. Without knowing what your end goal is, it will be easy to get off track on your project.
When different opinions arise on a project, talk about it as early on as possible in the project.
Identify what the drivers might be for causing conflict in a team or project so that you can best try to address or alleviate those points.
Keep things simple, because when you start over-complicating communication, things can get out of control.

More details in this episode…
About Steve Soldati, P.E.


Steve Soldati is a project manager contracted by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise to manage capital improvement projects, resurfacing, and other miscellaneous projects for one of the largest toll facilities in the country. He is involved with the planning, procurement, design, and construction of each project to assure the successful project completion on schedule and under budget. Steve champions an integrated project delivery team that efficiently and effectively provides beneficial results to the client. His forward-thinking and risk management approach results in better managed and scheduled projects. It is important to Steve to promote a culture of teamwork and mentorship which results in a sustainable and motivated work environment.
Sources/References:
TCEP 073: Civil Engineering Career Navigation Advice from a Young Engineering Manager
The Engineering Management Accelerator
Toastmasters International
GoToMeeting
Steve's LinkedIn Account
Start with why -- how great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TECC for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.

In episode 073 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Shaun McGrath, P.E., CCM, a successful young division leader at a successful civil engineering company about career navigation through the early portions of your engineering career.
Here are some of the questions I ask Shaun:

Talk about internships and how they have helped you.
Tell us about the importance of different civil engineering career paths.
Talk about stumbling blocks and learning from them.
Is there a specific experience that you can recall that you learned something valuable from?
Tell us about the importance of finding a mentor.
Tell me more about networking.

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on civil engineering career navigation:


When you see someone that is so young excel in their career, you can always learn something from them.
Internships are crucial and valuable to get your foot in the door and allow you see the industry firsthand.
Each aspect of civil engineering can teach us something different, so it's good to try different things.
There isn’t a straight A-B career path in civil engineering that you have to take to become a division leader, partner or owner of a firm.
Just because you might have hopped around in your civil engineering career, doesn’t mean that you are not on a good path and that you aren't going to find a lot of success. It just might be part of your overall journey.
It's important to re-evaluate yourself every year to determine if you are happy with your career progression and if you are doing the work that you enjoy doing.
Career navigation and specifically trying different things in your career is going to tell you what you are meant to be doing and what you are passionate about.
Isolate some time where you can talk to your mentor and ask him or her about your career. A lot of supervisors will help you if you just ask.

More details in this episode…
About Shaun McGrath:
Shaun McGrath, P.E., CCM is a Licensed New York State Professional Engineer & Certified Construction Manager with 14+ years of engineering & construction experience, including:

Structural engineering - design & analysis
Flood management and flood control design and consultation
Foundation design for residential house raising in flood zones
Construction management
Project superintendent
Civil engineering - design & analysis
Wastewater, stormwater & solid waste engineering
Structural rehabilitation
Project management
Structural inspection - concrete, steel bolting & steel welding
Structural investigation

Sources/References:

The Engineering Management Accelerator
D&B Engineers and Architects, P.C.
Shaun McGrath, P.E., CCM LinkedIn Account

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code TECC for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
Invention by Design; How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing

 

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on career navigation in your civil engineering career.

In episode 72 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Kelly Dooley ASCE's Director of the Raise the Bar initiative and Brad Aldrich from Aldrich + Elliott on ASCE's Raise the Bar initiative which is focused on closing the education gap for future civil engineers. We will also be answering some questions from the ASCE LinkedIn group on the Raising the Bar initiative.


Here are some of the questions I ask about Raise the Bar:

What is Raise the Bar?
Why do we need to raise the bar?
What is the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge? Why was it established, and how is it related to Raise the Bar?
How are you making sure that new ideas are being looked at from a professional practice perspective?
What does the future of the engineering practice look like?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


Raise the Bar is one of the ASCE strategic initiatives that ensure that all Civil Engineers are fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitude that are required to uphold that obligation they make to the public and to protect the public's health, safety and welfare.
The credentials that civil engineers hold are not just for their own sake, but they demonstrate to the public or employers or anyone outside of the engineering community, that they have met those standards set by the profession. By setting standards it allows us to regulate the requirements for the entrance to the profession.
In this particular initiative, professional practice is a legal term, which means that you are a licensed professional engineer.
The Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge(CEBOK) defines what the knowledge and skills are for civil engineers to enter professional practice. It also defines the attitudes, or the way we think, feel and respond to a situation. This publication is really the foundation to Raise the Bar.
Raise the Bar is serving to ensure that the BOK is being implemented. That does not mean that you need a master’s degree at this point in time, however a master’s degree may be required by the BOK.
Aldrich says that when he interviews young engineers, "I don’t necessarily need them to get their master's degree first, as I can put them to work with a bachelor's degree, however, to be effective at a higher level, you are going to need additional education over the next period of years in your career."
Aldrich also stated, "I think a lot of engineers should start working with a bachelor's degree and get informed of what their interest is so that when they go back and get their masters or additional education, it's in an area that they really have a passion for."

More details in this episode…
About our Guests:


Kelly Dooley, P.E., M.ASCE holds a five-year Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from The Pennsylvania State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Maryland. She practiced structural engineering at Rathgeber/Goss Associates, a small structural consulting firm in Rockville, MD, for nearly five years.  Currently, Kelly works with ASCE as Director of Raise the Bar and is pursuing her Masters in Management part-time at the University of Maryland University College.

Mr. Brad Aldrich, P.E., F.NSPE, F.ASCE,  is President of Aldrich + Elliott, PC (A+E), located in Essex Junction, Vermont. Founded in 1995, A+E is an innovative leader in water, wastewater, and stormwater engineering for municipalities in Vermont and northern New England. Mr. Aldrich is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and holds licenses in VT, NH, ME and MA.He is an active member of both the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Mr.

In episode 071 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am going to give you advice from some of the most successful AE Leaders in the country. I talk to Brett T. Hart, PE, SE, PEng, Will Schnier, P.E., Mike Nelson, Ernesto Guevara Ortiz M.ASCE and Randy Wilburn about different leadership aspects in the everyday life.
Here are some of the questions I ask the AE Leaders:
• What is one of the biggest things your firm is looking to find in civil engineers?
• How do you help your engineers to be able to focus, but at the same time foster communication?
• Tell me what mindset you take on to serve your staff and keep them going in the right direction?
• What are AE firms looking for when hiring civil engineers?
• Name one of the biggest challenges facing civil engineers today in their careers?
• What are some of the things a President/CEO of a company do on regular basis?
Engineering Quotes:








Here are some key points discussed on career advice from AE leaders across the Country:


• Successful companies, as well as AE leaders, focus on hiring good team players.
• It is extremely valuable to managers to do presentations in front of their colleagues as it pushes their boundaries and makes them grow in their career.
• Whether you are a civil engineering manager or a professional in this field, it is your responsibility to mentor/guide or show the way for the younger professionals.
• When hiring civil engineers, companies are looking for hardworking, diligent outgoing people who can communicate well.
• The biggest challenge facing most of our team members is finding the training and mentorship opportunities that allow members to be successful.
• The obligation to train and progress in your career is yours, it is not your companies’ responsibility.
• It's important to be able to communicate clearly with your team and to be sure what their expectations are.
• Take action and invest in yourself and in your career. If your company doesn’t support you, support yourself.
• Busy is an excuse and it's an excuse that anybody can use, but it's not an excuse you want to use. Optimize your time and do the high leverage tasks to advance in your career.
• It's not just about being proficient in your craft as an engineer, but it's about being well rounded and overall successful throughout your personal life as well as your professional life.
• Break down the wall and figure out how to utilize some of your social media skills within the confines of your everyday work.

Anthony Fasano, P.E., host of The Civil Engineering Podcast with Will Schnier, P.E., CEO of Big Red Dog Engineering|Consulting.

 

 

Anthony Fasano, P.E., host of The Civil Engineering Podcast, with Randy Wilburn, Director of Recruiting Strategy at Zweig Group.

 

Anthony Fasano, P.E., host of The Civil Engineering Podcast, with Ernesto Guevara Ortiz, M. ASCE, a member of our engineering community, The Engineering Mastermind.
More details in this episode…
About Zweig Group
Zweig Group exists in order to help leaders in the architecture, engineering and environmental consulting industries achieve their business and personal goals. Since 1988, when the firm was founded by Mark Zweig (and later joined by Fred White), has offered an ever-increasing and improving the array of publications, services, and events designed to provide firm leaders with the tools they need to succeed. What began with a simple newsletter has grown over the last two decades to become a comprehensive suite of products and services, including newsletters, market research reports, seminars and executive education offerings, business conferences, and management consulting services covering virtually ever...

In episode 065 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with David Gockel, PE, PP, LEED AP, CEO of Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, about how a day in the life of a geotechnical engineering CEO looks, especially one that is in charge of a very fast-growing firm.
Here are some of the questions I ask Dave:

What prevents engineers from learning other skill sets?
How did you acquire the skills needed to get to where you are today?
Tell me about a memorable success in your career.
Tell me about one of the mistakes you've made and what you learned from it.
Is it true that if civil engineers want to achieve a partner/owner status in their firms, that they must be a great business developer?
What is one valuable piece of advice that you can give to a striving seller-doer?
At what point in your career (if ever) did you have a goal of being the CEO?
How would you summarize your job description as CEO?
Would you take us through a typical day as CEO?
What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a CEO?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on a day in the life of a Geotechnical Engineering CEO:


Langan is a multi-disciplined civil, environmental, and geotechnical engineering firm. They do a lot of work in the real estate space as well as with healthcare, hospitals, universities, and energy/oil & gas markets.
You need to have skills as a civil engineer, like communication skills and the ability to work with people, as civil engineers are always working on teams, on sites, with clients or other consultants.
Sometimes engineering companies get too focused on the project and lose sight of the client and their needs.
One of the most important things in life is to be authentic and to be yourself. You need to push yourself beyond your comfort zone as that is the only way you are going to grow.
It's important to practice your public speaking skills as much as you can. The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the more comfortable you get.
Growth has its challenges. You learn some stuff as you are growing, but when you hit a wall hard, you learn a lot really fast.
Relationship building is about helping people succeed.
Don’t lose sight of the balance between your goals and the goals of the company.
It’s better to be interdependent than independent. Independence will get you so far, but interdependence will get you a lot further.
A true leader is not measured by the success that they create for themselves, but by the success that they create for the people around them. You need to understand where an individual’s true strength lies and then you must focus on that and leverage it.

More details in this episode…
About David Gockel, PE, PP, LEED AP:
With more than 36 years of experience in major real estate developments here and abroad, David Gockel specializes in complex urban and brownfield redevelopment projects, community planning and redevelopment, stadium/arena development, and waterfront restoration. He has served as project manager on some of the firm’s largest and most complex development projects. Under Gockel’s leadership, Langan quadrupled in size from 200 people to over 1,000 since 2003.

Gockel has received the “Engineer of the Year” Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the President’s Award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), the Distinguished Alumni award from UC Berkeley, and the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Commercial Real Estate Community.
Sources/References:
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services
Toastmasters International
Daytop

In episode 069 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Daniel Loscalzo, PE, LEED AP, a young civil engineer about the involvement of civil engineers in legislation.  Civil engineers in legislation is something we hear about much more often these days, which is a very good thing.
Here are some of the questions I ask:

What has been the historical role of civil engineers in legislation?
What programs are available to for civil engineers to stay in touch with politicians?
Are there other programs like ASCE's key contact program that are representing engineers in political discussion?
Why is it so important to have discussions with politicians?
What are some things that you have learned from conversing with politicians?
What would your advice be for engineers who would like to become more involved in politics? Do you have to specifically be part of a specific party to make an impact on the political conversation?
Do you feel that there is an ethical element to engineers working in politics?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points about the involvement of Civil Engineers in Legislation:


Most engineers have not been in the spotlight in politics, but there is a change occurring, which has made engineers become more a part of political conversations.
Engineers have an opportunity to continue to get more involved and continue to become the experts and the professionals that politician scan rely on.
The American Society of Civil Engineers Key Contacts Program tries to bring government advocacy in the interest of its members to Congress on both a national and state level.
The project that Civil Engineers are working on and the challenges that they are facing are very much a part of the political landscape.
The fact that someone gets elected based on your vote is important, but the fact that they still represent you after that vote and must continue to represent you is why we have to keep talking to politicians.
The legislative assistants are the ears for politicians, that’s why we need to continue to talk to them about what is important and why it is important to our society.
There is nothing that a politician can really do if his constituents are not talking to them about important matters. Politicians are given the task of representing their constituents and if the constituents aren't asking for something, the politicians won't act on them.
For anyone who wants to be involved in politics, consider this 3-part process, namely:

Engage in political discussions
Advocate for political position
Lead a political advocacy group



More details in this episode…
About Daniel Loscalzo PE LEED AP:
As a civil engineer and an individual, Daniel takes pride in improving his community economically, socially, and environmentally while growing professionally.

Daniel provides design engineering services in construction management, civil site design, and transportation engineering for public and government organizations in Nassau County and the greater New York Tri-state area. He takes his work personally as he feels that it affects not only him, but his family, his neighbors, and his community as a whole.

Daniel also volunteers with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and as a volunteer firefighter to put his technical knowledge to good use.  Daniel feels that engineers have a responsibility, as do all people, to practice environmental consciousness. As a certified LEED professional Daniel feels that it is essential to understand the way engineering projects integrate with our environment and how they can better forge a working relationship between them.
Sources/References:

In episode 068 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Rick De La Guardia about how hurricanes may affect the future of the civil engineering industry.
Here are some of the questions I ask Rick:

Explain the work you do and how you became familiar with hurricanes?
What is a hurricane, and from an engineering perspective when should we really worry about a hurricane?
Why are we seeing more hurricanes and how will the frequency of hurricanes change the way civil engineers, design projects?
Can you do some kind of retrofitting to a building to protect it against the weather?
Do you foresee any kind of change or added educational requirements for civil engineers that want to work in hurricane-prone regions?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on how hurricanes may affect the future of civil engineering:


Most of the hazards that we encounter in the coastal cities originate from hurricanes.
A hurricane is a large weather system that brings with it extreme forces in winds, and a mix of debris, as well as the storm surges that it brings from the strength of the winds.
Three things that engineers need to consider when designing for hurricanes mitigation are:

Wind : You need to focus on your unique design pressure when you are designing either a product or a building.
Windborne debris: It's been determined by code that alleviations of 30 foot or less will tend to pick up larger debris.
Water: This can be in the form of water infiltration through wind-driven rain or in the form of a storm surge.


Warm weather is fuel for hurricanes and because of the warmer weather, hurricanes might not slow down, but in fact, become worst.
The building envelope is the weakest link and it is also our first line of defense.
You can retrofit parts of a building to meet current code, which will be a huge help in protecting buildings against weather. Not only will it help structurally, but it will also help with water infiltration on regular stormy days. It is although a very expensive process to consider.
We need to continue to raise awareness of hurricane mitigation designs.

More details in this episode…
About Rick De La Guardia:
Rick De La Guardia is President and Founder of DLG Engineering, Inc. (DLGE), a consulting firm specializing in the design and analysis of building envelope systems to help mitigate storm damage in hurricane-prone regions of the country. Rick earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Miami in 1995. He has over 20 years of experience designing and consulting in all aspects of the building envelope field. He has authored numerous articles and technical papers which he has presented to the industry and his peers. His latest work is a book on Engineering Entrepreneurship titled “Engineer to Entrepreneur: Success Strategies to Manage Your Career and Start Your Own Firm”. Mr. De La Guardia served as president of the University of Miami, College of Engineering Alumni Association from June of 2010 to May of 2012. He has mentored and advised many students and young engineers and is currently chairing a newly formed advisory committee on Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the University of Miami College of Engineering.

Sources/References:
TCEP 036: Engineer to Entrepreneur: Success Strategies to Manage Your Career and Start Your Own Civil Engineering Firm
ASCE
The Engineering Management Accelerator
DLG Engineering, Inc
Rick De La Guardia’s LinkedIn Profile
Rick De La Guardia’s Facebook Account

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code PREP and enter the raffle here: www.ppi2pass.

In episode 067 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I visit the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and will be telling you about the construction of this amazing monument, which is a massive sculpture carved into the side of a mountain in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. I will be talking to Maureen McGee-Ballinger from the National Parks Service as well as Lou Del Bianco who recently published his book: Out of Rushmore's Shadow: The Luigi Del Bianco Story – An Italian Immigrant's Unsung Role as Chief Carver.
Here are some of the questions I ask about the  Mount Rushmore National Memorial:

Take us back to before the monument, where did the idea come from?
How do you budget for a project like this?
How many workers were involved in the construction of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and how long did it take to complete the project?
Did the designer Borglum have any idea how long this project would take?
Tell us about the stone itself and what they encountered while carving it?
How were safety procedures implemented on Mount Rushmore?
Tell us more about the actual construction of the monument?
What did they do with all the rock that they blasted?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


Mount Rushmore was named after a lawyer called Charles Rushmore who was traveling through the area in the late 1800’s and had the idea.
Gutzon Borglum, lead designer, suggested where the statue should get carved. The work on the project began in 1927 and was finally completed in 1941.
A local laywer said that people all over the state would donate for the project, but Borglum knew that these donations would not be enough and started pushing the federal government to get involved in this project.
Around $250,000 was funded for the project, but it took around $990,000 to complete the whole sculpture.
To our knowledge, It took about 400 workers 14 years to sculpt the monument.
Borglum originally planned to sculpt 3 presidents, Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln and on the far right-hand side of Lincoln would have been an entablature in the shape of the Louisiana purchase and written in it was going to be the first 150 years of US history, the significant facts.
After running into some trouble with the granite stone, they had to blast off all the work they did and move the sculptures around and then added Teddy Roosevelt. They redesigned this sculpture 9 significant times before they were satisfied with it.
Nobody died during the carving of this project, which is really an amazing engineering feat.

More details in this episode…
Anthony Fasano with Maureen McGee-Ballinger at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial
About Maureen McGee-Ballinger:
Maureen McGee-Ballinger lives in Keystone, South Dakota and is the Chief of Interpretation at Mount Rushmore as well as the Park Public Information officer at the National Memorial National Park Service.
Sources/References:
The Engineering Management Accelerator
CBS News - Mount Rushmore's chief carver gets his due

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code PREP and enter the raffle here: www.ppi2pass.com/civilprep
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
Out of Rushmore's Shadow: The Luigi Del Bianco Story – An Italian Immigrant's Unsung Role as Chief Carver



Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on the construction of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

In episode 066 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Scott Jennings, P.E. principal of SJ Construction Consulting, LLC about the importance of cost estimating for civil engineers.
Here are some of the questions I ask Scott:

Can you walk us through the process of putting together an construction cost estimate? What is involved?
Do contractors use unit pricing for their estimates, or do they evaluate each individual item in a job and customize the pricing to each of the construction activities?
How is job site and/or corporate overhead incorporated into a bid?
How is profit/markup handled?
Is industry standard for bids to often be unit priced (versus lump sum). How are the unit prices determined by contractors (or civil engineers)?
Is there a difference between estimates on bid day and change order estimating?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed on Construction Cost Estimating:


The first thing you should do when performing a construction cost estimate is to access the prints. Thereafter, you will start with the takeoff by evaluating all of the plans and determining what the quantities would be to build the job. After that, you can start pricing the quantities and then close the bid and present it to the owner on bid day.
When it comes to determining fees at the contractor level, it comes down to the number of actual laboring hours they have to spend working on the job.
Job site overhead is the cost of a job that is not directly associated with the actual work but is necessary in order to get the job done.
Corporate overhead is usually figured in as a percentage of the revenue.
I determine profit on a job by evaluating the different type of costs on a job and from those types of costs and the proportion of those type of costs into the job, I calculate my fee.
In general, the biggest risk in construction is labor and when there is more labor on a job, there will be more fee on the job.
Building good relationships and getting to know people in the industry will help you in your projects. It’s not going to help you solve your problems, but it is certainly going to make those not so easy conversations, a little bit easier.
A lot of the contractor estimating you just don’t learn, until you’ve worked for a contractor and you’ve watched it or have done it yourself.

More details in this episode…
About Scott Jennings:


Scott Jennings, P.E. has spent over twenty-five (25) years working in the heavy/civil construction industry.  His foundation for construction knowledge and hard work started laboring for his family’s construction business and then continued with both a bachelors and masters degree in civil engineering.  He currently holds professional engineering certifications in Hawaii, Washington, and California.

Upon graduation from college, Mr. Jennings started his career as a field engineer.  He progressed to Division Manager before founding his own construction company.  No longer the owner of his construction and engineering companies, he now concentrates on helping contractors, designers, owners, insurance carriers, and sureties with construction matters.

With hundreds of construction and engineering projects under his belt, from coast to coast and in Hawaii, Mr. Jennings is well versed in matters of claim preparation and support, professional engineering services, pre-construction services, project management, and litigation support.
Sources/References:
The Engineering Management Accelerator
SMeans | Construction Cost Estimating Data
Scott Jennings, P.E.  LinkedIn Account
SJ Construction Consulting, LLC
Anthony’s Email Address

This episode is brought to you by PPI,

In episode 065 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Charles(Chuck) Marohn, a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Minnesota and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) about how our cities and towns are going broke and how civil engineers will play a role in developing strong towns in the future.
Here are some of the questions I ask Chuck:

Why are so many towns and cities across North America going broke?
What are some things that you’ve seen in your travels that don’t necessarily take thousands of dollars to implement, that have made stronger towns?
How can we as civil engineers help to build stronger towns?
What are some things that civil engineers can do to address this problem in civil engineering?

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed on how our cities and towns are going broke and how civil engineers can help long-term.  Chuck says:


Strong Towns came about as I was working in my home town doing engineering projects and planning work. I came to the realization that the things I were doing were actually making the city poor and only buying people time. During a project I worked on, I was able to take a city that had more pipe than they had money to maintain, and solved that problem by doubling the amount of pipe they had.
Our cities are obsessed with growth but have no mechanism to take care of everything, because the land use pattern, the big buck store, the cul-de-sacs, none of this stuff generates enough wealth to actually go back and fix it. Our cities are going underwater in their obligations and we just continue to add to that problem over time.
Strong Towns will never produce a street design guide for engineers. Easy, one-size-fits-all solutions from the top down are what got American towns into the mess they’re in. Strong Towns want to bring you something better.
The challenges we face today are fine grained and very hyper local and as engineers that mean that we are going to have to develop a different set of understanding of how our streets and blocks and neighborhoods work if we want to start to bring more value to them.
The first thing engineers have to do is to recognize the problem, and to try a bunch of small things to figure out what’s going to work in the new world.
It’s upon us as engineers to branch out beyond building, and start to talk to the financial people, the planning people and start to piece this all together, because engineers are the ones with the skills to do that.
Our cities and towns are going broke and need to become tighter and more fine grained. We have to adapt our models to work at this fine grain.
We have to learn the language of community finance as the finance people are never going to understand engineering, but engineers can understand finance.

More details in this episode…
About Charles Marohn:


Charles Marohn, PE - known as "Chuck" to friends and colleagues is the Founder and President of Strong Towns. Marohn has a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute. Marohn is the author of Thoughts on Building Strong Towns — Volume 1 and Volume 2 — as well as A World Class Transportation System. He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content.

He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America.Chuck grew up on a small farm in Central Minnesota. The oldest of three sons of two elementary school teachers, he joined the Minnesota National Guard on his 17th birthday during his junior year of high school and served for nine years.

In episode 64 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Shoots Veis, P.E., author of the book called: Public Speaking for Engineers which was recently published by ASCE press. We will be talking about why public speaking for engineers is an important part of your professional development as an engineer.
Here are some of the questions I ask Shoots:

What made you write a book on public speaking?
Why is public speaking so important?
How can a civil engineer improve his or her public speaking skills?
What are visual aids and what is the right way to use them?
Tell us more about your acting career and how it helps you reduce stress in your life?

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed on Public Speaking for Engineers:


What we as engineers have to say is so important and so often we don’t communicate it well. This leads to bad public policy, bad decision making and it makes the jobs of civil engineers harder.
Public speaking is very important because it helps us as engineers communicate with our audience.
If you can't communicate important details to others it makes the engineers' job as well as others jobs more complicated.
There are real life consequences to not being able to communicate effectively.
In order to improve your public speaking skills, you have to, first of all, acknowledge that you have a problem. After that, you will constantly need to work on your public speaking skills.
Take some time to plan, design and practice your presentation. Continue an ongoing assessment of your skills and keep looking for ways to improve your planning, design, and delivery of your presentations.
The butterfly effect in your stomach never goes away, but over time and with practice, it gets a thousand times better than what it was before.
Visual Aids should be well designed and should meet the needs of the audience as well as the speaker. They are however not designed to be or to replace the presentation. Make sure you use visual aids as a tool to help you communicate your message to the audience, and not as a substitute for preparing and delivering your presentation.

More details in this episode…
About Shoots Veis:

Shoots Veis, P.E. is a native Montanan, an engineer, and actor by accident. He is passionate about football and politics, blessed with a fabulous family, and a world traveler. He works in, for, around, cooperatively, and with governments, with a particular affinity for Montana, local government, and international affairs, including a 5-year term on the Billings City Council. Shoots were appointed to fill a one-year vacancy in Ward III, joining the Council of Montana’s largest city at the age of 30. On the council, he took an active role in budgeting and infrastructure projects. He also has been named a top 20 Under 40 construction professional by ENR Mountain States, a Rising Star in Civil Engineering by CE News Magazine, and the Outstanding Young Engineer by the Billings Engineers Club.

Shoots is a past President of the Montana Section of ASCE and the Billings Engineers Club. He served as a liaison officer to the Trade Minister of Australia at the May 2011 APEC meeting in Big Sky, was a 2005 Leadership Montana class member, past Chairman of the Board of the Yellowstone County Youth Service Center, and was a member of the City of Billings Board of Adjustments. Over the course of several years, he taught introductory algebra and essential math for the trades at MSU–Billings in addition to his full-time position.

You can learn more about Shoots on his LinkedIn Page or Twitter Page.
Sources/References:
Ask Anthony - ASCE
Toastmasters International
TECC 57: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – Five Tips for Drastically Improvi...

In episode 63 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Ralph Tulis, a licensed professional engineer about the challenging aspects of construction engineering.
Here are some of the questions I ask Ralph on Construction Engineering:

What can engineers do to get a better handle on the construction side of things?
What does delegated design responsibility mean?
Do engineers ever really retire (jokingly)?
What do means & methods mean?

Engineering Quotes




Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


It’s very difficult to get the respect of the person that is actually swinging the hammer, unless you get in the field and get dirty.  If you’ve gotten the respect of someone on the site, it is so much easier to get introduced to someone else, and they will also be a little bit more open to you. They just have to realize that you are not there so much to check up on them as you are to learn from them.
Take the approach of “We are on the same team”, as opposed to, “I’m out to get you” for it creates a big shift in the way people communicate with you.
You can get a lot of good feedback on methodologies by asking questions, not in the context of pinning something on someone else, but more of what is easier. If you try to force a methodology and push it down to the field, you will encounter a lot of resistance and consequently, the project will be more costly.
Delegated design responsibility is when the engineer of record encounters a specialty product or a niche trade and does not have the background to do a thorough design on it. He then passes the responsibility for the design onto the Supplier's Engineers. That engineer then has to do the real design of the elements around it in most cases.
Be aware of the rules and responsibilities depending on your geographic location and your local guidelines and regulations.
Regardless of who you are working for. Getting field work is very valuable in your career because it gives you so much more perspective and understanding of the depths of the projects.

More details in this episode…
About Ralph Tulis:
Ralph is a Construction Engineering who helps contractors manage the challenge of how to construct. He completed his studies in Civil Engineering at night, while working full-time. He currently works at  Structures Consulting where their specialty is concrete structures, temporary structures, and shoring applications, but they will tackle any unique structure.
Sources/References:
Ralph’s LinkedIn Account

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code PREP and enter the raffle here: www.ppi2pass.com/civilprep

This episode is also brought to you by SkiCiv, a new and powerful structural analysis software on the cloud that is changing the way engineers work. To receive your free 14-day trial, sign up here: www.skyciv.com/coach 
Books mentioned in this episode:



Civil Engineering Reference
To Engineer Is Human:
The Evolution of Useful Things








Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on the challenging aspects of construction engineering.

In episode 062 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Anthony Venafro about growing a civil engineering company from day one to 15 people.
Engineering Quotes



Here are some of the questions I ask Anthony:

Tell us about your background as an engineer?
What do you think gave Blake the confidence in bringing you into his company as employee #2?
Walk with us through how the company grew?
What did your daily tasks consist of?
How long after you started this civil engineering company, did you start hiring new people?
Take us through the progression as the company started to grow?
What made you decide to leave the company?

Here are some key points discussed on growing a civil engineering company:

When growing a civil engineering company, you’ve got to have good people around you.
We started off with an 8x10 office space. Within the first 8 months, we got our first residential project, started hiring after that and conservatively grew the company with the work that was coming in.
Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is sometimes the best way to learn.
The pressure started to pick up as we started hiring more people.
Referrals are a huge component of building a civil engineering company.
My family started to play a big role in my life, and as my children started to get older, my priorities started to change.
When your civil engineering company is the small kid on the block, trying to break into an industry, the only way that you are going to survive is if you put enough output, plans, projects, and turnaround as fast or faster than some of the bigger firms.
If you want something or you want to get something off your chest, put it down on the table and ask for it.
The way you start off your day in the office is very important. Try to keep your staff happy and motivated by starting the day of light.

More details in this episode…
About Anthony F. Venafro

Anthony F. Venafro holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from James Madison University where he graduated with Cum Laude honors. He entered the land development industry in 2005 as a Designer with Loiederman Soltesz Associates, Inc.  There, Mr. Venafro quickly mastered his design skills and was promoted to Senior Designer in 2006, followed by Assistant Project Manager and Lead Technological Group Representative in 2007. He joined SMITH Engineering at its inception in October 2008 as a Project Manager. In his role as Director of Engineering with SMITH Engineering, Anthony managed the Engineering Department and further streamlined the in-house engineering operations.
Sources/References:
Anthony’s LinkedIn Profile
Smith Engineering

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code PREP and enter the raffle here: www.ppi2pass.com/civilprep

This episode is also brought to you by SkiCiv, a new and powerful structural analysis software on the cloud that is changing the way engineers work. To receive your free 14-day trial, sign up here: www.skyciv.com/coach 

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on growing a civil engineering company.

In episode 061 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Shalene Thomas who is the is the Emerging Contaminants Program Manager for Amec Foster Wheeler about understanding emerging contaminants and Regulatory Matters for Civil Engineers.
Here are some of the questions I ask Shalene:

What is PFAS?
Why are these substances a concern now or have they been for a while?
What kind of work is underway to help us better understand the effects these substances have on humans?
What are the current drivers for action?
What are some key EPA or state regulations related to PFAS one should be aware of?
What are options for remediation and clean-up?
As a civil engineer, what are three important take-away items to know about PFAS?

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed in this episode on emerging contaminants and regulatory matters for civil engineers:


Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) are a class of fluorinated compounds, that have been ubiquitously used in industry and personal consumer use.
The Emerging Contaminants concern started back in 2008/9 when both the EPA and the Department of Defense developed emerging contaminant programs. These emerging contaminated programs were defined as chemicals that currently have no promulgated role or criteria for human health or environmental health effects. Both the EPA as well as the Department of Defense developed these programs with the intention of evaluating contaminants.
The first known effect happened as early as 1978 when it was identified that there were detectable levels of fluorosurfactants in the human blood. The key health outcomes included: kidney and testicular cancer, colitis, thyroid disease, induced hypertension in pregnancy and high cholesterol.
The primary driver in the current climate is the Department of Defense's own guidance. The Air Force followed by the Navy, have all developed guidance documents to evaluate, manage and mitigate contamination related to the PFAS class of chemicals.
The final driver for action has been primarily by social momentum e.g. Communities dealing with contaminated water supplies as a result of this emerging contaminants class.
There are about a dozen states putting their step forward and developing their own regulatory guidance.
There are a handful of remediation options out there that are using absorbent technologies to bind the PFAS out of the soil.
It is important to not only evaluate remediation of the PFOS and PFOA contaminants but also identify, manage, mitigate and remediate their precursor compound.
Some important takeaway items for civil engineers about PFAS would be to look at soil management, storm water management, and look for best practices for PFAS.

More details in this episode…
About Guest:
Shalene Thomas has more than 18 years of experience in environmental consulting and has supported clients with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) evaluations since 2009. She currently serves as the Technical Lead for PFAS assessment and site investigations at more than 100 sites for the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Navy. To date, she has supported PFAS projects in 20 different states in 9 of the 10 USEPA regions.
Sources/References:
Amec Foster Wheeler
EPA Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
USGS
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment: Terminology, Classification, and Origins
EPA Rules Review for PFAS
EPA PFOA Stewardship Program
EPA TSCA Program and PFAS 

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code PREP and enter the raffle here: www.ppi2pass.com/civilprep

In episode 060 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Martin Andrews, Military Sales Manager for Mabey Bridge Limited about the development of the Mabey Logistic Support Bridge from its origins in the Bailey Bridge.
Here are some of the questions I ask Martin on the Bailey Bridge:

Can you tell us a little bit about what the Bailey Bridge is and the history of the Bailey Bridge?
What made the design revolutionary at the time?
What makes this bridge so useful in comparison to say, a more traditional site-specific bridge design?
We’re decades on from World War II, so what types of design improvements have been made to the original design?
Do you rely on an in-house civil/structural engineer design capability to support clients, or do clients use their own civil engineers to design bridge applications?
What is the design service life for this type of bridge, and what is the longest in-service bridge that you’re aware of?
What maintenance is required on one of these types of bridges?
Say I’m a civil engineer and I want to source one of these bridges for a job, what do I need to know?
Can you share a couple of examples of more recent Mabey bridge applications?

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


The Bailey bridge is a modular steel panel bridge and it came into existence because the new British tank, at the beginning of the war, had proven too much for the existing military system.
The design was revolutionary and that was because it was a modular steel bridge comprised of rectangular panels pinned together to make the bridge trusses. The panels were made from readily available rolled steel sections welded together in a now familiar Bailey Pan.
The bridge was a British system, it was never a bridge that could only scan a fixed gap. It was a system that could span in theory any gap and take any weight of the vehicles around at the time.
The Bailey bridge was pre-engineered and therefore the design was presented to the user in a table which showed all the engineering that they really had to do, to decide what’s required for the bridge. There were subsequent tables which helped them to work out how many components they needed for each design, and subsequently, they could work out how many trucks they needed or how many times they had to cycle through the trucks to deliver the bridge aside. It came in a comprehension handbook where these details were taken into consideration.
The Bailey bridge was made under a license for the first 25 years. The license ran out in 1967 and Mr. Mabey had some great ideas for improving the design of the Bridge and made several incremental improvements over the subsequent years.
The original Bailey had a timber deck and four transoms per bay of bricks. In 1967 Super Bailey was introduced by Mabey and it was a huge improvement in the quality of the steel. Some of the specific evolutionary improvements include a steel deck, stronger transoms, close tolerance bolts for rigidity and strength, stronger, deeper panels, the introduction of high shear panels, improved chords for bending. Joint development with British Army of Ground beams and grillages and an adjustable ramp system.
The design service life of the bridges is about 60 years, but it does depend hugely on the traffic. At least 100,000 cycles (25 crossings every day for 10 years) is guaranteed of the design load for the decks, but it can go up to 2 million.
A recommend inspection after one month is required, after that, every three months, or at least once a year depending on the volume of traffic. These inspections are to check that the bolts remain tight. All components are galvanized and the galvanizing should last at least 40 – 60 years.

In episode 58 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Jonathon Monken, Senior Director, System Resiliency and Strategic Coordination in the ITS Division of PJM Interconnection about the resilience of electricity infrastructure systems, Black Sky events, and what civil engineers can do to help reduce risk to the electricity infrastructure systems.
Here are some of the questions I ask Jonathan:

Can you describe for us the top three resiliency issues that our electrical infrastructure faces in the U.S. today?
What are, if any, interdependencies with natural gas and communications in the electricity infrastructure system?
What components of the electrical system need to be addressed first?
Can you explain what Black Sky is?
What are some of the mitigation steps that can be taken at the regional level to lessen the duration of outages?
How does resilience planning different from planning for reliability and efficiency?
What is your definition of resiliency?
How can the industry ensure the protection of our nation’s electricity infrastructure systems from cyber-attacks, or at least give operators a chance to limit the impact from a cyber-attack?
Are there physical barriers that can be used to improve resilience or this a cyber defense only?
What might be the best role for civil engineers to help in resilience planning to reduce risk to the electricity infrastructure system?

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed in this episode on the Resilience of Electricity Infrastructure Systems:


Natural gas and communications are the two most important aspects in the operation of the grid. When you look at the communication aspect of things, the way that the grid is operated now is increasingly relying on automation and it’s a very distributed operation of how we work. The low price of natural gas due to fracking and the availability of natural gas has created a circumstance where we’ve seen a huge turnover in our fleet of generations in our territory and in many areas around the US and globally where people are moving very quickly to natural gas.
There is not an unlimited pool of money out there, and you can’t do every infrastructure project that you want to.
There is a lot of things that can be done at the distribution level to improve smart grid technologies, automation and to ensure you can be more effective in real time balancing of the system, to avoid those circumstances where you see unpredictable events occur and the grid is not designed to react quickly enough to be able to mitigate that.
Black swan is an occurrence that is from a statistical perspective is very unlikely to happen. Black Sky is the conversions of that level of probability, if not even higher, from a probability perspective, but it is something that directly affects the grid and effects infrastructure.
There are only 6 buckets that really fall all into the level of impact that would reach a black sky level. Three of them are malicious (man-made) and three of them are naturally occurring.

On the malicious side, it is:
Cyber-attacks
Kinetic Activity
Electro Magnetic Pulse
On the naturally occurring side, it is:
Severe terrestrial weather
Space weather, like solar flares
Earthquakes


The common threat of Black sky is something that is capable of generating a widespread long duration outage that exceeds the scale and the duration of outages that we’ve ever seen previously, to a point where you have to take a totally different perspective on how we plan for.
Gaining a better understanding of the interdependencies issues is something that needs to be understood by all parties that are involved in outages.

In episode 057 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Mark Zweig, Founder, and Chairman of the Zweig Group and Chad Clinehens, PE, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Zweig Group about what it takes for building a successful AE Firm. If you want to grow as a Civil Engineer, or you want your company to grow, this episode will help you tremendously in achieving that goal.
Here are some of the questions I ask the Zweig Group leaders in regards to building a successful AE Firm.

What are the characteristics of fast growing, successful AE firms?
What made you decide to run a conference to recognize these firms?
How should an AE firm approach branding?

AE Growth Quotes





Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


Success is growth, which starts with providing a great place to work. It also comes from great marketing and courageous leadership which is all intertwined.
The firms that are growing the fastest are long-term focused. They have a strategic plan, and talk a lot about their business. Instead of just staying buried in project work, they think about the big picture and invest in marketing, IT and Human Resources. They also work hard to reduce the amount of bureaucracy, that every firm seems like they want to institute to respond to every single problem and issue they have.
The sessions at a conference are only half of what you can learn, the networking and connections that you make are everything.
Make sure you keep your best people happy and inspired and get rid of people who are underperformers when building a successful AE firm
Stop looking at how everybody else is doing and stop trying to model yourself after mediocrity.
Paying people a good salary will cover up a lot of inefficiency in your company and will give you an edge over the companies that are stuck in the traditional pricing models.
One of the key factors in building a successful AE firm is to give people responsibilities and let them solve problems.  This is how you create the next executive that can grow your firm. You’ve got to give people the chance to do something. They might not be as good at first, but after a while, they might even become better than you.
When it comes to marketing, try to create a brand for yourself, as your marketing and selling will flow so much easier. This will not happen overnight, it takes many different things that have to be done on a daily basis when building a successful AE firm.
A successful AE firm views their business as a sports team, and they make sure they keep their best people on the team.

More details in this episode…
About Chad Clinehens, PE 
Photo Credit: http://zweiggroup.com/team/

Chad Clinehens, PE is the president and CEO of the Zweig Group, the leading research, publishing, and consulting firm for the architecture and engineering industry. Passionate about the business side of design and technical service firms, Chad has built a career on leading them through growth and change. Chad has worked with AEC firms throughout the U.S. on a variety of needs – strategic business planning, turnarounds, partner separations, organizational restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, marketing and sales, growth campaigns, and more. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas. He is a registered professional engineer in Arkansas.
About Mark C. Zweig
Photo Credit: http://zweiggroup.com/team/

Mark C. Zweig is best known as the leading expert in management for the architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental industry. With more than 30 years as a student of the industry, Mark knows architecture, engineering,

In episode 056 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Sabrina Rivera, PE a civil engineer working in water resources in the Los Angeles area. We talk about how to drive global change as a civil engineer.
Here are some of the questions I ask Sabrina:

What made you interested in water resources?
How do you handle work-life balance?
What would you say has been the things that have been most helpful for you in your civil engineering career?
How do you foresee your future as a Civil Engineer?
How can Civil Engineers stay focused on their goals?

Engineering Quotes

Here are some key points discussed on how to drive global change as a civil engineer.


Taking initiative is extremely important and will help you to drive global change and move up the corporate ladder.
Subscribing to different newsletters and information sources, and then focusing on the ones that will help you achieve your goals, is one of the keys to being successful.
Be open to the things that you know are going to be helpful for you and your company, and if they are not going to be helpful, then just let them go.
Define and plan your calendar and keep the big picture of what you are working towards in mind.
You can get easily caught up in the details of the day, but be sure to maintain a big picture mindset. Remember that many little things that you are learning or working on, can amount to something a lot bigger.
Find something that you are interested in or passionate about, and start supplementing your day to day activities with other resources around that topic.
Create a goal checklist and mark them off as you accomplish that goal as this will motivate you in your engineering career.

More details in this episode…
About Sabrina Rivera, PE:
Sabrina Rivera, PE is a Water Resources Engineer with Arcadis based in Los Angeles, CA. Her focus is on the design and planning of water and wastewater infrastructure in southern California. Sabrina lead the demand portion of Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs) for 23 agencies and lead the Water Loss Audits for 12 of those agencies. She also worked on the concept and preliminary design phase for a sewer force-main design for a 12-mile sewer in Los Angeles. Sabrina is a graduate of CSU, Long Beach and has been involved with ASCE since her student years. She was President of her student chapter and is currently the President of ASCE Los Angeles Younger Member Forum and a Practitioner Advisor for CSULB.

You can learn about Sabrina on her LinkedIn profile.
Sources/References:
Sabrina’s LinkedIn Profile

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.
Books mentioned in this episode: 
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World 



 

 

 

So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

 

 

 

How to Win Friends & Influence People 

 

 

 

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how to drive global change as a civil engineer.

In episode 055 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Kevin O'Beirne, P.E. about working with changes, claims, and disputes on construction projects. O'Beirne gives some excellent tips in the this episode which will help engineers to acquire a greater success rate with regards to construction projects.
Engineering Quotes


Here are some of the questions asked on working with changes, claims, and disputes on construction projects:


What are the basic differences between changes, claims, and disputes on a construction project?
Can you explain the typical change order process?
How does a project owner or design professional know when a contractor is submitting a claim instead of merely attempting to continue negotiating the associated change order?
What are effective ways of handling construction claims for the project’s design professional?
Can a formal claim on a construction project be resolved before the parties have retained attorneys and prepared for mediation, litigation, or some other dispute resolution process?
As a project manager, what are a couple of things they can do to help reduce the potential for claims?
For design professionals, what type of contract language should send off alarm bells for a design professional looking to avoid an unusual level of risk in its construction projects?
What’s it like on a project when an issue becomes a claim, and then escalates to a dispute? 

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Changes, claims, and disputes on a construction project is a single issue. The difference between them depends on where it is on its journey on the path.
A change issue is when the parties, with the help of design professionals, attempt to mutually negotiate an amicable solution to a change in plans. When there is a substantive disagreement between the parties, the issue can escalate to a claim. If the claims resolution process is not successful, then the issue will become a dispute.
A good solid set of design construction documents is the first step to help reduce the potential for changes and claims. The design should be thorough and complete and been through appropriate internal reviews at the design professional’s office. The scope intended by the owner should be well understood by both the owner and the design professional from the start and there should also be appropriate levels of site investigations done in advance of the project.
It is the duty of the contractor of the claiming party to be very clear when submitting claims and to include all information that accompanies the claim.
Clear verbal - and written communications are of utmost importance in resolving a claim. It is also important to understand what is driving the claiming party and the limitations of their authority.
If you properly and consistently interpret the contract document and have a consistent approach to how you handle construction phase issues, contractors will know how to bid on the project and everything will be a little bit more even-handed.
Owners that insist on certifying that certain conditions exist for them to terminate the contract, or insist on having an unusual level of obligation to control the contractor's work, should send off alarm bells for a design professional looking to avoid an unusual level of risk in its construction projects.
Become familiar with what the standard general conditions are that are in common use for your work.

More details in this episode…
About Kevin O'Beirne, P.E:
Kevin O'Beirne, P.E. is a professional engineer licensed in New York and Pennsylvania with over 29 years of experience designing water and wastewater infrastructure. He is a principal engineer and Manager of Standard Construction Documents at the Buffalo,

In episode 054 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris Knutson interviews Ken Adams, an expert in the world of contract drafting on how to master the language to create clearer engineering contracts.
Here are some of the questions Chris asked Ken:

What do you consider is the essence of a contract?
How do you suggest that civil engineers should approach reviewing engineering contracts?
What are some challenges you see with traditional contract drafting?
The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has also produced a series of standard contract documents for engineering design and construction projects, how do these rate with regards to language and clarity?
What is your opinion of general trade organization contracts?
With regards to schedule provisions in contracts, how standardized do these tend to be?
What does an engineer or contractor need to be aware of with regards to imposed contract requirements?
What are indemnification clauses and what do engineers need to know or be aware of with regards to them?

Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode on Engineering Contracts:

A contract gives the parties an opportunity to determine and state as explicitly as necessary what each expects from the other.
The problem with traditional contract language is that it results in delay and confusion at every stage in the contract process. It also creates confusion that can lead to fights.
Contract language is limited and stylized. It’s best if you leave it to experts.
Copy and pasting or inserting information to a contract is probably not the best route to go with standardized contracts. It is advisable to get legal counsel to take a look at the language of the contract and to make sure that it is relevant and applicable to the situation that you are truly in.
Schedules tend to be different from project to project, but is still part of the contract. If something doesn’t make sense in the contract it won’t make sense in the schedules.
Hold harmless is a mystery phrase with no settled meaning. Do not use the phrase indemnify and hold harmless, which is utterly standard.  Instead, just use indemnify and say what the deal is.
It’s best to be an informed and skeptical consumer of contract language. Accept that in terms of the prose, most contracts are a mess. Learn to distinguish between what’s clear and effective, what’s not so clear but you can live with, and what’s confusing and could cause a problem and so needs to be fixed.

More details in this episode…

About Ken Adams:
Ken Adams occupies a unique position in the field of contract drafting, in that he’s the only commentator to focus on the language of contracts. Not what you express in a given contract provision, but how to express it in modern and effective contract language.

His book A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting (ABA 3d ed. 2013) is widely used throughout the legal profession. He gives seminars in the U.S., Canada, and internationally, and he acts as a consultant and expert witness.

As part of its “Legal Rebels” project, in 2009 the American Bar Association Journal, the flagship magazine of the ABA, named Ken one of fifty leading innovators in the legal profession. And The Legal Writing Institute awarded Ken the Golden Pen Award for 2014, “to recognize his exemplary work in contract drafting.”  And, Ken’s blog was named to the ABA’s Blawg 100 Hall of Fame in 2015.

Ken has taught contract drafting as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University School of Law, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Notre Dame Law School.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1989,

In episode 053 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Jason Mlicki, a Marketing Consultant at Rattleback, about how civil engineering companies can do business development online and potentially get more clients through Google than using traditional business development strategies.
Here are some of the questions I ask Jason during this episode:


Tell us more about understanding the client buying process.
What do you mean by building a market?
How do you map the stages of your buying process to your digital marketing efforts?
How can civil engineering companies develop the content they need to get found online?
What are some practical and actionable SEO advice for civil engineers?
Tell us about understanding where website traffic really comes from.

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed on business development for civil engineering companies:

Most of what we think of as marketing only applies towards the tail end of a client’s buying process.
If you want to build a market, then you must have the ability to categorically understand systemic client problems, categorize them and turn them into high-quality thought leadership content that essentially maps your solutions to those problems.
Marketing is about a fundamental understanding of client needs and mapping solutions to them.
If a client has a problem and they don’t know who you are, your marketing should be able to close the loop and connect you to them.
Learn to be a better listener. Do not always articulate what the client needs, listen to what the client is saying firstly.
If you want to attract clients online, you need a whole body of content that is all about your clients and their problems. The content should be expressing your knowledge, your unique point of view and your perspective on the markets you serve as well as mapping the problems that your client face with the expertise and the solutions you have that you can solve those problems.  Many civil engineering companies do not take this approach.
In Business development, you have to believe you have the expertise, provide evidence of that expertise and know that you are not actually an expert unless Google says you are.
If you want to be found online you have to produce a consistent flow of useful content online and make sure that Google understands what your content is about.
Three of the most important aspects of good search engine optimization (SEO) on a webpage are:

Page title
Page URL
Headline of the page


Be specific in the content that you are writing about as this is a really an important representation of who you are.
Google is the closest thing you have to mass market advertising. Google has the ability to deliver 6 times the potential of volume to your site over anything else you may do.  Most civil engineering companies don't know this or don't leverage this.
There is a direct relationship between google delivering your firm as an answer to a question and the belief set that you are the expert.

If we don’t understand the importance of being found, then we are potentially putting our reputation at risk.


More details in this episode…
About Jason Mlicki:
Jason spends most of his time looking for better ways to market engineering and consulting firms. He talks to a lot of marketers and leaders. and asks a lot of questions and he pulls out insights he can use to help his clients, and his team, get better. He received his MBA from The Ohio State University and his undergraduate degree is in Mathematics. Much of what he learned in college, he uses to develop the strategy models that govern their work.

In episode 52 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Christian Knutson interviews Dr. Orson Smith, P.E. on how arctic engineers are facing the challenges of a changing climate. In this conversation, you’re going to learn about what arctic engineering is, and you’ll get a glimpse at some of the challenges engineers face in designing horizontal and vertical structures in cold regions.  They also talk about the impact of climate change and how it affects our jobs as civil engineers for designing infrastructure and buildings for a 50-plus year service life.
Here are some of the questions asked on Arctic Engineering:


How long has arctic engineering as a specific academic discipline existed in civil engineering?
What makes arctic engineering unique as a discipline?  What is the demand for this level of expertise and in which industries?
What are the major issues you need to worry about as an arctic engineer in light of climate change?
What effects do more frequent freeze-thaw cycles have on built infrastructure, and are there mitigation measures that can be designed to address this?
Are there any aspects of cold regions engineering that should be considered in designs in the lower-48, or more moderate climates?
What do you see as the most vexing civil engineering challenge in the coming ten to twenty years in the Arctic, and how might it be solved?

Engineering Quote:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Arctic Engineering is recognized by both the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in organizational elements that develop guidelines for their membership to practice risks.
Heat transfer is an important fundamental principle that should be mastered in cold regions engineering.
Climate change may be increasing, but it’s been occurring for hundreds of years at a lesser rate.
There is more energy from waves, which is the primary cause of coastal erosion, as the force that brings and effects a retreating shoreline.
Global circulation models are the foremost tool for predicting the future climate.
Everyone has an obligation to address climate change in designing engineering works.
It is hard to invest in infrastructure when the economy of the world is wavering up and down.

More details in this episode…
About Dr. Orson Smith, P.E. :
Dr. Orson Smith, P.E. is a professor emeritus of Civil Engineering at University of Alaska Anchorage and a Professional Engineer in Alaska.  He’s a past Department Chair (1/2006-5/2010) of the civil engineering department, as well as Interim Dean, and he’s highly sought-after expert in Arctic engineering and coastal protection in cold regions. His research interests focus on: coastal, port, harbor, ocean, and arctic engineering; renewable energy; and climate change impacts on engineering works.  Dr. Smith has served on the ASCE’s Technical Council on Cold Regions Engineering, and was a member of the Task Committee on Adaptation to Climate Change…he also was the 2015 Elbert Rice Memorial Lecture Award Winner for Cold Regions.
Sources/References:           
Adapting Infrastructure and Civil Engineering practice to a changing
Arctic Engineering in Alaska
US Army Corps of Engineering
COLD REGIONS ENGINEERING DIVISION
Alaska town to vanish by 2017
Journal of Cold Regions Engineering

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how arctic engineers are facing the challenges of a changing climate.

In episode 51 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview June R. Jewell, CPA, a business management consultant to the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry on finding the lost dollars in your Civil Engineering Firm. Some of the points June discusses will immediately help you to enhance your business development skills and increase profits.
Here are some of the questions I asked during the episode:

Tell us more about losing money on time and materials contracts.
What is the cost of lost opportunities?
How does an engineering proposal process bring along lost revenue?
What impact can estimating processes have on projects?
How does the cost of low utilization affect revenue and profits?
How does poor project management lose you money?
Tell us more about inefficient and non-integrated systems in your business?

Engineering Quotes



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


Many engineers are more focused on their technical skills, the quality of their projects and the relationships with their clients and not focused on the money. Sometimes money is the last thing that gets paid attention to when working on a project and by the time you get to the end of the project you find that it wasn’t as profitable as you would hope it would be.
Time and materials contracts are one where you bill your client for every hour that you work. Make sure that your billing rates are covering your costs of the project when you are billing clients hourly as a lot of money can get lost on time and materials contracts.
The firms that share more financial data and help their managers to understand business and accounting concepts and financial terminology have better project profitability and their employees do a better job of managing the project.
Improving your decision-making process on which project to go after and also by having a no-go process in place, will reduce the number of lost dollars on a project.
Look at how you track your qualifications data and how you share the actual process of the project.
If you do a poor job on your engineering proposal cost estimate, you are going to have a bad project with lots of problems occurring during the project. The key to a good estimate is asking a lot of questions and understanding your clients’ requirements and expectations.
Scope creep is when the actual work that you do on a project exceeds what was agreed to in your contract outlined. There is always going to be scope creep during a project and how to react to it is very important.
When you have a project budget, project managers have to keep their eye on every aspect of it to ensure not losing unnecessary money.
The more you can do to tie all of your databases together, the more your employee proficiency will get improved.
Identify who your good clients are. Bad clients drain your resources and can potentially be causing you to lose money on your profit margin of your project.

More details in this episode
About June R. Jewell, CPA:
June R. Jewell, CPA, is a business management consultant to the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry and author of the best-selling book, Find The Lost Dollars: 6 Steps to Increase Profits in Architecture, Engineering, and Environmental Firms. For over 25 years she ran a successful business and Deltek consulting practice and is now focused on working with AEC firm leaders to help them improve their processes and systems, and give them the tools they need to be able to hold their employees and managers accountable to increase profitability. June is CEO of AEC Business Solutions, offering business assessment tools and business management training programs designed to help AEC firms make more money on projects.

In episode 50 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, we have prepared a special compilation episode to reinforce some of the career tips given in the first 50 episodes of The Civil Engineering Podcast (wow -- can't believe we're at 50).
Engineering Quotes







Here are the key points discussed in the compilation episode:


Communication is key in order to have your audience understand what you are saying and why you are saying it.
Listen, be patient and flexible, and know whatever you do internationally is going to take time.
Use whatever skills you have to better others, and to better the world.
At the end of the day, what matters is how people communicate with each other. People have to find ways to communicate better with each other.
To a large extent, your clients become your mentors and your trainers. Getting client exposure allows you to see how a client thinks, and how to anticipate their needs.
The number one way to learn is to place yourself in a position that allows you to be successful.
When writing a proposal, lay the groundwork for your understanding of what the companies needs are. Also, test your strength and weaknesses with them, so that you are not guessing when you are writing a proposal. This will help you write a proposal faster and with a lot of more confidence.
Getting your MBA will give you the opportunity to work with different leaders that understand the different aspects in Civil Engineering.
A PMP certification can help civil engineers to understand the language of civil engineering projects.
A seller–doer is a technical person with a broad skill set that includes communication and/or networking and who also handles business development.  Seller-doers can "do engineering" and "sell engineering."
A proposal is a blueprint of what needs to be done on a project. Understand what the process is and the timeline, and identify what needs to be done.
Creating mind maps will help you with sourcing ideas for your plan to implement your goals.
We need to look at others, not as competition, but just as really good businesses that are out there to do good things.

More details in this compilation episode…

About the guests:




Amanda Huffman, a former Air Force civil engineer who was deployed to Afghanistan on a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT).



Paul Eng-Wong, Professional Engineer and Principal in the Newark office of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) who achieved many rewards.



Rob D’Onofrio, PE specializes in claims evaluation and resolution.  Rob co-wrote Construction Schedule Delays, a comprehensive 1,110-page book on schedule delay law and analysis, which is published by Thomson Reuters and updated annually.



Shana Carroll, PE,  is an experienced and motivated geo-professional with extensive experience in sales, engineering, and construction.



Scott Wolter is a Forensic geologist, author and the host of History’s H2 network’s hit show America Unearthed.



Will Schnier, a licensed PE and the Chief Executive Officer of BIG RED DOG Engineering | Consulting.



Jim Rogers is the author of the American Council of Engineering Companies first ever book on the subject of proposal writing, “Win More Work: How to Writing Winning AEC Proposals.”



Mauricio Lara, PMP, MBA, PE, a Lead Engineer with over 15 years of experience as a leader and key contributor, including an extensive private and public sector background.



Amanda Payne is a business development and marketing expert in the engineering/architectural design services...

In episode 049 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Alfredo Cely, P.E., MSEM, M.ASCE on using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for both asset and engineering Management.  Mr. Cely is the instructor of the ASCE guided online course: The Foundation for using GIS for Infrastructure Asset Management.
Here are some of the questions/topics I discuss with Mr. Cely:

What is lean management?
What is a Geographic Information System (GIS)?
How civil engineers can improve their knowledge on GIS.
The advances in current technologies that have superpowered GIS?
How GIS can be utilized on Civil Engineering Projects.
Tell us how public agencies and utility companies are using GIS in regards to their current infrastructure?
How can GIS help you in management engineering projects?

Engineering Quotes:


Here are some key points discussed in this episode on Geographic Information Systems (GIS):

The idea of lean management is to make a process as efficient as possible.
There is never an end goal in lean management. It is the constant striving towards improvement.
The underlying concept of lean management is simplicity. The simpler you can make something, the easier it will be for you to accomplish and the easier it will be for you to explain to somebody else how to do it.
The more steps you take in solving a specific problem, the more chances there are statistically for you to make a mistake.
GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems and at its most simple form GIS is a self-help tool that creates maps of our geography. It uses layers of information to a map which enable us to compile more in-depth data, layers on top of layers of data.
GIS is a perfect tool to analyze spatial data. When you start merging the data from different places together, it will allow you to improve the efficiency in your operations.

More details in this episode…
About Alfredo Cely, P.E., MSEM, M.ASCE:

Alfredo Cely is a Project Manager and Senior Engineer who is responsible for the development of Transportation, Water Resources, Land Development and Aviation. He is a registered professional engineer with experience in projects throughout Florida, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, California and abroad.

Alfredo also has Transportation experience including design, resurfacing, rehabilitation, widening and new construction of roadways, from arterials to local low-speed streets. He is known for implementing designs that improve safety for motorists and vulnerable users while improving connectivity for communities using context sensitive design. Knowledgeable of FHWA and AASHTO initiatives and guidelines as well as roadway design requirements and manuals from multiple state DOTs including FDOT, GDOT, TxDOT, and Caltrans.

On top of that, Alfredo also has Water Resources experience that includes drainage master planning, pump station design, low impact development, LEED facilities, stormwater modeling and multi-state agency permitting. Excellent relationships with Florida Water Management Districts, including SWFWMD, SFWMD, and FDEP.

Alfredo's then also have Land Development, Aviation and Project Management experience which includes identifying new clients/markets, developing scopes, delivering presentations and client management.
Sources/References:
The Engineering Mastermind
The American Society of Civil Engineers Magazine
The foundation for using GIS for Infrastructure asset management

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Street Smart: The Rise of Cities and the Fall of Cars

In episode 048 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, part one of our Seller-Doer series, I interview Jim Rogers of The Seller-Doer Academy for Civil Engineers on how to generate leads using the RLOCK approach (Recognition, Leads, Opportunities, Close, Keep).  In this episode, we focus on the L in R-LOCK, representing Leads and explain how to overcome one of the biggest obstacles for civil engineers in doing business development, which is being able to generate new clients by reaching out and getting a first meeting with them.

IMPORTANT: Jim mentioned that there is a free assessment available for civil engineers to take to help you understand where you currently stand with your seller-doer skills sets. It will be open to the first 500 civil engineers to take it.  Click here to take the survey and your results will be sent to you once all of the results have been compiled.  Consider taking it now as it will provide invaluable information for your development.
Engineering Quotes:



Here are some key points discussed in Part One of our Seller-Doer Series:

If you want to do interesting work as a civil engineer and you want to have control over whether you do work for good clients and can fire your bad clients, then being able to attract the kind of clients that you want to serve is the first step.
Keeping good clients as a civil engineer is one of the best ways to get new business (repeat work), but generating and maintaining new leads and converting them into opportunities is something not anyone can do in their career.
To generate leads is one of the toughest things for civil engineers to do, because a lot of times it requires talking to or contacting people you don't know, or you haven't worked with before.
When you call somebody, have something to offer of value to them, and don't just call and make it feel like a sales call. The key thing is for it to be an introductory call where your goal is to try to get face to face with somebody, because that's where the magic really happens.
No matter how hard-hearted or logical we might be, there's some emotional cost to rejection.
When measuring the different tools, you must balance the effectiveness including how quickly it can turn into a an opportunity to generate leads versus the emotional cost of doing it.
The cold call is the hardest one and has the highest emotional investment, because the potential for rejection is high. If it's a warm call you can make that call with a lot more confidence. Warm calls mean that they'll know who is calling them. It could be that you're following up with somebody that you met at a networking event or through a referral.
You should get about an 80 to 90% effectiveness rate on asking for referrals.
Leave some space in conversations, because you can come away with some gems of information that you can then use to generate leads.
When asking for referrals one of the key things to do is to call your new connections and to do it early in the project as this will give you a higher success rate.
If you ask for a referral or if you soften people up by sending them something in advance like your book, white paper or tip sheet, they’re more likely to remember you, be willing to talk to you, and you're also already starting to act like a trusted advisor to them.

Jim mentioned that there is a free assessment available for civil engineers to take to help you understand where you currently stand with your seller-doer skills sets. It will be open to the first 500 civil engineers to take it.  Click here to take the survey and your results will be sent to you once all of the results have been compiled.
More details in this episode…
About Jim Rogers:

Jim Rogers is a nationally recognized proposal guru and author who helps professional services clients win more work.

In episode 047 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview one of our listeners, a young civil engineer named Joshua about a problem he is facing in regards to transitioning into the civil engineering industry and we also talk about how to remain billable as a young civil engineer.
Here are some of the questions I ask Joshua:

What has been helpful for you as a young civil engineer in your transition into the workplace?
Tell me about the things you didn’t have that would’ve been helpful in transitioning.
What are your thoughts on training for young civil engineers?
Were there any discussions about future training with your civil engineering company?
What is the balance between remaining billable, but also engaging in training?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast:

Support and communication with your civil engineering team is extremely important in making the transition easier.
When starting out in a new civil engineering position, make sure that you have a very clear and well defined plan to understand what is expected of you.
Having training materials will facilitate the training process and make the new employee's job much easier.
When considering a career move it is important to ask yourself if there will be opportunities for professional training and development for yourself.
It’s important for managers to have a set number of productive tasks in the background that are available for engineers when they have finished their work. This will ensure productivity and ensure engineers remain billable in their work.

More details in this episode…
About Joshua:
Joshua has been a Civil engineer for the last 7 months specifically in the land development field and engages in storm water design, land surveying, and soil science. He previously worked with different tractors and heavy equipment to maintain property courses. He also has experience in Inspecting construction sites for compliance with regards to Soil Erosion and Sediment Control.
Sources/References:
The Engineering Mastermind
TCEP 041: Strategies for Starting A New Civil Engineering Job on the Right Foot
Seller-Doer Academy
LinkedIn Questions

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on transitioning within careers and remaining billable in your work environment.

In episode 046 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am going to discuss an excerpt from John Lowe’s book entitled A Guide to Managing Engineering and Architectural Design Services Contracts. The excerpt, which was discussed with the author's permission, focuses on helpful strategies for effectively planning, executing and following up on engineering project meetings.
Engineering Quotes:




Here are 3 point to consider when arranging or holding a project meeting as a civil engineer:

#1 - Planning for Meetings
Planning for meetings may be the most important part of a meeting as the effectiveness of a meeting is largely dependent on how well the meeting is planned.

Lowe says in his book, "Solid planning is essential, especially when the meeting is to be attended by multiple stakeholders and is to be held at a location several hours away from the Consultant’s office where recovery from forgetting something can be very difficult.”

To maximize effectiveness, one of the things Lowe recommends is the use of a checklist prepared well in advance of the meeting.
#2 - The Meeting Agenda
While the planning of a meeting is important, according to Lowe the meeting agenda or the absence thereof, is the single most important determinant of the effectiveness of a meeting.

Here are 6 suggested guidelines that Lowe recommends regarding meeting agendas:

A draft agenda should be routed to expected attendees for their input before the project meeting.  By doing this, the sense of ownership for the meeting outcome for all attendees is increased.  This is an important one, beyond just logistical preparedness, you are getting people to buy in to the meeting before it starts.
Input from other attendees will help the organizer to be better prepared for unexpected topics that can come up during the meeting.  Again, minimizing your own risk in not be able to move a topic forward.
The finalized agenda should be sent to all attendees prior to the meeting so they can also be prepared for the meeting.
To improve the probability of accomplishing the purpose of a meeting, as a minimum, a printed agenda should be available to all attendees at the meeting
The agenda lets the attendees know the order in which the items are to be covered so that the organizer’s desired flow of the meeting is not interrupted by attendees unknowingly bringing up topics that are scheduled for later in the meeting.
The agenda should be followed during the meeting; however, rigid adherence to the agenda is rarely necessary.  Deviation from the agenda frequently occurs and can even be beneficial.

#3- The meeting sign-in sheet
The meeting sign-in sheet is the document used to capture the names and contact information of meeting attendees. Having a clear record of who attended meetings is a vital part of the documentation process.

Preparation of the Sign-In Sheet prior to the meeting accomplishes several benefits;

The attendee presence will be documented
Avoidance of the needless distraction of someone scrambling to start circulation of a blank piece of paper to record the attendees after the meeting is underway.
It establishes a desirable atmosphere that good preparation for the meeting has occurred.

#4 Meeting Summary/Minutes
Meeting minutes/summary document information communicated at meetings.   This documentation may well be one of the most important elements in expectation management.
The following are suggestions on documenting effective meetings:

When the project manager is to lead a meeting, one or more other persons from that firm should attend the meeting.  Prior to the meeting, the person responsible for taking notes should be identified.

In episode 045 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Daniel P. Bigman, PhD on Ground Penetrating Radar in civil engineering also known as GPR. Daniel also answers some questions from our listeners on technical items and other issues they are facing with Ground Penetrating Radar in Civil Engineering.
Here are some of the questions I ask Daniel Bigman about Ground Penetrating Radar in Civil Engineering:


What is your background with GPR?
What are the benefits and limitations of the technology?
How does GPR get priced?
What have you seen in popularity and the current state of use in civil engineering?
How can firms get started with GPR and what are the common mistakes beginners run into?

Quotes from the episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode with regards to ground penetrating radar in civil engineering:

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-evasive imaging technology which allows you to create a 3-Dimensional image of surfaces prior to, or in lieu of excavation.
GPR is one of the most dynamic, subsurface imaging technology that is available.
GPR produces an electromagnetic pulse, which is an electromagnetic radio wave that get pushed into the ground. Radio waves travel at a very certain speed in any given material, and the benefit of GPR is that as a wave changes it speed, meaning that it transfers from one material into another material, some of the energy of that wave, reflects off that interface. When it reflects, it can get recorded in both the 2-way travel time and the amplitude of the reflection back at the ground service. You can use that then to create a 3-Dimensional sketch of the subsurface.
Pairing GPR with some sort of a verification scheme, may produce the most successful approach as it allows you to limit time and money but still obtain a large data set.
One of the biggest drawbacks of GPR are site conditions. The two most difficult soil conditions to work in are wet clay or saltwater (brackish conditions). Both conditions can make it difficult to collect GPR data, however, they are not impossible to use GPR.
GPR can get priced on an hourly, daily or an physical area rate. Prices can range from $100 per hour to $2500 per day.
The role of civil engineers in ground penetrating radar (GPR) is to provide a much deeper analysis of GPR data, and to offer additional layers of information that GPR can offer in relation to what other people can’t offer.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can be used in so many different areas including agriculture, environmental, archaeology, evaluating a diseases inside of a tree and many more.
If you would like to find out more about Daniel Bigman and GPR, you can visit his website or any of Learn GPRs Social Media Platforms as listed below.

More details in this episode…
About Daniel Bigman:
Daniel P. Bigman, PhD received his PhD from the University of Georgia and is an expert in non-invasive subsurface mapping and 3D imaging. His graduate research focused on the applications of near-surface geophysics to archaeological and historical contexts and has since taught at several universities in Georgia. He has collaborated with scholars across the southeastern United States on innovative research pertaining to applied geophysics and damage prevention, especially as it relates to the protection of cultural resources. The results of these projects have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals of international reputation.

Daniel is also the founder of LearnGPR.com, which is the most comprehensive, fun, and accessible Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) training on earth. They have put together programs to help civil engineers, structural engineers, Geo-technical engineers, utility locators,

In episode 044 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Brett Hoffstadt, PMP about drones in civil engineering, how and why they are being used. We talk about the challenges, risks and concerns that go along with using drones in civil engineering.
Here are some of the questions I ask Brett about drones in civil engineering:

What are drones?
What are the guidelines and regulations that must be followed in regards to drones in civil engineering?
Do you need a license or a certification to operate drones?
How about a license or insurance to operate drones?
How will drones effect the civil engineering and construction industry?
Can you give us an example of successful case studies with drones?
Do you see drones in civil engineering as a way to bring in more customers and come up with other potential revenue streams?
What are the first things to do when engineers want to start getting into this aspect of the field?

Engineering Quotes:


Here are some key points discussed in this episode about drones in civil engineering:


Drones refer to automotive robots, which are currently being used in industries across air, land and sea.
The FAA established a process for people to register an aerial drone for safety reasons, and for commercial uses.
During the first half of 2016 the United States received more registrations for drones than all registrations received for manned aircraft.
The total number for registered drones is more than half a million that registered during the first half of 2016, and the total number for manned aircraft is about 350 000 throughout history.
Drones are not a magic tool, but it they another tool to use to augment what engineers already have or need, in order to create a lot of value for their clients.
For business related purposes, you need to have a remote pilot license, as well as insurance to operate drones. The cost to take this exam is currently $150.
When looking for a drone expert, find someone who has an existing portfolio with work and references in the drone industry, as there are things like checklists and procedures that needs to be established.
If you are an engineer and have an entrepreneurial mindset, you can make daily project progress videos and use them for video marketing material, which will always add value to your work as well as to your business.

More details in this episode…
About Brett Hoffstadt, PMP:
Brett are the Vice President of Drone Pilots Federation, and also the Owner of Brett Hoffstadt Consulting. He has a PMP certification in project management and two degrees in aerospace engineering. He is also author of the book "How to be a Rocket Scientist: 10 powerful tips to enter the aerospace field and launch the career of your dreams." While working in the aerospace industry, he brought disruptive innovations such as 3-D printing, crowdfunding, two inventions, and agile project management into his employer. Now he is helping engineering companies and innovation leaders within them bring unmanned aircraft or drones into their operations to reduce costs, schedules, and create more value for them and their customers.
Sources/References:
TCEP 043: The Business Case for Sustainability-Related Initiatives
TECC 48: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – Five Strategies to an Innovative Engineering Career
The Engineering Mastermind
Brett Hoffstadt’s Twitter
Brett Hoffstadt’s LinkedIn
Anthony’s Email Address

Books mentioned in this episode:
How To Be a Rocket Scientist



 

 

 

 

 

The 5 Minute Journal



 

 

 

In episode 043 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Bob Willard, a leading expert on quantifying and selling the business value of corporate sustainability strategies.
Here are some of the questions I ask Bob:

How would you describe sustainability in your own words?
Why is sustainability an advantage for corporations?
Why don’t more companies try to become more sustainable if there are so many benefits to it?
For some reason, it seems that the initial immediate reactions to the thought of implementing sustainability are very negative. Why is that?
What are some things I can do as an employee to help my company become more sustainable?
How would you recognize a company that is practicing sustainability?

Quotes to think about:


Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


Sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It can also be seen as the possibility that humans and other forms of life on earth will flourish forever. Bob defines it as: “Enough for all forever”.
The direct benefits of sustainability usually include savings with the company’s energy bill, water bill, waste bill and  materials by using less and substituting materials.
The indirect benefits include making more money, attracting more people and getting more productivity from your employees.
After years of research it was established that if a company would simply follow the best practices of other companies, they would make 51 – 81 % more profit than they are making today. If a company decides to take a pass on becoming more sustainable, they can jeopardize their profit by 16 – 36%.
There is an idea that you have to get old in order for sustainability to pay off, but this is not the case. A lot of these have to do with behavior changes, and the secret to this is to get employees involved so that they can implement this process in a smart, profitable way.
There are 3 major justifications for companies when they want to take initiative with sustainability:


It is the right thing to do;
It will yield financial benefits for the company;
They can reduce risks.


The more you understand and can articulate the benefits of sustainability approaches using quantified language, the better your chances are of having people sit still long enough to listen. Create a powerful presentation when presenting this to your company that will show that these ideas will produce great benefits to your company.

More details in this episode…
About Bob Willard:
Bob is a leading expert on quantifying and selling the business value of corporate sustainability strategies and has given over a thousand presentations to corporate, government, university, and NGO audiences. Bob applies his business and leadership experience from his 34-year career at IBM Canada to engage the business community in proactively avoiding risks and capturing opportunities by using smart environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies.

He has authored four books: The Sustainability Advantage (2002), The Next Sustainability Wave (2005), The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook (2009), and The New Sustainability Advantage (2012)., and is currently co-authoring the Future-Fit Business Benchmark. In addition, his two DVDs, free open-source business case simulators, and extensive Master Slide Set provide capacity-building resources for sustainability champions.

Bob currently serves on the boards of Forum for the Future U.S. and the Future-Fit Foundation, and serves on the B Lab Standards Advisory Council. He previously served on the boards of The Natural Step Canada (12 years),

In episode 42 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will talk about the power and responsibility that comes with having your P.E. license (professional engineering license).
Quotes to think about:


Here are 5 key points on why obtaining your PE license is important


Credibility
In the architecture, engineering and construction industry, your level of expertise and credibility is critical to your success, and a P.E. license gives you instant credibility. People want to hire experts and credible technical professionals, and a P.E. certainly gives you that credibility.
Reputation
Your reputation consists of the beliefs or thoughts that people have about you. Obtaining a P.E. license, especially at a young age, tells people that you are a motivated civil engineer looking to move up in your career.
Design capabilities
The P.E. license gives you the legal ability to be the responsible individual on design plans and specifications, meaning that you can sign and seal these documents. This may be a huge benefit to your firm, especially if you work for a small firm or desire to start your own. That being said, this can also open you up to liabilities, which I will discuss in a follow-up post.
Career value
If you want to succeed as a civil engineer, you must provide value to people. Your P.E. license allows you to do that, for the reasons I have already spoken about.
Investment
By investing the time and energy to obtain your P.E. license, you are investing in your future. You are showing your employer that you want to succeed. You are showing your clients that you are an expert. But most importantly you have added a valuable credential to your resume that can boost your engineering career over and over.

Here are some responsibilities you should be aware of as a Civil Engineer possessing a PE License.

Liability
If you are signing off on a design, you own it with respect to liability. If you plan to sign and seal drawings anytime soon, make sure you have a professional liability policy that covers you.
Fees
In most states, you will have to pay registration and renewal fees to maintain a current P.E. license, and if you are licensed in multiple states, then those fees can add up. Be aware of what the fees are and whether or not your employer will cover them for you.
Continuing education
You should understand the costs associated with continuing education. Be aware of these cossts, but don’t let them prevent you from obtaining one.
Ethical component
This is another critical aspect of licensure. As a licensed engineer, you are ethically responsible for practicing only in the fields of engineering that you are knowledgeable about. Failure to do so could cause engineering failures that could harm people. It is critical that you understand this point.
Contract awareness
The more you can learn about contracts as a licensed P.E., the better off you will be, especially if you will be signing and sealing documents that are affected or associated with these contracts.

Sources/References:
TCEP 040: 10 Tips Every Civil Engineer should Know about Managing Engineering and Architectural Design Services Contracts
TECC 100: Engineering Career and Life Lessons to Live By
TECC 120: A 10 Step Plan for Obtaining Your Professional Engineering License

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.
Books mentioned in this episode:
 A Guide to Managing Engineering and Architectural Design Services Contracts: What every project manager needs to know



 

 

 

 

 

In episode 041 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Daniel Hayes, PE about how to start out a new civil engineering job on the right foot.
Here are some of the points Daniel reviewed in relation to starting a new civil engineering job:

Resigning correctly and communicating effectively with your new company during the process.
The importance to setting goals for yourself.
The importance of the first hour, first day, and first week of a new civil engineering job.
How to ask the right questions.

Quotes to think about:
 


 Here are some key points discussed in this episode in relation to starting a new civil engineering job:

Always give proper notice when you plan to resign from your current job.
Work with your current employer to transition effectively, if they are inclined to provide you with someone to transition too.
Communicate with your new company as you really do not have a new civil engineering job until the day you walk in the door at that new job.
The first 90 days are very important for your success at any new firm. Always have a plan ready when you start working at a new company, even if your future employer has a plan for you. They may or may not be interested in your plan, but at least they will say that you have the foresight.
Making a plan is not as important as getting your brain connected to the new job, and getting yourself started.
The first hour at your new company is really your first impression, so you absolutely have to be on time for work.
Dress appropriately, because this is how people will instantly judge you.
Always put your cell phone away on your first day in a new job.
Be polite and sociable and save the introvert for another time.
Linger a bit and stay a little bit longer on your first day, in order to create opportunities to connect with people, and to show them that you are dedicated right from the beginning.
Get to know and make friends with the support staff. Respect them as they will be critical to your success.
You need to relax during your first week at the job. You are not going to solve the company’s problems in the first week. Spend more time listening and less time talking. No one is expecting you to be fully productive during the first week of a new civil engineering job.  Just focus on getting better at what you do every day.
Do not be afraid to ask questions. Start to understand the operations, and standards of the company, you are working for.

More details on effectively starting a new civil engineering job in this episode…
About Daniel Hayes:
Daniel Hayes, PE is a registered professional engineer with over 14 years of experience in both the consulting and construction sector. He has experience in the project management and the development of construction plans, specifications and cost estimates for military, residential and commercial land development projects in numerous jurisdictions. Hayes has professional registration in Maryland, Texas (inactive), Virginia and West Virginia.  He has been a long time member of The Engineering Mastermind.
Sources/References:
Daniel Hayes's LinkedIn

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.
Books mentioned in this episode:
 The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Updated and Expanded



 

 

 

 

The Pledge: Your Master Plan for an Abundant Life (Agora Series)



 

 

 

 

 

In episode 040 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview John Lowe author of A Guide to Managing Engineering and Architectural Design Services Contracts – What Every Project Manager Needs to Know.  During the episode, Johns outlines the top 10 items that civil engineering professionals should be aware of with respect to Engineering and Architectural Design Services Contracts.
Here are some of the questions I ask John:

Tell us more about Accounts Receivable and the impact they have on projects?
What do you mean by creating a Culture of Awareness to Professional Liability Issues?
What is Stop Work Authority?
Why is shop drawing review important?

Quotes to think about:





Here are the “Top Ten” considerations that are the most critical when dealing with Engineering and Architectural Design Services Contracts:
10. Accounts Receivable
When a client falls behind in paying, this can be the precursor of other problems. It frequently can mean that they are running out of money or are unhappy with the Consultant’s services. Either way, immediate action is called for in order to find out what the problem is and how to get it fixed.
9. Purchase Orders
The Standard Terms and Conditions (fine print) that come with purchase orders are not for the Consultant’s benefit.  Accepting them can void professional liability insurance coverage.
8. Create a Culture of Awareness to Professional Liability Issues
Most civil engineers don't think about professional liability issues while they are doing the design. They only do so once there is a claim on one of their projects. Consider having weekly lunch seminars on liability law topics in your office so that you and your staff members  are aware of these issues at all times.
7. Contractor Requested Changes from Contract Document Requirements
Be very careful when a contractor request changes from contract document requirements. These changes are almost always requested to benefit the contractor. Acceptance of these changes rarely inures to the benefit of the design professional or the Owner.
6. Stop Work Authority
To stop a project almost always initiates a host of complex, expensive, and time consuming activities that frequently have professional liability and legal consequences. As the lead civil engineer, you must be aware of who has the authority to stop your projects when you are reviewing your contracts.
5. Shop Drawing Review
A proper shop drawing review is extremely important.  Inadequate shop drawing review can have consequences ranging from increased project cost to loss of life.
4. Scope of Work
It's only with a clear scope of work that the expectations of all parties can be expected. Everyone that is involved in the project, should have a copy of the detail scope of work so that they don’t miss something that was included or start adding scope to the work that was excluded during the negotiations.
3. Expectation Management
Many clients will expect perfection from the Consultant.  Unless this expectation is properly managed from start to finish, having a successful project is highly unlikely.
2. Constructability Review
There should always be a constructability review.  The best time to have one is at the preliminary design phase, but always before advertising for bids. Otherwise, the review will occur during bidding or construction with potentially costly consequences.
1. Documentation 
No matter how much documentation is prepared, when problems arise, most project managers will agree that they wished that there had been more documentation and that it had been better. Remember the Chinese Proverb, “The faintest of ink is more powerful than the strongest memory.”

More details in this episode…
About John Lowe:

In episode 039 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, we are going to talk about the path to partnership for civil engineers. We will play a recording of a panel from our Engineering Career Summit in New Orleans earlier this year, where you will hear 3 seasoned civil engineers discussing the path to partnership and the positives and negatives about becoming a partner in an engineering firm.
Here are some of the questions that get asked during the panel discussion:

When is it a good time to ask yourself if you are material for a partner at a civil engineering firm?
What skills did you wish you could have worked on before you became a partner, that would have helped you where you are now?
What do you do when you have an employee who feels like he has met all the requirements to basically be an owner, and you as the civil engineering company do not recognize that yourself and offer that to them?
What are some of the negative aspects of being a partner or business owner in a civil engineering firm?
What made you go from losing your job, and then all of a sudden starting your own civil engineering company, and getting into this entrepreneurial state?
In general how do you evaluate your future leaders and future talent?
How early on in somebody's career would you take notice that this person potentially can grow into a leadership role?

Quotes to think about:







Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Try to take a longer horizon approach rather than just the next raise or when you are going to become a partner.
Try to really invest in your own future. Work hard in trying to get to develop yourself, be prepared to work long hours and go above and beyond.
The best time to look for other opportunities is when you're not under the pressure that you've been laid off, or when you've just grown so frustrated that you hate waking up in the morning and going to work.
If you want to be an owner of a civil engineering company and you don't have the gusto to go out on your own and do it, pick a company that is an employee owned company that is open to selling shares.
It's very important that before you start announcing your intentions to be a partner, that you're comfortable with the way that the upper management of the firm is operating, because you're not going to come in as a new partner and change that in many circumstances.
When determining if someone is eligible to become a partner at a civil engineering firm, ask the question if they bring more into the firm than they take out of the firm on a daily basis, or on an annual basis.
There are multiple considerations you have to put forward in your mind and answer before you go around naming your intentions and proclaiming your intentions to be a partner in a firm.
The easiest way to become a partner is to start as number one by starting your own engineering company, which is also one of the hardest and most rewarding ways.
It is really critical to plan things out and to execute on that plan and always re-visit your plan.
Anticipate where you're going next and what education, or what other experience or type of projects you need to work on.
Express that you want that partnership opportunity and don't just ask for a performance review.
The good news about being an engineer is that you're competing with other engineers. You're not competing with business people. You just have to be incrementally better to be a little bit more successful. If you're a lot better, you can be a lot more successful than some of the smaller engineering firms.
You don't get rich by owning the company. You get rich when you sell the company and cash out your shares.
The value of the firm will very much be in the value of the pa...

In episode 038 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview A.J. Whitaker, PE, PLS who is building a civil engineering firm in a very unconventional way with remote staff.
Here are some of the questions I ask A.J. :


Expand on the operation side of your business and what made you go into the direction you did with your civil engineering firm?
Do you have other staff or hire freelance civil engineers for your business needs?
How does the operation side of your engineering business look like with your teams?
How do you ensure uniformity in your engineering design work across the team without having an office?
How has your client's response been to not having your own engineering office?
What is your long term goal for your company?
Is it possible to have a partnership structure in place in a remote civil engineering firm?
Tell me more about what the SITEOPS technology is that you use for business development?
Are there any specific rituals that you practice every day?

Quotes to think about:
 
Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Once you are set in the ways of steady employment, high salary, and dependable benefits, it is a scary thing to walk out on your own and face the uncertainty of starting your own engineering business.
I noticed that a lot of engineering companies are making the same mistakes and I started questioning why things get done a certain way and if there are better ways of doing things.
It is not always necessary for civil engineers to rent office space, as a lot of the administration work and communication part of the job can be done remotely. This immediately makes you save on your overheads costs. This also makes it possible to hire experts all over the world, and not just in your local area.
I use a variety of full time as well as contract employees. I can go out and hire the best and brightest at what they do and put together individual project teams to best suit my clients needs.
If you are somebody that is good at just looking busy in a traditional engineering office environment, but don’t turn out a lot of work, you can survive for a couple of years before people start realizing that you are not contributing to the value of their engineering team. In our type of environment it doesn’t matter how busy you look, but what matters is the end result, what you produce and the quality of your work.
The communication tools we use include Skype, joinme, email, phone calls, cloud based files. We occasionally, but minimally, meet in person as well.
We also make use of checklists and systems that serve as a guide for people in order to help our production team be more efficient and minimize the amount of back and forth that we have to do.
The key to making all of this work is to be able to network with people who have the skills that are complimentary to my own skills. By networking with other people that do have these skills, you can see how teams get formed and how a bond is created between workers.
SITEOPS technology is a cloud based optimization technology that allows people to go in and do very fast conceptual site layouts and grading designs.
AJ’s company currently has an open position at their firm for a project manager. If you are interested you can contact him via his website or LinkedIn.

More details in this episode…
About A.J. Whitaker, PE, PLS: 

As the President of Atlas Civil Design, A.J. provides a full suite of civil engineering services to meet the needs of a diverse clientele. He is a registered Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor with over 20 years of experience in large scale single and multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, medical/healthcare, and mixed-use projects.

In episode 037 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am share 10 specific strategies for providing stellar service to your civil engineering clients. Ths strategies in this episode are brought to you directly from civil engineers who commented on a discussion on this topic that I posted on LinkedIn.
Quotes to think about:



Here are 10 effective ways to provide stellar service to your civil engineering clients:


Be yourself.  This is very important in a world where people are constantly trying to be someone that they are not. This comes down to being authentic.
Be responsive and honest.  Even if you don’t have the information people need, make every effort to just let them know that you don't but you will attempt to get it for them as quickly as possible.  Not all civil engineering questions can be answered in seconds.
The only way to draw attention to good service, is when you try to address the problems by optimizing all your resources, specifically time.
If you want to service your civil engineering clients effectively, you need to be efficient. You have to look at every aspect of your project delivery system and make sure it is efficient, because the more efficient and the more optimized it is, the happier you will be and the happier your client will be.
Don’t assume, clearly communicate, no surprises, keep supervisors informed and document information.  You need to communicate with your civil engineering clients and make sure that you understand what your clients expectations are, because if you don’t, a lot of bad things can happen.
Be honest and always tell the truth.  You need to be honest with your clients no matter how good or bad the news is.  As a civil engineer, you may certainly have bad news for your clients at times, but it is their right to know the news.
Be the best at what you do and you'll never look for work. It will look for you.  Collect data points from your clients on how to become the best civil engineer in your field.
Separate project management from project finance.  The quality of your work as a civil engineer shouldn’t depend on the budget of the project.
Listen first. Understand the need. Only respond with a solution or proposal AFTER you understand the requirements.  Sometimes we get on our horse and we start to go before we have gathered all of the data as civil engineers, but this causes its own set of problems.
Follow company procedures - or if there are none, create them.  If you are not sure if your company has procedures, ask your technical managers. If you don’t like the ones they have, consider creating your own procedures.  This will help you stand out in your civil engineering company, but also help to improve customer service across your company.
Always forecast problems well in advance and inform related authorities and always take reference of Contract Agreements, as doing so will help you to gain confidence of clients.  Understand the contract you are working on. This is a super critical item in this episode as this can help to separate you in your field if you understand how to read contract agreements, unfortunately many civil engineers can't.

Sources/References:
You can see all of the civil engineers who contributed to this episode, here:

LinkedIn Tips for Servicing Your Civil Engineering Clients

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how to service your clients efficiently.

In episode 036 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Rick DeLaGuardia about entrepreneurship in civil engineering. We will focus on his newest book called Engineer to Entrepreneur: Success Strategies to Manage Your Career and Start Your Own Firm.
Here are some of the questions I ask Rick:

What made you decide to write the book?
Who is the book geared to primarily?
What is the one key point you were trying to make when you wrote the book?
You use a lot of anecdotes in your book, why?
In the book you ask the readers to consider working for a small niche firm, can you explain why?
You write about investing and finances a lot, why is it so important?
Based on the three parts of your book, what is the best advice you could provide to each group: student, young engineer and aspiring entrepreneur?
Who is publishing your book and how can we get a copy?

Quotes to think about:



Here are some key points on success strategies discussed in this episode:



The book is written in 3 parts that follows you throughout your engineering career. My hope is that this book can serve as a reference point and guide for young engineering students all through their career and also serve as a reference to look back to and to inspire and motivate you.
The book is geared towards students (high school or colleagues), graduates and young engineers and seasoned engineers that are ready to jump in and start their own company.
If you want to be an entrepreneur, it is beneficial to start as early as possible to gather:

The funds necessary,
The skills necessary,
The mindset necessary.


Being an entrepreneur is a lifelong decision that requires dedication and hard work.
Entrepreneurship forces you to do things that most people wouldn’t do, so that later in life you can do things that most people can't.
Even if you don’t aspire to start your own engineering company, the skill sets in this book are valuable as they will help you organize your business, network properly and build the soft skills and engineering managerial skills needed.
There are some great benefits in working for a large corporation, but in the beginning of your engineering career there are also a lot of benefits in working for a small engineering company. When working for a small firm, you will most likely work on more aspects of an engineering project than a larger firm would have you do.  It will also force you to work at a more rapid pace which could be good or bad.
One of the biggest hurdles of starting your own engineering company, is funding it. You will have to find creative ways to meet your financial obligations as a small business owner. Part of the mindset of an entrepreneur is not being a consumer, but using that money you earned and investing it in something that will make that money grow.
A good credit record cannot be underestimated. It is imperative that you utilize your credit wisely.
It is important for students to get practical experience while they are still in school, whether that be high school or college, before they graduate.
For young engineers, it is impeccable to follow the entrepreneurial mindset, learn to invest and learn how to really network. The right way to network and to meet new people is to really understand what an engineers’ career and projects entails and how you can help other engineers out.
 You can learn more about Rick and find out how to get his book at his LinkedIn Profile Profile.

More details in this episode…
About Rick De La Guardia:
Rick De La Guardia is President and Founder of DLG Engineering, Inc. (DLGE), a consulting firm specializing in the design and analysis of building envelope systems to help mit...

In episode 35 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Sam Lytle of Civil FX about the benefits of looking at civil engineering projects in 3D and how doing so can benefit you as a civil engineer.

In the interview we talked a lot about how a quality 3D rendering of a civil project can be a huge benefit to the designer, the client, and other stakeholders. A 3D rendering can make something complicated and intricate like a civil engineering project look beautiful to non-technical people and the public.
Here are some of the questions I ask Sam:

Other than the Nevada Department of Transportation, did you work for any other engineering firms or agencies?
What made you believe that starting a visualization company would be successful enough to support you and your family full time?
What do most of your clients look like?
Other than rendered images and animation videos, what does Civil FX offer?
What does a typical workday look like for you?
How do you work on new skill sets, like for instance sales?

Here are some quotes from Sam Lytle from this episode:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

3D Visualization is the core of my business. In most cases what we do is, we build the project virtually in a 3D representation of the project using actual CAD files. We take those files and we integrate them into existing terrain and we model the surrounding infrastructure, whether it be buildings, mountains, signs, billboards or whatever it might be, to try and make it look like it really would. Once we have that virtual representation of the project, we can do a lot of different things. Our goal is to create the project as accurate as possible and then use that to create visuals in a variety of formats to communicate it.
From a business aspect, you are always trying to solve problems, and the problem is that project managers need to explain projects to people that aren’t engineers.
We have two workflows that we use depending on what the client’s needs are. One of them is sketchup to Lumion. This is usually used for smaller projects where a client is only interested in the images or videos. The other workflow we use, which is more flexible is the AutoCAD Civil 3D to unity workflow. This is where we build the project in 3D and then we bring it into unity workflow.
When you start a new business, you end up doing a lot of small tasks yourself, but there is also endless possibilities to not be doing these small tasks yourself.
Getting qualified people to do smaller, unfamiliar tasks for you will take of a lot frustration from you and will also save you a lot of time.

More details in this episode…
About Sam Lytle, P.E...
Sam Lytle grew up in a small town in Nevada called Alamo. When he graduated high school he
attended UNLV in Las Vegas where he received a degree in civil engineering. After graduation he received a job offer with the Nevada Department of Transportation as a rotating engineer which took him through various divisions within the department and eventually took him and his family to Carson City, NV. After the two year rotating engineer program, Sam accepted a position in roadway design and it was during this time that he discovered his love for 3D visualization. He decided then that he would someday start his own 3D visualization company and it was about 3 years later (and shortly after he received his professional engineering license) that he started Civil FX full time. Sam now lives back in his home town of Alamo with his wife and 3.5 kids and with Civil FX and his small team of artists and engineers, he works with the engineering, construction and infrastructure industries to provide high quality graphics and renders using actual design data.

You can connect with Sam Lytle at his company website,

In episode 034 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview my co host, Christian Knutson on protecting the environment through security and we also talk about how civil engineers can make a difference to it.
Here are some of the questions I ask Chris:

What is environmental security?
What is included within this framework?
Can you share an example of an environmental security issue?
How have you been supporting environmental security and protection efforts recently as a civil engineer?

Quotes to think about:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:


Environmental security examines threats posed by environmental events and trends to individuals, communities or nations. It may focus on the impact of human conflict and international relations on the environment, or on how environmental problems cross state borders.
Environmental security is important to individuals as it plays such a big key role in building and sustaining social – economic, political and cultural foundation of nations and regions.
When a nation's social, economic, political and cultural interest becomes threatened or infringed upon, there can quickly become second or third order effects that can potentially lead into military conflicts.
As Civil Engineers we have a tremendous amount of impact on the way the world gets built.
The more knowledgeable you are, the more value you can provide to your clients.
There is a lot of critical infrastructure that is out there which also falls into the realm of environmental security.
Civil Engineers truly have the opportunity to influence a large influence in the world.
There are things that we could do that might not seem like a big deal when it comes to the environment, but they are!
Put yourself in a position to get opportunities in order to work in your desired field of work.
Civil Engineers operate within the natural environment or the built environment, and they also operate in the interface between them. It will truly make you a rounded professional civil engineer if you have an understanding around the basics of environmental protection and how what you do, can have a profound positive or negative effect on the environment that we all live in.
Pay attention to the people you work with and what is going on around you, because what your friends or colleagues are working on today, might one day be an area of interest for you or it might even be your next job.

More details in this episode…
About Christian Knutson

Christian Knutson, P.E., PMP is a practicing civil engineer and program manager, and an author and podcast host.  He is co-founder of Engineering Management Institute, a company providing engineers and engineering companies soft skills, leadership, and strategy development training and facilitation enabling them to execute their vision.  Chris is a retired field grade U.S. Air Force civil engineer officer with over two decades of active duty service leading engineering organizations and multi-million dollar programs around the globe.  And most recently, he’s branched into environmental security and protection work with the government and several nations in Europe.
Sources/References:
UN Environmental Proaction (UNEP)
Article by Sherri Goodman, Yale Insights,  15 Apr 12
EU Institue for Environmental Security
Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure | Envision Sustainability Professional Certification
TCEP 28: Becoming a Sustainability Professional to Further Your Civil Engineering Career
TCEP 31: How to Use LinkedIn® Effectively as a Civil Engineer
TCEP 033: Civil Engineering Interviews from the Society of American Military Engineers 2016 JETC

 This episode is brought to you by PPI,

Episode 33 of The Civil Engineering Podcast was recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, where I interviewed successful individuals at the Society of American Military Engineers (aka SAME) Joint Engineer Training Conference & Expo (JETC).
Here are some of the key points I discussed with ask Adam Hughes during JETC:

Adam is a Civil Engineer in the United States Public Health Service that focuses on ensuring that Indian reservations/communities have clean water. He has been practicing in this industry for 12 years now.
His team consist out of 14 engineers, drafters, construction inspectors and civil engineering technicians. At the moment they are working with two tribes in southern Arizona.
For someone that is interested in management, he recommends to first develop your technical capability and to then develop your verbal and written communication skills. It is also important to find your own management style and gain awareness of your own limitations and preconceptions.
We don’t all see a problem the same way and it is not that one way is right and the other way wrong, it is more of trying to understand each other so that we can effectively communicate and work with people.
It’s not just about being able to crunch the numbers, you’ve got the take the next step if you want to make change as a civil engineer.


Here are some of the key points I discussed with Kris Prasad at JETC:


Kris Prasad,PE is the President of Kenall Consulting Engineers in Houston.
They have a small firm that they started in 2002.
Kris was a cab driver not long ago, but because he already had management skills, he decided to get out and involved with Engineering.  What an inspiring story to hear.
Keep doing what you are doing and keep pushing forward is the main advice Kris offered.



Here are some of the key points I discussed with Carrie Ann Williams and Mindy Hinsley at JETC:

Carrie Ann’s is a principal at Andana Consulting, a firm that provides marketing, branding, strategy, public relations,and communications support on contract and project-by-project basis.
Mindy Hinsley divides her time between being a chief marketing officer for a woman owned Industrial Firm, Aria Environmental, Inc. and her own consulting business, Hinsley Collective, LLC, formed to help other firms that needs marketing assistance.
People have to do more, they have to embrace it and make smart decisions in understanding the market place.




To respond to proposals, you have to have some layers in place to help support all of that energy you put out in a proposal.



There is a need to create a culture in a firm, and business marketing is vital.
The approach in preparing a proposal should align with your business strategy so that you are not just throwing stuff out there because you can do the work.
Stop wasting effort on proposals that don’t matter and put more energy into the one’s that do matter.
Tell your story in a proposal about the projects you’ve worked on before and the successes you’ve had with them. That will enable the client to get a sense of who they will be working with and on how you will engage with them.


Leadership and ownership have to shift the culture a little bit.
Marketing and engineering can be extremely powerful when you put them together.

Here are some of the key points I discussed with Dan McNichol at JETC:

Dan McNichol is a number one best-selling author and an award-winning journalist. He has worked in the White House and on projects like the Big Dig. His published books, articles and thought-leadership work focuses on mega construction projects in the United States and around the world. McNichol’s 33 state,

In episode 32 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Alexi Lambert, who has leadership and management experience as a U.S. Naval Officer, about Marketing for Civil Engineering Firms. She was enlisted in the Navy as an E5 (2010) as a university student and commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy (2013) and promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (2015).
Here are some of the questions I ask Alexi:

What tools do engineers use for their primary research for their jobs?
What are the common mistakes that engineering firms make when marketing themselves online?
How can engineers create content for their blogs?
What metrics are marketers for engineering firms typically measured on?
What is the key to getting civil engineering firms ranked for top searches in Google?

Quotes to think about:



Here Are the Key Points Discussed About Marketing for Civil Engineering Firms:


Inbound Marketing and Marketing in general is all focused towards helping businesses grow.
The old ways of marketing are gone. Marketing is now in the buyer's hand and not in the seller's hand anymore.
The top three sources where engineers are finding their information for their jobs are:

Supplier websites
Search Engines
Trade Applications, print and online


The number one reason why online efforts end up failing is because there were not enough of an online marketing strategy. Not coming up with an effective marketing strategy and a way to execute and implement things as well as integrating everything is one of the ways that people and industries have failed in their online marketing strategies.
60% of engineering firms are not writing or posting blog articles.
Over 70 % of the websites are not optimized for mobile devices. If you’re website is not easily viewed on a mobile device, google will lower your ranking so that when someone searches for something, your website will most likely not come up because you are not giving users a good enough experience.
There are different tools to use like marketing automation software such as HubSpot that helps you find out what content people are searching for.
What engineering marketers have to do is to identify, create and publish the most valuable content that will drive traffic to their websites. This content has to be published consistently and has to be optimized for mobile users. Once that traffic comes to their websites, they need to have an effective process for converting that traffic into leads.
Interviewing your clients/customers and finding out what they want and building content around that is very good market research.
The 3 metrics that marketers for civil engineering firms are typically measured on is:

Lead generation
Traffic to your sites
Generating a sales pipeline


A few recommendations from Alexi on what marketing automation software civil engineering firms should be taking advantage of now more than ever:

HubSpot ties everything together from pre sales to sales, to marketing.
Bazooka for content and creation for topics.
Linkedin Sales Navigator is great for targeting the type of people you want to be talking to and reaching out to.



SEO has 3 components that it’s ranked on by google:

The volume and the quality of the content on an ongoing basis
Quality and volume of the links of other websites in social media linking to your website.
How your website is coded – Is your website mobile friendly?

More details in this episode…
About Alexi Lambert:
Alexi Managed $18.4 Million in civil engineering construction projects; up to 33 projects simultaneously.

In episode 031 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Richard Poulin, a resume writer and marketing professional with 12 years experience, as well as extensive skills in using LinkedIn for professional networking.
Quotes to think about:



Here are some tips on How to Build a Complete LinkedIn® Profile:


Make sure your profile is 100 % complete – include education, awards, etc., the more robust the higher your search ranking on both LinkedIn and Google.
Use a professional picture, preferably one that you use on other sites.
Use the specialties box to add keywords that will help with your LinkedIn® and Google search rankings.
Update your status regularly with articles, desires, quotes, etc.
Change your profile when your titles at work change.
Include your website and blog under “Websites”
Do not block incoming e-mails from LinkedIn®.
Put your title with your last name.

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Connect with people you know including clients, co-workers, colleagues, college friends, etc. You can use LinkedIn® professional networking services web mail importer to find your contacts who are already on LinkedIn®.
Recommendations are one of the most compelling things you can have on your website. When you ask for recommendations it is perfectly fine to ask questions and to give some points to refresh their memory. Make it as simple as possible for someone to give you a recommendation.
If you have a broad spectrum of skills, rather try and stick to a specific set of skills. Once you’ve added your skills, people can endorse you.
It is very important to click on endorsements as it has a very positive impact on people viewing your profile and LinkedIn® professional networking services uses that as part of their search algorithm which can help you rank high in their search results.
If you want to build out your profile to be found, you need to understand that the search results depend on your network and geographic location.
Decide if you want to be a passive or an active LinkedIn® professional networking services user.
Determine your target market. You will not build successful relationships on LinkedIn® unless you define your target market.
Join Groups focused in your target market. Joining groups are a great way to meet and connect with new people.
Participate in discussions in your groups and answer questions in categories that are focused in your target market.
Through the discussions and groups, connect with people in your target market or in the civil engineering industry.
Start building professional relationships with these strategic connections that will have an impact on your civil engineering career, whether they become clients, partners, etc.


To get to an All Star status on LinkedIn® professional networking services you will need to add:


A profile photo.
2 or more positions.
Your Skills.
A Summary section.
Fill out your industry location and where you went to school.
Have 50 or more connections.

More details in this episode…
About Richard Poulin:
Richard Poulin is a resume writer and marketing professional with 12 years of experience. He spent most of his career with PwC, the largest consulting firm in the world. His role there was to help accountants and business consultants stand out in the marketplace. That's where he learned everything about resumes.

Today, he's working on a business of his own, Resume Hacking. He writes e-books to offer tailored resumes advice, by profession. He has a Bachelor's degree in communication, master's degree in political science.

In episode 030 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Dan McNichol, a number one best-selling author and an award-winning journalist who recently created and completed a year long national media tour in a 1949 Hudson that advocated for the rebuilding of the nation’s vital civic systems with the tag: “America’s infrastructure is as old, rusty and energy defunct as this original Detroit lead-sled.”  The conversation previews Dan's upcoming keynote speech at the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) 2016 Joint Training Conference & Expo which will be this May in Arizona.
Quotes to think about:



Here are some highlights from our conversation:

It is important to do something, take ownership and take action to make others aware of the infrastructure situation.
Infrastructure is local, everyone owns it.
Engineers should go beyond just sitting around. They have to go out and get and start a movement and communicate with the citizens, as the public wants to know what is happening with the infrastructure of the world and they want to give their input on what would be helpful for them.
Engineers are the most responsible party to get the message out about how our systems are failing and how we need to rebuild.
Almost every opportunity that is offered to an engineer should be taken. We sometimes sit on our successes and we don’t expound upon them.
When you take the initiative to take action, you have to have faith that at some point it will work out.
Engineering is writing and we don’t make that connection enough. If you can’t communicate what you are doing, you probably won’t succeed.

More details in this episode…
About Dan McNichol
Dan McNichol is a number one best-selling author and an award-winning journalist. His published books, articles and thought-leadership work focuses on mega construction projects in the United States and around the world.McNichol’s 33 state, 12,000 mile circumnavigation of the United States culminated in a successful statewide ballot initiative that now provides nearly 2 billion dollars of new funding for Texas’s transportation projects as part of the Lone Star State’s annual budget. Texan voters approved the measure by over 80%. McNichol worked on the landslide with funding and support from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Texas Good Road’s Association.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) named McNichol as one of nation’s outstanding journalists in 2014 and previously in 2003. He is the recipient of the Robert F. Boger Award for outstanding construction writing for his chronicling of the catastrophic I-35W bridge collapse. His writing and work have appeared in many publications including: The New York Times, USA Today, and Engineering News Record (ENR). He was honored with a PhD in Engineering and Technology for his publications and his contributions to the engineering and construction industries.

A former White House Appointee, he served the President of the United States on transportation and Infrastructure policies. Immediately following his service to The White House McNichol was a chief spokesperson for one of the nation’s largest civil projects known as The Big Dig.McNichol is a frequent contributor to worldwide media outlets including: ABC World News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) network, China Central Television (CCTV), TV Tokyo, MSNBC and PBS’s The NewsHour, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, History Channel and a frequent voice on National Public Radio (NPR).

This Spring the National Geographic Channel is scheduled to feature McNichol’s year long exploration of the nation’s infrastructure in a special film titled: Driving America.
Sources/References:
Dan McNichol’s Website

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling.  In episode 029 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, my co-host Christian Knutson, PE interviews Ronan Collins who is an experienced Building Information Modeling Project Manager specializing in the production of detailed and accurate BIM models for the purpose of design and construction coordination.
Here are some of the questions Chris asks Ronan about BIM (Building Information Modeling):

What are the key benefits BIM brings to a project?
Is it a design software?  An integrated project management software?
What are the benefits a civil engineer - and the end stakeholder - receives from employing BIM?
Where do you see BIM taking the civil engineering profession in 10 years?
What are the investment costs associated with starting BIM capability in a firm?  Is this scalable, or a one-time cost?  What is the typical time frame for ROI?
What are three things I, as a company owner, want to be aware of when selecting the BIM software my firm will use?  Is there an industry standard?
Is there a “best practice” for the type of facility to apply Building Information Modeling to?


Quotes to think about:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode about BIM (Building Information Modeling):

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is how detailed 3D Digital models that get built.
BIM covers more than just geometry. It also covers spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic information, and quantities and properties of building components.
BIM is not only a construction tool, it’s a planning tool, designing tool and a life cycle management tool.
The more engineers that use and become competent in Building Information Modeling, the better.
Explorations are underway to pair computer network users' personal, private and public authentication choices, geographic mapping systems and evolving cloud computing security architecture models, together, to offer customers of geospatial securitization services intuitive new ways to organize their personal, private and public applications and storage
Ask yourself these questions before you start implementing Building Information Modeling:

How do you train all the different levels of your organization to be able to engage in the BIM process?
What is your company Standard and Strategy for developing BIM?
How can I build up my technical skills?




The key advice for outsourcing is you have to be on top of everything and maintain very good communication between you and the outsourcing team. You have to do it in a controlled way and treat the people that are doing this for you with respect.
To get started in BIM, we highly recommend that engineers start to learn to use the freely available model viewers. Here are some recommended tools:

http://www.solibri.com/products/solibri-model-viewer/

http://www.autodesk.com/products/navisworks/autodesk-navisworks-freedom

https://www.teklabimsight.com

https://www.bentley.com/en/products/product-line/modeling-and-visualization-software/bentley-view

http://www.graphisoft.com/bimx/
About Ronan Collins:

Ronan manages a team of experienced construction professionals, engineers, 3D CAD modelling and virtual construction specialists. He is responsible for planning and implementing the BIM projects in direct collaboration with the client, consultants and contractors.

As a Structural Engineer, he completed the design and supervision of several commercial, infrastructure and educational projects. His experience includes civil, structural and geotechnical engineering design. As a resident engineer, responsible for the quality supervision of project...

In episode 028 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Christion Knutson, PE interviews Denise Nelson,PE - Vice President for Public Education at the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and she discusses what the Envision Sustainability Professional certification is and how it compares and supplements the LEED certification.
Here are some of the questions Knutson asks Nelson:

What is the Envision rating system and the Envision Sustainability Professional certification?
Why should civil engineers care about it?
What is the triple bottom line concept?
How does Envision help gauge performance of sustainable infrastructure?
What’s the difference between Envision and LEED and what does each one of them bring to the table?
What can Envision offer you as a Stakeholder?
Is Envision more than just engineering?
How did Envision come into existence?
And many more...

Quotes to think about:



Here are some of the key points from this episode:

The Envision rating system and the Envision Sustainability Professional certification provide guidance for sustainable infrastructure.
Envision encourages people to look at the triple bottom line which goes beyond the cost of the infrastructure in order to look at the impacts of society and the environment.
The triple bottom line concept came out decades ago and the idea behind it is to look at different types of indicators.
Envision can help you compare the object you would work on to the decision of what to use with that.
Envision helps you document the decisions you are making during the design and construction phases so that in the future you can ask yourself, "Is this infrastructure performing the way it was intended to perform?"
LEED is specifically geared towards buildings that are inhabited by people.
Envision is more genuine and more flexible and can be used for many different types of infrastructure. Envision has a lot of the same concepts of LEED, but the way it is written, the questions asked and the way it is applied to projects is more general and more flexible for infrastructure projects.
The main benefits of envision are accountability and best practices.
Infrastructure owners get documentation and references that show that best practices were used and that conscious decisions were made to ensure that all the opportunities that could be addressed in the schedule or the budget were included. They can share this information with the city planner, the mayor, the governor, the citizens or even the tax payers to demonstrate good governance.
Envision provides you with a checklist to help you make an assessment of elements that has been addressed in a project.
Envision was originally designed by engineers, but it has gone far beyond the reach of engineers as Envision is now working with planners, architects governors, and policy makers, regulatory bodies and financial institutions.
Envision is attempting to go beyond just evaluating one's project and getting a score, to using the guidance in Envision to plan entire communities.
Envision rating system helps to take infrastructure and put it into a multi-discipline, multi-perspective realm.
Envision Membership is a membership with ISI which is designed for organizations.
Individuals don’t need to be part of a membership in order to earn the credentials or use the tools.
You can use all of this information without training, but if you do, make sure you are using it properly and you have that credential to put on your business card, you can go to the training option on our website.

About Denise Nelson
Denise is the Vice President for Public Education at the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

In episode 027 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Jim Rogers, author of Win More Work: How to Write Winning AEC Proposals. We define what a seller-doer is and also talk about the five stages on how to become a seller-doer as a civil engineer.



 
Here are the key points from this episode:
We define Seller-Doers as professionals who are highly capable of delivering client work and are now ready to take on a more active role in growing a business.

The 5 Stages of Seller-Doer Activities (R-LOCK):

Stage 1: RECOGNITION - Build authority and recognition (authority + familiarity)

Write articles for publication/blogs
Write white papers
Speak at conferences

Stage 2: LEADS - Identify and nurture leads

Create a personal marketing plan
Build network at events
Stay in touch with leads and prospects
Think about how to bring value to people
Use a lead management system (e.g. Deltek Vision, Excel)
Make cold calls, set appointments

Stage 3: OPPORTUNITIES - Develop Opportunities

Uncover opportunities with existing clients and teaming partners
Discover new opportunities with new clients and teaming partners
Ask questions about the people that are going to be involved and not just technical solutions (e.g. "What would keep you from hiring us?")
Test your strengths and liabilities
Make  go/no-go decisions
Deepen business relationships with people
Position yourself for the win in advance of the RFP

Stage 4: CLOSE - Close the Sale

Close on opportunities with no formal competetion (i.e., no RFP)
Contribute to and write winning proposals: Essential components -
1) Tell a good story 2) Emphasis is on the client and not about yourself
Prepare for and deliver winning interview presentations
Debrief proposals after the award (won or lost)

Stage 5: KEEP - Serve and Keep Clients

Ask for feedback
Ask for testimonials and referrals
Be responsive
Provide a superior client experience (i.e., deliver more than great deliverables)
Become a trusted advisor rather than an order taker

More details in this episode…
About Jim Rogers
Jim is a nationally recognized proposal guru and author who helps professional services clients win more work. He is a consultant, speaker, author, and sales presentation coach. Architects and engineers hire him to help build their authority and to help them prepare proposals and presentations that seal the deal. He equally enjoys working with multi-national Goliaths and the Davids who, with his help, routinely outwit them.

Today, he is a master distiller of ideas, that is, he helps his clients distill their ideas to the time and space allotted by their prospective clients. He is founder of Unbridled Revenue, Inc., which helps A/E/C firms win more work and also a co-founder of The Seller-Doer Academy for Civil Engineers.
Sources/References:
Seller-Doer Academy for Civil Engineers
Unbridled Revenue
TCEP 014: Write Winning A/E/C Proposals with Jim Rogers

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Engineer Your Own Success: 7 Key Elements to Creating an Extraordinary Engineering Career


Win More Work: How to Write Winning AEC Proposals


Please leave your comments, feedback or questions in the section below on how you have developed your skills as a seller-doer.

In episode 026 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris Knutson, PE interviews a successful attorney and mediator, Ken Strongman on the basics of mediation and dives in on a couple of items associated with preparation for mediation and what to expect during the mediation process as an engineer.
Here are some of the questions asked in this episode:

What is mediation
How many parties can participate in mediation
What does the environment look like in a mediation
Who chooses the mediator
What are the qualities of a good mediator

Quotes to think about:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode about How to Resolve Conflict In Civil Engineering Projects Through Mediation:

Mediation is the process of resolving conflicts.
Almost all professional service contracts have clauses for mediation



Mediation – you come together to craft the solution to the problem with the help of a mediator (may take 1-3 months)

Litigation – you go to the court and have a judge or jury solve your case (based on the court’s time schedule usually takes 5-6 years to come to resolution)

Arbitration – it’s a private judging with arbitrators making the final decision and there’s no appeal (you have control over the time schedule)

Four major steps for engineers in the preparation of mediation:

Prepare yourself, your expectations, your realities, your intent, know what you want to communicate, know what your goals needs and interests are in a solution

Do a risk benefit analysis of where you’re at in the process
Understand where the best and worst alternatives to negotiate a settlement would be
Develop some settlement scenarios: what can you live with, think outside the box
Recognize that the other side has interests, goals and needs as well


Prepare your attorney, define your issues with them, prepare a decision tree, find out how the attorney wants to represent and showcase you
Prepare the opposition – their attorney, their adjusters, their decision makers

Provide the decision makers all the information of what is really going on, and send copies of the mediation brief to other parties


Prepare the mediator – educate the mediator

Consider site visits and other pre-session preparations



Qualities of a good mediator:

Able to build trust and confide in quickly
Excellent interpersonal skills
Patience and sense of humor
Creativity in solving problems
Able to think outside of the box
Willing to do everything that he/she can to assist a settlement

Almost all disputes are initially communication issues, but mediation can help get the communication going again and help to keep your project back on track.
About Ken Strongman:

Ken Strongman is an attorney with over 14 years of experience and a growing national reputation as an attorney, mediator, and mediation trainer, who has successfully conducted more than a thousand mediations.

His major practice areas include business, securities, construction defects, real estate, insurance, technology/IT, intellectual property, employment, environment, energy, and trusts & estates. He is also a Judge Pro Tem.  His degrees in Urban & Regional Planning (U.C. Davis) and Business Administration & Information Systems (Golden Gate Univ.) provide a solid basis for accelerated resolution of legal issues in these subject matter areas.  He is also serves as a Mediator and Arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Learn more about Ken Strongman
Sources/References:

In episode 025 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview the resume expert Richard Poulin, who has studied over hundreds of civil engineering resumes, and wrote the book Civil Engineer Resume Hacking. This episode is packed with insider tips on how you can make your civil engineering resume stand out and be successful in your interview.
Here are some of the questions I ask Richard:

Big picture of addressing the civil engineering job search
How to make a civil engineering resume stand out
How long does recruiters spend on a resume
How can I optimize my civil engineering resume to deal with automated screening
Is a cover letter necessary
How can I use LinkedIn while employed to network and build personal brand
Tips for successful job interviews


Quotes to think about:



Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

A properly planned civil engineering job hunt can help you shave two to four weeks off of the job hunt.
Have clear career goals before jumping in the job search process.
Understand how the job search process goes. Richard explains this in more detail.
Tailored resume is usually required to be one of the top 5.
3 laws of resume writing: Accomplishments! Accomplishments! Accomplishments!
Include numbers in your resume (i.e. managed X amount of teams, provided X cost savings for the company, etc.).
Elements an employer is looking for in your resume:

Leadership
Taking initiative
Solving problems
Optimizing processes
Financial value


Applicant tracking system (ATS) is mostly used to screen and do resume parsing. Richard also gives some rules used by ATS.
Write a short resume summary (5-6 bullets – put your credentials, demonstrate the breadth of your experience, and give a few key accomplishments).
Cover letters is a great place to explain things. Choose the right accomplishments for the job description you are applying for and replace them as necessary.
For recent civil engineering graduates, resume should only be about 1 page; open with a branding statement, then highlight your education and other relevant course works that can hit keywords in job description.
Send a thank you email to your recruiter and to the people that you’ve met during your job search process.
Informational interviews (let’s grab a coffee) are a great way to build your network, get information, and to meet people.
6 out of 10 recruiters say LinkedIn is a critical component of their recruiting process.
Big 3 of the first impression: (1) picture, (2) headline, (3) your summary within your profile with strong credentials
Leverage LinkedIn and (1) find the bridge person – someone that can introduce you to a decision maker (2) message a lot of people through LinkedIn groups. Richard describes this process in detail.
Job boards are an effective way of getting interviews but it is better to apply for jobs in the career sites of the companies than on job boards.
Success in job interviews:

Power posing before going to the interview, use one of the power poses described by Amy Cuddy in her TED Talk.
Learn how much you might get paid through Glassdoor where users review their past jobs and input their salary.



About Richard Poulin:

Richard Poulin is a resume writer and marketing professional with 12 years of experience. He spent most of his career with PwC, the largest consulting firm in the world. His role there was to help accountants and business consultants stand out in the marketplace. That's where he learned everything about resumes. Today, he's working on a business of his own, Resume Hacking.

In episode 024 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Kristi Mirambell who shares her story on starting a civil engineering company during a rough time in her life. I also interview, at the same time, Ryan Hanemann, the co-founder of Audubon Companies on how his company supported Kristi in her decision to start a company.
Here are some of the questions I ask Kristi and Ryan:

How Kristi decided to start her own company
How Kristi created a business plan
What Ryan was looking for in the business plan to support Kristi
What Kristi does to promote the culture she experienced in Audubon
How Ryan evaluates people to hire for their company
What are the challenges of being a business owner

Engineering success quote:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Invest in people and quality work
Find mentors
Consider the decisions that will affect you personally like your commute time
Turn negative situations in your life into a positive ones
Promote a culture of ownership and value for employees (make your employees feel that they matter)
Skills employers look for: achievers, highly motivated busy people who have personality and are enjoyable to be around
Focus on one thing (i.e. the area in the business that you want to grow)
Recognize/build the team and learn how people work with each other
Foster mentorship in the company

About Kristi Mirambell:

Kristi Hoke Mirambell, P.E. established K-Belle in 2008. Her goal was to give industrial and commercial clients in the Gulf South a reliable, customer service-oriented provider of engineering, construction and management services. No stranger to these services, Kristi has had hands-on experience on a variety of projects: she helped design and manage inspections for more than 100 offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico; she designed major structures for chemical plants; she worked on construction projects involving design-build, renovations, tenant build out, and new construction; and as a key subcontractor for the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), she recruits and trains new project engineers for some of the most important levee and flood-protection projects in U.S. history. A New Orleans area native and licensed engineer, Kristi earned a Bachelors & Masters of Science, Civil Engineering from the University of New Orleans.
About Ryan Hanemann:

Ryan Hanemann is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Audubon Companies and President of Audubon Engineering Solutions. Ryan co-founded Audubon Companies with Bob Rosamond and Denis Taylor in 1997 and has been instrumental in leading the company's growth to over 1,000 employees. As President of Audubon Engineering Solutions, Ryan manages all functional areas of the company and is responsible for leading ongoing business strategy and identifying opportunities for long-term growth. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University.

This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.
Sources/References:
K-Belle Consultants LLC
Kristi Mirambell’s LinkedIn profile
Audubon Companies
Ryan Hanemann’s LinkedIn profile
Engineering Career Summit
Books mentioned in this episode:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People


Please leave your comments or questions in the section below.

In episode 023 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, civil engineer and author Stu Walesh walks us through 5 points that every civil engineer should consider in setting clear, powerful goals and also provides us with some indications to help us see that we need goals or need to rejuvenate our current goals. Learn valuable goal setting tips for civil engineers.
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Goal Setting for Civil Engineers - A Whole Brained Approach:
Indications that we need goals or rejuvenated goals:

If you are over five years into your civil engineering career, and you feel like you only have one year with five significant experiences versus having five years of significant experiences
You never tried anything new, which is the reason you get passed over at work
You are bored and/or lethargic

Five points to setting clear, powerful goals:

Point #1 – Your Mindset: Push yourself out of the victim mentality and have a mindset of “I can create my own future.”

Point #2 – The Structure of a Goal: Use the SMART acronym in structuring a goal, but make sure you don’t burn out or set too many goals or too many expectations.

Point #3 – Your Plan for Achieving Your Goal(s): Walesh shared how to use mind mapping to excite the interaction between conscious and subconscious mind.

Point #4 – Visualizing Your Plan: Use a flow diagram or flowchart for the steps you want to walk through.

Point #5 Overcoming Obstacles on the Path:

Common obstacles:

Biting off too much too quick – you need to break that goal into small parts and take them on one at a time.
Hanging out with the wrong people – you need to be careful with who you spend your time with or who you associate with because people that surround you have a tremendous impact on you especially early in your career.



Analysis/Paralysis – there’s a point when you have to stop setting your goals and planning how you are going to achieve them; instead start the process of achieving them.

Other points Stu shared about goal setting:

Have a balance between success and significance; decide where your values are because that will determine where your goals will be.
Goals should be selectively shared with people that will help you to achieve them.
Everybody benefits when someone in an organization sets personal goals and achieves them.
Stu also shared how he uses a spreadsheet with goals, projects and action steps that he looks at everyday to measure his success in achieving his goals.
Learn the four C’s – Competence, Communication, Creativity, Conscience

About Stu Walesh:

Stuart G. Walesh, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, D.WRE writes, teaches, and provides advice about leadership, management, engineering, and education/training. Prior to beginning his independent venture 15 years ago, he worked in the public, private, and academic sectors serving as a project engineer and manager, department head, discipline manager, marketer, litigation investigator, professor, and engineering dean. Stu’s technical specialty is water resources engineering.
Sources/References:
engineeringmanagementinstitute.org/support
Stu Walesh Website
Books mentioned in this episode:



Introduction for Creativity and Innovation for Engineers

Engineering Your Future


Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge

As a Man Thinketh


Think and Grow Rich





This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.

In episode 022 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Todd Hay, who has 23 years as a civil engineer working on multidisciplinary firms, talks about cross marketing, communicating effectively, working on proposals for multidisciplinary projects, and more.
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Working Effectively on Multidisciplinary Projects as a Civil Engineer:

Communication: understand how other disciplines works and when you need to get help. Understanding the key roles of other disciplines is critical to an engineer as he/she grows in his/her profession; get a better handle on what each discipline does.
Proposal: A proposal is a blueprint of what’s need to be done on a project. Understand what the process is and the timeline, and identify what needs to be done. Todd provides a detailed example of a site plan/land development project dealing with surveyors, geotechnical engineers, site engineers, etc.
Point of Contact: Know who you need to talk to in a particular discipline/department. Know the organizational structure especially the person managing the work. Communicate with the lead and make sure that you’re both adhering to the timeline and scope plan so that the workflow remains constant, and you can meet the client’s schedule.
Cross marketing: Market other departments services and let them know about it. This is good for business and promotes good relationships between departments. Take ownership and complement other disciplines that do the work with you. Remember, when working in a company, you represent all the work that the firm does, not just your own.
Leverage multidisciplinary advantage by engaging teaming partners. Establish good personal relationships with people early so you can depend on them when you have a project.

About Todd Hay:

Todd Hay of Pennoni Associates, has been working with multi-disciplined engineering projects during his nearly 23-year career as civil engineer, project manager and principal. His work has included local/county transportation, utilities, traffic and recreation projects; K-12; college/universities; rooftop/ground mount solar projects, all within NJ; and a variety of private/public design and design-build projects within NJ, NY, CT, VT, NH, and NM.
Sources/References:
Todd Hay, PE LinkedIn Profile
Books mentioned in this episode:
Civil Engineering Reference Manual by Michael Lindenberg


This episode is brought to you by PPI, the leader of civil engineering FE or PE exam preparations. Use promo code CIVIL for 20% discount at PPI2Pass.com/coach.

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you deal with multidisciplinary projects.

In episode 021 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Jon Weinstein, President of Line-of-Sight Consulting, talks about leading change management, what it is and why it is important to understand it in the context of an engineer involved in projects as well as management and leadership of people.
Here are some key points discussed in this episode:
What is change management – Those things that managers or people do to help individuals and overall organization to get to the end result that’s desired by the projects they perform.

As you look at making decisions to change the work environment for your employees or the process, spend some time having really good communication with them pulling apart the second and third order effects before implementing.

Things a civil engineer needs to know about change management:

Engage the client and be aware of the impact of the change on them.
The team needs to know that they are the ones leading the change within the organization or for the clients and must have basic skills and understanding to listen for concerns and how they may be addressed.
On career perspective, have greater appreciation for the people impacted the greatest from the change effort and for the people you will be managing.

Basics to know about organizational change:
Project managers:

Make sure that you understand it takes effort
Know what specific activities are needed to facilitate the change that is going to occur

Senior/executive level:

Create a sense of urgency
Model the behavior (process, attitude, use of new tools) that they are trying to achieve through the change effort
Make space for change


Sharing information with employees about change:
Have open and honest communication, and share the brutal facts whether positive or negative, and engage folks to participate in the conversation.
About Jon Weinstein:

Jon is a Project Management Professional and President of Line of Sight, a firm delivering organizational change, strategic planning, project management, and business process improvement services. He has 20+ years of experience in these areas, working with clients of varying sizes – from start-ups to Fortune 500 firms - and in a wide variety of sectors – including government, IT, insurance, healthcare, and transportation. Jon has authored articles and two books: “Achieving Project Management Success in the Federal Government” (Management Concepts: 2010) and the forthcoming “The Government Manager’s Guide to Project Management” (Management Concepts: 2013 expected).
Sources/References:
http://engineeringmanagementinstitute.org/reading-list/
Jon Weinstein’s website
Association of Change Management Professionals
Project Management Institute
More of a "how to" site by PMI
TECC 78: Leadership is Half the Story: How Followership is Critical to A Successful Engineering Career 
Books mentioned in this episode:



Good to Great

A Sense of Urgency

Leading Change

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard



Project Management Success in the Federal Government

The Government Manager's Guide to Project Management




Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you approach organizational change in your civil engineering career.

In episode 020 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Amanda Payne, a business development and marketing expert in the engineering/architectural design services industry, shares some insights on seller-doers’ leadership expectations, tips on how to further develop your seller skills, and the importance of professional organizations to leadership development, networking, and ultimately business development.
Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Research the professional organizations before you join to ensure the best fit for you and what your engineering company is trying to market to (potential clients, partnering roles, etc.)
Who is a seller–doer? – A technical person with a broad skill set communication or networking who also handles business development
Importance of communication and time management in fulfilling expectations as a seller-doer
Unrealistic expectations of a seller–doer: networking capabilities of technical people and the skills needed to be a seller
Skills that someone who is a seller-doer or who wants to be a seller-doer needs to have:

You have to be great at communication
You have to look personable
You have to be great at doing research
You have to have a great memory remembering names and past conversations (using LinkedIn, keeping notes and following up on people)


Seller–doers still have billable goals to fulfill.
Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) is very diverse organization where you can further your knowledge and skills in A/E/C industry
Mentoring plays an important role in helping you to become a successful seller-doer
There is a lot of value in networking and building relationships


About Amanda Payne:

Amanda Payne is responsible for both business development and marketing for Farnsworth Group, a national full service engineering | architectural firm employing more than 450 professionals, and is currently the only business development and marketing professional in Farnsworth Group’s St. Louis office. Amanda handles all marketing proposal development for St. Louis and Southern Illinois, as well as resume management, advertising, presentations, social media, and establishing and maintaining relationships with clients in the local industry.
Sources/References:

Certified Professional Services Marketer Program
Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)
Society of American Military Engineers
Farnsworth Group
Harvard Business Review
SMPS Marketer
Local Business Journal
TECC 80: How To Work a Room And In Your Engineering Project Team

Books mentioned in this episode:
Marketing Handbook for The Design and Construction Professional 3rd edition

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you can be successful in business development as a seller-doer.

In episode 019 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Mickey Addison, a career military officer, author, civil engineer and senior leader, teaches us what it takes to lead in a senior level position, how to handle organizational changes, and the role of mentoring and coaching in civil engineering leaders.
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed About Riding the Wave of Change as a Civil Engineer Leader:

On time management:

Block time off to allow yourself to get off the desk
Be present to the people around you
Take personnel actions (things that affect one’s career)


The more energy that you put in to being present to the people that you lead and work with, the higher performing team it becomes.
When the leaders are engaged, the people are engaged.





The most successful leaders make it a priority to become more focused on the people they work with.
Regardless of where you work, leadership presence is the kind of thing people appreciate and respond to.
Put people in the right position to get the job done.
Give employees a sense of mission and not just that they are there to have a paycheck; encourage innovation.
Engagement allows people to be fulfilled in their career.
Low cost ways to develop your employees:

Leadership programs within your organization
Professional societies
Partner with local colleges
Give an hour off to attend college classes
Brownbag seminars


Demonstrate that you care for the people, and they are going to respond and develop enthusiasm for the company.
Being present to the people around you is important.
A firm that is perceived to be engaged not only internally but also in their community gets more business and becomes more successful.
Comparison of surfing with navigating and implementing organizational change
There is a difference between mentoring and coaching
Senior or mid level leadership should have mentors or coaches who act as a sounding board external to organization to ask for advice, it is the key to success.

And many more…
Mickey Addison is a successful civil engineer, a career military officer, a blogger and author, and is a frequent contributor to military newspapers and journals, including Air Force Print News, Armed Forces Journal, and The Military Engineer. Mickey is a contributing author at GeneralLeadership.com, and founded his own hobby publishing company: Lead the Way Media. Read more about Mickey Addison at www.mickeyaddison.com
Sources/References:
Mickey Addison's website
7 Tips for Professional Engineering Organization Leadership
5 Simple Ways to Develop Your Employees--And Why You Should
TECC 017: 3 Major Benefits of Professional Associations and How to Realize Them, with SHPE National President Barry Cordero
Books mentioned in this episode:




The 5 Be's For Starting Out

Leading Leaders


Patio Wisdom


The Silo Effect


Defense of Hill 781





Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you can get the people you work with more engaged.

In episode 018 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris Knutson interviews Carl Pritchard, who is considered the "fun guy" of risk management and an author of two books on the subject. Pritchard also lectures around the world on the topic. He teaches project and risk management, consults on risk management practice and works to ensure that organizations embrace the possibilities of risk management, rather than fear it.
Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Look at risk management from a positive point of view.
Find out what nasty things that may happen and know how to avoid them or leverage them to our advantage when it happens.
Risk management is being proactive, and being prepared for almost anything that happens.
Have all the fail safe measures in place or know what they are before even starting a project.
Know what the worst case “realistic” scenario is.
Establish clear requirements early on during the concept phase of a project.
Risk assessment can be done once every couple of months: review and have new risks cropped up, old risks get ready for retirement.
If there are risks that keep coming back, and you’re doing the same thing over and over again, you need to change your approach to those risks entirely.
When opportunities present themselves, don’t look at it as ‘that’s not me’. Instead, seize it and remember the words “That’s all we do.”

Tools for risk assessment:

Stop trying to do it by yourself. We are not the ones who have to come up with the risks; ask the people in the field who are directly involved looking at the site. Don't turn risk into free flowing anxiety.
Get people to give you the data and go through it. Ask your team members to each come up with their own list of risks according to a format that includes: (1) Bad things that may happen. (2) Impact that these may cause. Compile all these lists and evaluate them according to the past experience, recent experience, and consistent criteria or matrix.

On contingency funds:

Contingency funding needs to be project specific.
Most companies do not have risk models.
Once you set up a model consistent in your organization, allot a percentage of contingency based on how you score on the model.

Tweetables 

“If you are not having fun in your job, there’s no point of doing it.” – Carl Pritchard on Ep 018 of #TCEPodcast
Risks don’t come back from the dead; they were never dead to begin with. – More on #TCEPodcast Ep 018.
Whatever can go wrong on CE projects, may go wrong. - Stay tuned for #TCEPodcast Ep 018.

Sources/References:
Carl Pritchard’s website
Risk Management Concepts and Guidance
The Risk Management Memory Jogger
Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk
The Darwin Awards Countdown to Extinction
The Black Swan: Second Edition: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you handle risk assessment in your civil engineering projects.

In this special episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview some of the most successful civil engineers in the world during the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2015 Annual Conference in New York City.

Below is the list of interviews with timestamps and bullet points, click on the timestamps below to view a summary of the interview:

[3:27] Jon Magnusson, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, Dist.M.ASCE - CEO for 25 years
[7:27] West Point Cadets
[10:43] Mackenzie, graduate student from Arizona State
[13:53] Michael Goodkind, Ph.D., P.E., S.E., F.ASCE - 40 years of experience
[17:38] Kurt from Bentley Systems
[20:38] Albert Pozotrigo, P.E. - President of ASCE-MET Section
[31:47] Stefanie Reichman from City College of New York – ASCE-NY Chapter
[35:22] Dr. Bob Stevens, P.E., F.ASCE - Current (at time of interview) ASCE President
[36:08] Jonathan Richards, West Point Student
[39:02] Jose Acosta, P.E. - Vice President of Chen Moore and Associates
[48:04] Tony Begin, President of Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE)
[52:47] Tom Smith, ENV.SP., CAE, F.ASCE - Executive Director for ASCE
[54:16] Norma Jean Mattei, Ph.D., PE, F.SEI, M.COPRI, M.ASCE - Newly Installed President-Elect of ASCE
[1:00:57] Mark Woodson, P.E., L.S., D,WRE, F.ASCE - Newly Installed President of ASCE

[3:27] Jon Magnusson, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, Dist.M.ASCE - CEO for 25 years

Magnusson started out in structural engineering, he has worked on big projects like stadiums. He didn’t set out to be a manager; he started doing computer analysis but found management and client interaction were rewarding. He became a CEO, 25 years ago, at age 34. His advice:

The number one thing to do to improve your skills is to find good mentors, watch what people are doing and pick out best thing that they do.
Don’t sit down and plot out “what do I need to do to advance” but instead ask yourself “what can I do to make my firm better.” Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on your organization and you will be rewarded.
Have a broad interest in your career because you’ll have to learn about leases, law, accounting, etc.

[7:27] West Point Cadets

Here’s a summary of the interview with three students from West Point (please see photo on top of the page):

Emilia – joined Civil Engineering department
Robinson – West Point has a lot of extracurricular or other classes
Erin – thinking of different infrastructure types of work after graduating
All cadets agreed that the physical training aspect has really helped their education; it helps improve critical thinking, prepare and give them more energy for their days.

[10:43] Mackenzie, Environmental Engineering Graduate Student from Arizona State

Mackenzie is studying environmental engineering focusing on water/wastewater resources. Here’s her story:

Going to conferences provides huge networking opportunities; she got her summer job from a connection she made at the ASCE Conference in Panama.
She explained her decision process for getting an MS in Engineering.
One key takeaway from graduate work that will help her long term: learn from professors in industry, pass your FE/PE, implement what you have learned and push technology further.

[13:53] Michael Goodkind, Ph.D., P.E., S.E., F.ASCE - 40 years of experience

Goodkind started out as a structural engineer and then went into management. He was a president of a company for 19 years. Here’s his advice:

Learn how to be a technical engineer before you worry about project management. Technical problems outside of school are complex.
Always focus on and attempt to solve the current problem.

In episode 16 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Mauricio Lara, PMP, MBA, PE, a Lead Engineer with over 15 years of experience as a leader and key contributor, including an extensive private and public sector background. He has been a key player in capital improvement plans and programs, large infrastructure projects, and program control systems, for water-wastewater, and civil infrastructure projects.
Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Qualities of a good civil engineering leader:

Able to listen
Create and maintain a good team with different specialties
Have an open mind
Listens to everybody’s opinion
Willing to help people grow and provide resources
Approachable
Show respect to everybody’s opinions
Create an atmosphere of sharing and overall motivation for the team


Importance of finding a good mentor – The key factor to civil engineering success is finding good mentors to guide you.
Importance of credentials

Master in Business Administration (MBA) – This is a helpful credential that can give you different perspectives, understand the different aspects of business like business development, marketing, finance, and management information systems.
Project Management Professional (PMP) – The PMP approach is a good program for civil engineering professionals because it helps you communicate better with project team members and helps project managers in managing the client. The PMP also enables engineers to understand the different components of the project.


MBA vs. PMP – For younger civil engineers with limited budget, they can get the PMP certification for a reasonable amount of money and time, plus it will help them understand the execution of project to a different level.

Tweetables 

“Identify what you really like to do as a civil engineer and find a good mentor.” – Mauricio Lara on Ep 016 of #TCEPodcast
At the end of the day, everything is about people. – More on #TCEPodcast Ep 016.
Know the credentials that will help you in your civil engineering career - Stay tuned for #TCEPodcast Ep 016.

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how certain credentials or mentors have helped you as a civil engineer.

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Sources/References:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People


PMI website
Mauricio Lara LinkedIn Profile

If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free 3-part video series that provides tons of engineering career skills including how to use LinkedIn, how to communicate and how to develop your leadership abilities. Click the button below to download.

In episode 015 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris Knutson interviews Dr. A.J. Briding, an emergency management and homeland security expert with over 40 years of experience who talks about the issues of infrastructure resilience and critical infrastructure protection.  He currently does consulting work in the homeland security arena, but started off as a distinguished graduate in civil engineering from his US Air Force Academy class. Here are some key points in this episode:

Civil engineer’s role are very important in homeland security especially in building robust and hardened defenses against physical attacks and natural disasters.
It is always less expensive and more effective to design into the build, rather than retrofit.
Assessment should include identifying the significant threats, determining vulnerability to them, and then determining the consequences should the threat materialize.
Innovative design that reduces risk and assists in response and recovery efforts will be the key to protect communities from major disasters.
Each facility should conduct its own risk assessment before the design phase, so those risks are addressed as best possible in the design.
The Executive Department of our federal government is designing policy for critical infrastructure protection, as well as detection, response, and recovery policy and capabilities.
Think of all the threats and add resilient features during the design phase; this will not only add value to the client but also safety and security.
Nothing is independent, and there are certainly risk that comes from interdependencies in infrastructure.
Roles of the civil engineer in continuity of operations plans for businesses or governments: identify threats related to structures and urban planning and address these problems, and take a big-picture look at relationships and build in community resilience.

Tweetables 

“Threat assessment is key… take off the blinders…” – A.J. Briding on Ep 015 of #TCEPodcast
As civil engineers, we are engineers for society. – More on #TCEPodcast Ep 015.
Understand the details of project management, and how the project should be run. - Stay tuned for #TCEPodcast Ep 015.
#TCEPodcast Ep 015 Know about resiliency and infrastructure protection straight from Homeland Security expert, A.J. Briding

Sources/References:
Dr Briding’s Consulting Firm
National Infrastructure Protection Plan
American Board for Certification in Homeland Security
The Infrastructure Security Partnership

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you can be accountable as a civil engineer in the safety and security of your clients.

In episode 014 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris Knutson interviews Jim Rogers who is the author of the American Council of Engineering Companies first ever book on the subject of proposal writing, “Win More Work: How to Writing Winning AEC Proposals.” See books section at bottom of this post for discount code for 25% off the book. Rogers helps companies create superior AEC proposals; however, he doesn’t stop there. He helps them transform their marketing and business development capabilities in order to gain a competitive advantage than can last for years.
Here Are Some Key Points in This Episode About Winning AEC Proposals:


Understand the foundation of writing a winning proposal.
If you have someone in the company that is a proofreader or copy editor, ask for his or her reasons for the suggested changes or edits.
Avoid the “betterness trap” (belief or assertion that you are superior to your competitors) and think of the strategies on how to win work instead.
Lay the groundwork on your understanding of what your prospective clients’ needs are during the business development process.
Test your ideas on your prospective clients. Do not be afraid to ask smart questions, but once you’ve asked the questions, shut up and listen. Give people space to answer.
Ask people for a referral or recommendation; this will let them create an emotional commitment to you.
Remove barriers that will keep them from hiring you.
If you did not win the project, debrief your team and ask open-ended question to your prospective clients like ‘what can we do differently next time to completely understand the prospective clients’ needs?

Three elements of a winning proposal:

Substance: How to persuade prospective clients with the content that you have. Three questions to cover substance in your proposal:


Why now? – Ensures that you understand the ultimate goal or outcome of your prospective clients and this validates them.
What do they really know? – Aside from the technical aspect, these are the unstated needs that they have like their values.
Why you? – This is how you translate your strengths to the benefits of the prospective clients.


Structure: What order you present the argument. Put your best ideas early on in the proposal.
Style: How you unclutter your ideas. Make it easier for people to pick up your ideas. If you have image, put 2-3 sentences caption under it.

Tweetables 

“You don’t have to be a used car salesman to be a good sales person, just be a good consultant as you are..” – Jim Rogers on Ep 014 of #TCEPodcast
Don't save your best ideas for last, instead insert them early on in the proposal. – More on #TCEPodcast Ep 014.
Don’t think you know it all, always be open to new things - Stay tuned for #TCEPodcast Ep 014.

Books Mentioned in This Episode:
Win More Work use code: N5E3YVSS for 25% off



Stunk & White Elements of Style



On Writing Well



Ogilvy On Advertising



Persuasive Business Proposals


Sources/References:
Jim Rogers’ Website
Chris' Book notes on Win More Work (For more book notes, join The Engineering Career Community for a $1 -Trial)

Please tell us what you thought of the AEC proposals and leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you can apply the key points in this episode in writing you next winning proposal.

In episode 013 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Will Schnier, a licensed PE and the Chief Executive Officer of BIG RED DOG Engineering | Consulting who will share his expertise on business development and also talk about one of Big Red Dog’s projects in lieu of our Civil Engineering Project of the Week segment. Here are some key points in this episode:

In business development, you should learn:

How to actually win work
How to get yourself in front of clients
How to position yourself and your firm as the most able provider


Client exposure early on is important – this allows you to see how the client thinks and helps you to anticipate their needs
You must have that yearning to learn
Constantly surround yourself with people smarter than you
To compete with other engineers, you must have the skill sets of business development and project management
Learn to write in order to communicate
Constantly set goals for yourself and your engineering company

How to develop your business development skills as an engineer:

Change your mindset with an objective to help other people win enough work
Build relationships and not just collect business cards
Give something of engineering value to a prospect to prove yourself (add value to the deal)
Do the business development yourself pro-actively, show results and ultimately you’ll take that role
Do good work for your current clients
Make your clients look good, make them like you, and build relationships with them so they can refer you to other potential clients

Tweetables 

“The worst thing on your agenda for the day, do it first…” – Will Schnier on Ep 013 of #TCEPodcast
How the CEO of Big Red Dog Engineering became successful at a very young age – More on #TCEPodcast Ep 013.
Don’t think you know it all, always be open to new things - Stay tuned for #TCEPodcast Ep 013.

Project Name:  Waller Creek
Project Description:
Big Red Dog is part of the team led by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) and Thomas Phifer & Partners, and Studio DWG with Daniel Woodroffe. The goal of this project is to transform a dilapidated and lifeless creek into a vibrant urban waterway complemented by dynamic parks, bridges, open and interactive spaces that engage the public and will make it a world-class destination.
Books Mentioned in This Episode:
Never Eat Alone



Art’s Principles



Let My People Go Surfing



The Go-Giver



The Five Laws That Determine All of Life's Outcomes

 
Sources/References:

Big Red Dog Engineering | Consulting
Photo Courtesy of Will Schnier



Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on how you can provide value to your clients.

In episode 012 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris Knutson interviews Scott Wolter, professional forensics geology, author and the host of History’s H2 network’s hit show America Unearthed. He has been the principal petrographer in more than 7,000 material forensic investigations throughout the world, including the evaluation of fire-damaged concrete from the Pentagon following the attacks of September 11, 2001, which is our Civil Engineering Project of the week. Here are some key points in this episode:

What a petrographer is: a person who does microscopic analysis on inorganic materials like concrete, mortar, grout, and rock.
Investigations involving failed concrete structures – need to know what happened and whose fault it is
Typical issues encountered by Scott:

Scaling of concrete during spring time
Miscommunication between the suppliers and contractors


Importance of communication to successful careers
Stay involved throughout the process on your project to increase your experience and fulfillment
How Scott got called to evaluate Pentagon’s columns after the 9/11 attack if certain temperatures have been reached
Scott’s journey from writing a book to being a host of America Unearthed
Don't always accept everything at face value, there’s always more to the story
How to handle criticism – know the root problem, take out the emotional aspect and search for the truth

Tweetables 

Ensure that your vision is as close as you want it to be – More on this in Ep 012 of #TCEPodcast
Host of America Unearthed Scott Wolter is in #TCEPodcast Ep 012.
There will always be problems of human conditions but we need to work on our ability to communicate ” More on Ep 012!  #TCEPodcast

Project of the Week:  The Pentagon
Project Location:  Washington, D.C., USA
Project Overview:   
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Project Cost:  The project was originally budgeted at $35M, but ended up costing nearly $70M.

Unique Project Aspects and Challenges: 

The Pentagon’s shape was dictated by economic and functional factors.  Economically, a circular structure would have driven costs and time to construct up significantly.  The pentagon shape permitted rectangular construction of the sections.  A single long building wasn’t feasible, as the offices at the opposite ends would have been nearly a mile apart!  As it is, no two offices are more than 1/2 mile apart on the same floor.
Books Mentioned in This Episode:
The Goddess, The Grail and The Lodge



The Kensington Runestone: Compelling New Evidence


Sources/References:

Scott’s Book website:  http://www.hookedx.com
Scott’s Blog:  http://www.scottwolteranswers.blogspot.com
American Petrographic Services, Inc.: http://www.ampetrographic.com/
Scott’s Twitter Feed:  @RealScottWolter
Official Website:  http://pentagontours.osd.mil
Popular Mechanics articles, April 1943:  https://books.google.com/books?id=WNYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8&dq=popular+mechanics+1943+The+Battle+Of+Brains
Architecture Week Articles:

"ArchitectureWeek - News - Pentagon Rebuilt! - 2002.0904.":  http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0904/news_1-1.html
"ArchitectureWeek - News - Pentagon Battered but Firm - 2001.1003.":  http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/1003/news_1-1.html
"After 17 Years, Pentagon Renovation Is Complete." Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 27 June 2015:  http://www.washingtonpost.

In episode 011 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris Knutson interviews Kathy Schneider, PE, a Civil Engineer who is also the National Park Service’s park centered project manager for the $200 million CityArchRiver 2015 redevelopment project at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch), aka the St. Louis Arch, in St. Louis, Missouri.
How Kathy and Her Team Managed the Challenges of Dealing With Multiple Stakeholders and Tight Timeline:


Organized a core team group early on that meets periodically to sort out the responsibilities and communicates with the concerned department or organization.
Used the right means of communication. Email is good for documentation but personal meetings (face-to-face meetings, Webex, gotomeetings, conference calls) are better to prevent misunderstandings.
Documented all the discussions in the meetings and utilized a solid methodology to manage the documentation all the way throughout the project.
Took the opportunity that involves non-traditional civil engineering work because it might open up new career opportunities in the future.

Tweetables 

“You can’t communicate too much…” – Kathy Schneider Stay tuned in Ep 011 of #TCEPodcast
What other opportunities have you taken in your career as a civil engineer? Learn more on #TCEPodcast Ep 011.
“Communication skills are the number one requirement you’ll need to work in this environment” More on Ep 011!  #TCEPodcast

Project Name: CityArchRiver Project at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (St. Louis Gateway Arch)
Project Overview:
The St. Louis Gateway Arch is a 630-foot tall monument clad in stainless steel. Construction was done in 1965. The monument sits on a 90-acre parcel, adjacent to the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis. After 50 years, city leaders started to look at downtown St. Louis and pondered how to reinvigorate and connect the city to the arch and to the river. They came up with the CityArchRiver project with the purpose of revitalizing the arch grounds. 
Project Budget (Construction):
The project price tag is $380 million, funded in three ways since it’s a public/private partnership.  $69 million from federal grants and other federal, state and local sources; $90 million from supported bond levy; and the remaining $221 million from private donations, gifts and grants to the City Arch Foundation, a non-profit, which will also raise an additional $29 million to help maintain and improve the project over its lifecycle. 
Project Completion (Month/Year or Expected Completion Date):   
The CityArchRiver project began with a ribbon cutting on August 2nd, 2013 and is targeted to end on October 28th, 2015 - the 50th anniversary of the Arch.
Benefits to Society:
Visitors and locals in St. Louis will enjoy an amazing venue with one of the civil engineering, and architectural, wonders of the world.
Sources/References:
Park website:
http://www.nps.gov/jeff/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/jeff/getinvolved/planning.htm (park planning documents may be of particular interest)

CityArchRiver website:
http://www.cityarchriver.org/
http://www.cityarchriver.org/construction/webcam/ (don't miss the webcam)

Great Rivers Greenway:
http://greatriversgreenway.org/

NPS - Denver Service Center (construction project managers):
http://www.nps.gov/dscw/index.htm

Photo by CityArchRiver 2015

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on your strategies when faced with challenging projects as a civil engineer.

In episode 10 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I take you inside my recent trip to Iceland, where I recorded this week’s project segment after my visit to the Blue Lagoon which is a spa driven by geothermal energy, and is also one of the natural wonders of the world.  Then I interview Shana Carroll, PE, a civil engineer who is in sales, who gives a ton of high-value career advice in about 20 minutes!
In this episode, you'll get an inside look at the life of a civil engineer in sales and learn:

How traveling can help you as a civil engineer
The importance of being clear on what you can offer as a civil engineer during your job interview
The diverse activities of a civil engineer in sales:

Doing some engineering calculations, scoping jobs
Coaching other sales engineers to close different projects
Working with some pre-construction engineering groups
Occasionally negotiating contracts
Doing lunch and learn presentations to different groups


How to track and measure your achievements using metrics
How to combine your technical skills and non-technical skills to give back and create an impact to society; for Shana, she blogs to help other engineers marrying her communication skills and her engineering background
How to control your fears and use them for motivation
How to stay focused while traveling


Plan each day's activity the night before 
Use the Eisenhower box to determine what's urgent/important/not important/not urgent


How to be productive and successful with the time that you have

Identify what you want to do today before checking your e-mails
Always carry notebook that you can make notes in meetings of action items
Use a TO-DO wonder list for important but less urgent things to do



Tweetables 

What impact do you want to make as a civil engineer? Learn more on #TCEPodcast Ep 010.
“There is a loftier goal to stand high in the world, it is to elevate other engineers higher.” More on Ep 010!  #TCEPodcast
“Even if you don’t think you’re in sales, you're always selling yourself…” – Shana Carroll Stay tuned in Ep 010 of #TCEPodcast

Project Name: The Blue Lagoon



Project Overview:

The Blue Lagoon is now a Spa that many tourists visit, however it was originally formed naturally when hot brine from a nearby geothermal power plant was discharged into the adjacent lava field. Later improvements were done with the full-blown spa, hotel, restaurant, and banquet facilities formed. In the years that followed, people began to bathe in the unique water and apply the silica mud to their skin. Those with psoriasis noticed an incredible improvement in their condition. Today, Blue Lagoon is recognized as one of the 25 wonders of the world.

Project Location:

The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwestern Iceland and is 45 minutes away from the capital. It is located 8 miles away from the Keflavik International Airport.

Project Size:

The lagoon holds six million liters of geothermal seawater all of which is renewed in 40 hours.

Project Budget (Construction):

Since the Blue Lagoon is formed when hot brine from a nearby geothermal power plant was discharged into the adjacent lava field, there is no cost for it. Later improvements were done with the full-blown spa, hotel, restaurant, and banquet facilities.

Special Design Features and/or Challenges:

The name Blue Lagoon came because when the light hits the water it shatters because of the magnitude of the silicon (140 mg/kg) and turns to blue.

In episode 009 of the Civil Engineering Podcast, we take a closer look at Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge in St. Louis, Missouri and provide project management advice from Jeff Church, PE and Gwen Lageman, PE, the engineers who worked on the project. Christian will break down the project and I will summarizes 6 challenges the project engineers encountered during the design and construction of the bridge and how communication plays an important role in the success of the project.
What You Can Learn From the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge Project:


How to help multiple people or organizations agree on one thing.
How to have good workflow communication when dealing with different organizations and government agencies on one project.
How to work with project specialists like archaeologists and keep the project moving along on schedule.
How to get buy-in from the community and ensure minority participation in the workforce is achieved.
How to know forecast the risks on your civil engineering project.
How to maximize your time if you’re managing multiple projects.

Tweetables 

“Overcome your fear of public speaking by getting comfortable with your topic.” Learn more in Ep 009!  #TCEPodcast
In project management, communicate early and often. Tune in now to Ep 009 of #TCEPodcast
The story and design challenges behind the Stan Musial Veterans Bridge. #TCEPodcast Ep 009

Project Name: Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge

The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is also known locally as “The Stan Span,” it spans the Mississippi river just north of downtown St. Louis.  Stan Musial was a 22-year veteran of the Cardinals, a first baseman, and widely considered to be one of the greatest and most consistent hitters in baseball history.   He missed the 1945 season to serve in the Navy, hence the tie-in to “Veteran” in the bridge’s name.

Project Location: St. Louis, MO in the USA

Project Size:

The main span of the cable-stayed bridge is 1,500 feet (460 m) in length, part of a total span of 2,803 feet. It is 86 feet (26 m) wide. Cables stretch from the bridge deck to the tops of two A-shaped towers, which reach 435 feet (133 m) above I-70. The new bridge’s main span is supported by 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of 0.6-inch-diameter (15 mm) stay-cable strand, enough for nearly two round trips from St. Louis to Chicago.

Project Budget (Construction): $667 million

Was Project Over/Under Budget: 

The cost of the original design of the bridge and surrounding area was estimated at nearly $1.7 billion. After which, both Illinois and Missouri state governments decided that they could not bear that cost, they called for a new design; this proposed a smaller size and was submitted in 2007 with an estimated cost of $667 million. Of the total, $264 million covered realignment of I-70 on the Illinois side, $57 million to realign I-70 on the Missouri side, and $346 million to build the bridge.

Project Completion (Month/Year or Expected Completion Date):

The project took a little over 4 years to complete and opened to traffic on February 9, 2014.

Special Design Features and/or Challenges:

Subsurface exploration showed thick deposits of low-density sand below the water table, which could liquefy during an earthquake.  This is actually a real threat to the St. Louis region, coming from the New Madrid fault.  Several ways to reduce the risk were considered, including in-situ densification of the sands, but ultimately the foundations were changed to feature 12-foot-diameter (3.7 m), 120-foot-long (37 m) drilled piers founded in the limestone bedrock to support the bridge superstructure. The bedrock is 120 feet (37 m) below the surface on the Illinois side and...

In episode 008 of the Civil Engineering Podcast, my partner Chris gives you a closer look at one of the world's most recognizable structures, the Eiffel Tower in person. He shares some interesting facts about the grandiose monument. in the project segment of the show. He also talks about Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower, his life story and how he became successful as an engineer through his ingenuity, hard work and the passion for life-long learning.
In this episode, you'll learn:  

The works and contributions of Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel in the world of civil engineering.
How to live a life and career you enjoy by following your passion and interests.
The characteristics that make up a very successful engineer.

Tweetables 

Never stop learning, be engaged in what you’re doing! Learn more in Ep 008!  #TCEPodcast
Be daring and inventive, be an entrepreneur. Tune in now to Ep 008 of #TCEPodcast
Where will passion take you today? Tune in to #TCEPodcast Ep 008.
In this week’s #TCEPodcast we feature the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. Tune in now!

Project Name: The Eiffel Tower

Project Size:  

The tower is 324 meters (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-story building.  In fact, when completed the Eiffel tower was the tallest structure in the world, a distinction it held until the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930. Its base is square, 125 meters (410 ft) on a side and base pillars of the tower align with the four points of the compass.  The final design called for more than 18,000 pieces of puddle iron, a type of wrought iron used in construction, and 2.5 million rivets.

Project Budget (Construction):  

At the time the Eiffel Tower was constructed, the total construction and materials cost of the Eiffel Tower was 8 million francs or $1.5m - that’s around $36m in 2015 costs.  But this is not a true reflection of what it would cost to build today, as the labor costs alone (assuming it could be built in two years) would swallow $30m. With a capacity potential of 10,000 fee-paying visitors on the tower at any one time, costs were recovered in the first year of the tower being open to the public, with Gustav Eiffel becoming a rich man as a result.

Project Completion (Month/Year or Expected Completion Date):  

The project was completed on March 31, 1889 and was constructed in in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days…which in itself was a veritable technical and architectural achievement.  Built in 21 months the tower was delivered on time.

Special Design Features and/or Challenges:  

One interesting challenge is that the Eiffel Tower must be painted by hand every 6 or 7 years to protect it from corrosion, a process that takes 60 tons of paint and two years to complete. The painting is usually done by a rather unique cadre of 25 painters who are unafraid of heights and possess an acrobatic agility for scaling the tower. In order to accentuate the impression of height, the tower is painted in three slightly different shades of “Eiffel Tower beige”, a color similar to milk chocolate with the lightest shade at the top.

Some Other Facts:

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Paris Exposition and was not intended to be permanent….
The Eiffel Tower was going to be demolished in 1909, but was saved because it was repurposed as a giant radio antenna.
1,665 steps are needed to climb all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Some 500 employees are responsible for its daily operations, working in its restaurants, manning its elevators, ensuring its security and directing the eager crowds flocking the tower’s platforms to enjoy panoramic views of the City of Lights.
On average,

In episode 007 of the Civil Engineering Podcast, I will share some civil engineering career advice from a highly respected civil engineer who has five decades of experience tucked under his belt, Tom Otto, PE. Tom shares his insights on how as a civil engineer, you have a lot of opportunities to explore — regardless of whether you want to start your own small business, or work for a large engineering company. We also discuss the two different civil engineering career areas where you can flourish, the technical side, and/or the business side. This episode has lots of good civil engineering career advice from someone who has been there and made it as a civil engineer.
In this episode, you'll get civil engineering career advice including:    

The different areas you can explore as a civil engineer — the technical side, and the business side.
How being an expert is being more than knowledgeable in your chosen expertise.
How to further expand your skills as a civil engineer in order to be more marketable.

Tweetables 

“The drive to work in a small company, or to have your own company, is very real, very early in your career.” Stay tuned to Ep 7!  #TCEP #Podcast
“Becoming an expert is the fact that you stand with the project, and respond to your clients.” Tom Otto on Ep 007 of #TCEP #Podcast


Technical or Business? A civil engineer has more than two ways to succeed in his or her career. Find out how on #TCEP #Podcast Ep 007.
Civil engineering career advice from a CE with 50 years of experience.  Tune in to #TCEP #Podcast Ep 7

Project Name: US Capitol Visitor Center

Project Overview:

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center provides a welcoming and educational environment for visitors to learn about the unique characteristics of the House and the Senate and the legislative process as well as the history and development of the architecture and art of the U.S. Capitol. The visitor experience is an intellectual and emotional encounter comprised of highly personal moments that inform, involve and inspire those who come to see the U.S. Capitol.

Project Location:

Beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First Street and East Capitol Street.

Project Size:

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is the newest addition to the historic Capitol Complex. At nearly 580,000 square feet, the Visitor Center is the largest project in the Capitol's more than two-century history and is approximately three-quarters the size of the Capitol itself. The entire facility is located underground on the east side of the Capitol so as not to detract from the appearance of the Capitol and the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1874.

Project Budget (Construction):

The proposed cost was originally $71 million, but it has risen to $621 million.

Project Completion (Month/Year or Expected Completion Date):

Actual construction began in 2002. By the fall of 2003, excavation was essentially complete and build-up of the structure began. Personnel began to occupy the building in July 2008 and it was dedicated and opened to the public on December 2, 2008.

Special Design Features and/or Challenges:

The excavation for the Capitol Visitor Center required the removal of 65,000 truckloads of soil or 650,000 cubic yards of material and workers set more than 400,000 pieces of stone some weighing as much as 500 pounds. The stone used in the Visitor Center was selected based on how closely it matched the existing colors and textures of the stone in the Capitol. Sandstone, which was the principal material in the original Capitol, is the dominant stone in the Visitor Center, with nearly 200,000 square feet of coverage on interior walls and columns.

In this episode of the Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Rob D’Onofrio, PE and we talk about achieving career goals by going after what you want, and proving that even with less years of experience, one can definitely step up his or her game and become an expert at his or her chosen field. He will also share the secret to his success, as well as how a mentor can greatly impact your productivity and career development. Also in this episode, for our Civil Engineering Project of the Week Segment, we take a closer look at the Zhuhai International Tennis Center in Guangdong Province, China.

In this episode of the Civil Engineering Podcast, you'll learn:

How to successfully distinguish yourself from other people in your field
How to position yourself in a such a way so that you can achieve your career goals faster than most civil engineers do
How to find a mentor who can guide you in your chosen path

Tweetables 

What are some of the things that can really boost your productivity & career development? Tune in now! #TCEPodcast
“I would say there’s no secret to success other than hard work.” Tune in now to the #TCEPodcast episode 6 here:

Project Name: Zhuhai (Joo-Hi) International Tennis Center 

Project Overview:

The new Zhuhai International Tennis Center in Guangdong, China is located atop a former aquatic pond in Hengqin Island within the city and will be rimmed by waterways. Bridges and walkways will allow visitors to traverse the canals, and sight lines from the seating and playing areas will include sweeping views of the adjacent waterways. This complex is designed by the global architecture firm Populous inspired by the notion of sea waves and oyster shells. The new tennis complex will host international competitions like the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) from 2015 to 2019.

Project Size and details:

A center-court stadium with 5,000 seats, a match court with seating for 1,500, and 12 outdoor training courts. The complex will also include an indoor training hall, lodging for athletes, and a tennis museum. As part of phase two, a 12,000-seat tennis arena will be constructed.

Project Budget (Construction):

$84 million

Project Completion (Month/Year or Expected Completion Date):

November 2015

Special Design Features and/or Challenges:

Even though the site had to be drained and reclaimed for the project, the soil contains sufficient load-bearing foundation layers for the complex, according to Chang. These layers are located deep below ground level, in some cases up to 50 m deep. As a result, most of the site—including the buildings and the podium slabs—will need to be built atop piled foundations to prevent settlement.

Benefits to Society:

The complex has been designed to be used as a park and community center after the Woman’s Tennis Association competition ends. The arena itself and the practice courts will be open to the public for play and practice on nonevent days.
Books Mentioned in the Episode 
Construction Schedule Delays - Rob D’Onofrio  - By clicking here and using the code WPD20 you will receive 20% off of the book.



 

 

 


Sleep Smarter: 21 Proven Tips to Sleep Your Way To a Better Body, Better Health and Bigger Success - Shawn Stevenson



How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie



Please leave your comments or questions in the section below about your strategies in achieving your career goals.
Sources/References:
http://populous.com/news/2014/11/13/global-architects-populous-design-chinas-new-international-tennis-centre-at-zhuhai/
http://www.

In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I speak with a young environmental engineer and we discuss and address some of the big decisions she is looking to make in her career, PhD or Not to PhD. Also in this episode, for our Civil Engineering Project of the Week segment, we take a closer look at the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt.
In this episode, you'll learn:

What you need to understand before you decide to make a change and expand at any stage of your current civil engineering career
How to identify civil engineering career opportunities, with or without a doctorate degree
The PROS and CONS of earning a Ph.D. as a civil engineer



Tweetables 

"Whenever you want to make a change...understand why you are seeking that change." Tune in to #TCEP ep. 5!
How much does a PhD really matter to you and your career? Tune in to the civil engineering podcast ep. 5! #TCEP
In this week's #TCEP, we feature one of the engineering marvels of history: the Great Pyramid of Giza. tune in!

Project Description:
The largest of the three pyramids at Giza, known as the Great Pyramid, is truly an amazing work of engineering. It was built over a period of twenty years. It is estimated that one hundred thousand people worked on this great structure for three months of the year, during the annual flooding of the Nile, when it was not possible to cultivate the land and most of Egypt's population was unemployed. And It is believed that the Great Pyramid was built as a tomb for the Egyptian pharaoh Cheops. Equally, according to many sources, the pharaoh provided good food and clothing for his workers and was remembered kindly in folktales for many centuries. Surprisingly the sides of the pyramid are oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass and the length of each side at the base is 755 feet (230.4 m). Concurrently the faces rise at an angle of 51º 52' and its original height was 481 ft (147 m). (It now rises 451 ft [138 m]). It was built with about 2 300 000 limestone blocks, each weighing an average of 2.5 tons. Some blocks weigh as much as 16 tons.
Project Budget (Construction):
The actual cost of the project is unknown since it was built so long ago, but to rebuild the pyramid today, using trucks, cranes and helicopters, the project would still require approximately 2,000 workers and cost about $5 billion, according to Jean-Pierre. Houdin, a French architect who helped create a virtual model of the ancient building system. It would take about five years to complete.
Project completion (month/year or expected completion date):
According to a marking on an inner chamber naming the work crew and a reference to the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu of the fourth dynasty, Egyptologists believe the pyramid was built as a tomb during a 10 to 20 year period ending around 2560 B.C.
Special design features and/or challenges:
The size of the Great Pyramid poses a challenge to anyone trying to explain how it could have been built. It is estimated to comprise some 2.3 million limestone blocks averaging 2.5 tons (2.27 metric tons) each, plus additional blocks weighing considerably more that lie deep within the pyramid where they serve special functions. Its height when new, 480.9 feet (146 m), would have been within 74 feet (21.3 m) of the top, 555 feet (169.7 m), of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, which was built 4,444 years later. The average weight of the blocks used in the pyramid and the monument is approximately the same, but the Great Pyramid comprises approximately 65 times as many blocks as the Washington Monument.

For obvious reasons, written records of Egyptian engineering methods are scarce and, therefore, the debate over how they built the Great Pyramid has continued for many centuries. Many alternative, often contradictory,

In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Chris and I talk about effective business development skills — what it means, why it's important, and how to do it. We also talk about the other skills you need to develop as a professional civil engineer, like how to build relationships with clients, within your industry and community, and how all of these factors are critical in helping you bring in more business. Also in this episode, for our Civil Engineering Project of the Week segment, we take a closer look at the Willis Tower (also still known as the Sears Tower by many).
In this episode, you'll learn:   

What effective business development skills really means and why it's important to you as a civil engineer
The skills you'll need to network effectively and how to develop them
Civil Engineering Career Elevator Advice - A quick, career-building tip on how to maximize involvement in professional associations

Tweetables 

"Relationships… is what drives all business development". The Civil Engineering Podcast episode 4: #TCEPodcast
"Remember, it's about them, and not about you". Tune in to #TCEPodcast ep. 4 - Effective Business Development here:
"People want to do business with people that they trust and people that they like." Tune in to #TCEPodcast episode 4:

Civil Engineering Project of the Week: Willis Tower



Project Overview: The Willis Tower, built as and still commonly referred to as Sears Tower is a 108-story, 442-meter skyscraper in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is the second-tallest building in the United States and the 12th-tallest in the world. More than one million people visit its observation deck each year, making it one of Chicago's most popular tourist destinations. The structure was renamed in 2009 by the Willis Group as part of its lease on a portion of the tower's space.

Project Location: The Willis Tower is located at Chicago, Illinois.

Project Size: At the time of completion in 1973, the Willis Tower beat out the World Trade Center in New York as the tallest building in the world, a distinction it held for 25 years. The building contains over 4-1/2 million gross square feet, which would cover 16-square blocks, or 105-acres, if spread across one level. The stats for the building are, as you would expect for skyscraper, pretty impressive - more than 225,000 tons of steel, 25 miles of plumbing, 1,500 miles of electric wiring, 80 miles of elevator cable, and 145,000 light fixtures.

Project Budget (Construction): $175 million at time of construction, or equivalent of $800 million in 2015. Of interesting note, in March of this year the building changed hands again at a present-day cost of $1.3 billion, considered to be the highest amount paid for a building outside Manhattan.

Project Completion (Month/Year or Expected Completion Date): Construction started in 1970 and was completed in 1973 with around 2,000 workers involved.
Links and Resources Mentioned in Episode 

Engineering Career Success Summit (http://engineeringevent.com/)
Ari Tinkoff, Managing Director/Assoc Principal at BR+A (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/ari-tinkoff-pe/4/456/744)
Sylvia Montgomery, Professional services marketer — specializing in AEC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviamontgomery)
Shana Carroll, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Soil Improvement Expert, Blogger, and Traveler (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanaopdyke)
K.C. Reed, PE, Associate / Principal Engineer, Dewberry, Frederick, Maryland Office (http://www.dewberry.com)
Mark Osler, Assistant Vice President, Michael Baker Jr., Inc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/markosler)
John Woods, PE, Principal (http://www.woodspeacock.com/engineering/about-us/principals/)

Books Mentioned in Episode 

In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Paul Eng-Wong, Professional Engineer and Principal in the Newark office of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB). We talk about professional ethics, mentoring, and the importance of being able to communicate effectively. Eng-Wong also gives 10 insightful strategies to help you advance your career as a civil engineer. Also in this episode, for our Civil Engineering Project of the Week Segment, we take a closer look at the Great Wall of China.
In this episode, you'll learn:  

The importance of ethics and mentoring in civil engineering, and how to put them into practice
The importance of developing effective communication skills
How to write, speak, and listen more effectively as a civil engineer
10 strategies to help you advance your Civil Engineering Career

Tweetables 

"Ethics is a tough decision with a payout in the long term." - Tune in to #TCEPodcast Episode 3 here:
"Today, in our field, communication is everything."  Tune in to the Civil Engineering Podcast ep. 3 here #TCEPodcast
What are 10 Important Things You Need to Know & Remember as an Engineer? Tune in and find out on #TCEPodcast Ep 3

Civil Engineering Project of the Week: Great Wall of China
Project Overview:  The Great Wall of China is the biggest object ever made by humans. It stretches across mountains, deserts and grasslands for over 6,000 kilometers. The ancient Chinese built the wall to keep invaders from the west out of their country. Today tourists from all over the world come and see it.

The Great Wall began as a series of many smaller walls that were not connected with each other. The first sections of the wall were built as early as 600 B.C. As time went on Chinese emperors connected them together to keep Huns, Mongols and other tribes out. Thousands of soldiers, criminals and peasants worked on building the wall. It was finally completed during the Ming dynasty in the 17th century.

Project Location: The Great Wall of China extends over 8,850 kilometers (5,500 miles - double the width of the US from East to West Coast) from northeastern to north-central China, including trenches and mountains in addition to a collection of wall sections. The main series of walls stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Lake in the west, roughly outlining the southern border of Inner Mongolia.

Project Size: The Great Wall is one of the largest building construction projects ever completed. It stretches across the mountains of northern China, winding north and northwest of Beijing. It is constructed of masonry, rocks and packed-earth. Its thickness ranged from about 4.5 to 9 meters (15 to 30 feet) and was up to 7.5 meters (25 feet) tall.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall was enlarged to 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) and renovated over a 200-year period, with watch-towers and cannons added.

Project Budget (Construction): While it is impossible to know exactly what the Great Wall of China cost to build, modern calculations estimate the cost to be approximately $360 billion.

Was Project Over/Under Budget:  Project budgets weren’t measured closely in those times, and we can’t find anything to suggest that they were. If you can, please leave a comment at the end of this post.

Project Completion (Month/Year or Expected Completion Date):  The first Great Wall of China was finished during the reign of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shihuang, from 221 BC – 206 BC.

The most recent portion of the Great Wall, the one that most of us envision when we think of the Great Wall of China, was finished toward the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Paul Eng-Wong's Achievements and Awards:

2014 Edward F.

In this episode of the Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview Amanda Huffman, a former Air Force civil engineer who was deployed to Afghanistan on a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), on how this experience helped her grow professionally. Also in this episode, for our Civil Engineering Project of the Week segment, we take a closer look at the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
In this episode, you'll learn:    

About the critical importance—for both young and experienced ciivl engineers alike—of flexibility and communication skills in finding solutions in field projects and other real-world situations
How to deal with project management and logistical challenges when working with different cultures in demanding situations
How to develop your leadership abilities by stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself

Tweetables

"A life or death situation is going to really motivate you, push you to broaden your horizons." - @Airman2mom #tcepodcast
How can you manage challenging projects in demanding situations? Find out on the Civil Engineering Podcast Ep. 2 #tcepodcast

Links and Resources Mentioned on Episode 

The Engineering Career Coach Podcast Ep. 37 - 18 Characteristics that made John Roebling one of the Greatest Engineers of All Time – Part 1 of 2The Engineering Career Coach Podcast Ep. 38 - 18 Characteristics that made John Roebling one of the Greatest Engineers of All Time – Part 2 of 2
Amanda Huffman, P.E. (airmantomom.com)
Books to Check Out:

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time - Greg Mortenson
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… And Others Don't - Jim Collins



Please leave your comments or questions in the section below.

Have you been waiting for a podcast where the marvels of civil engineering and the people who immerse themselves in this wonderful world are front-and-center? The wait is over!

Christian Knutson, PE and myself are civil engineers who now work to help engineers succeed and with joy we present to you – The Civil Engineering Podcast. This is the first ever episode of the Podcast where we discuss the exciting things we have in store for future episodes including on-site segments, interviews, and much, much more!
What you'll learn about The Civil Engineering Podcast: 

About some of the great and exciting things we have planned for The Podcast
How you can participate and get involved in the podcast on future episodes

Tweetables

"Every profession should have the ability to better themselves." #tcepodcast
"There are so many amazing civil engineering projects around the world... that's what we want to dive into!" #tcepodcast

Related Links 

Questions? Suggestions? Recommendations? Let us know by clicking here.
Engineering Management Institute (engineeringmanagementinstitute.org)

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below.

In this episode, I talk with Rebecca Swabey, P.Eng., CEO and co-founder at Equator Studios, about the fascinating world of LiDAR. We delve into its groundbreaking impact on civil engineering and project proposals, exploring how this game-changing technology is revolutionizing the way engineers overcome challenges and planning for the future.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Rebecca:

What inspired you to leave private consulting and start your own tech company?
Why do you think it's important for civil engineers to have easy access to data like LiDAR and GIS?
What type of data holds your greatest interest?
How does having good data early in the project process benefit civil engineers, saving time, reducing rework, and minimizing stress in their daily work?
How crucial is data access, including open-source options, to prevent project setbacks and ensure efficient LiDAR-based surveying?
How did you decide on the name Equator Studios for your company?
Is LIDAR accuracy for vegetation and trees consistent across seasons, or does it vary?
How did your company pinpoint the major industry challenges, especially concerning proposals and responses to RFPs and RFQs?
What challenges do civil engineering firms face during the RFP process, like coordinating disciplines, meeting client expectations, and managing assumptions?
How can civil engineering firms redesign their proposal process to establish a framework that enhances staff knowledge quality and operational efficiency?
How do you envision engineers fitting into the future alongside AI and technology, given concerns about AI potentially replacing them?
What advice do you have for engineers who want to innovate and make a significant impact in their field?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Revolutionary Impact of Lidar in Civil Engineering:


Rebecca left consulting to start her tech company because of her tech community's support for innovation and her frustration with accessing slow GIS data. She created a platform for easy access to high-resolution elevation data, simplifying its use for all.
Easy access to LiDAR and GIS data is vital for civil engineers because it speeds up project efficiency and accuracy. It allows engineers to make informed decisions quickly, optimize designs, and innovate in their field without delays due to data accessibility issues.
Rebecca's greatest interest lies in LiDAR point cloud data. This technology enables detailed visualization of terrain and structures, providing a nuanced view akin to an X-ray, which she finds invaluable for uncovering hidden details and making discoveries beyond what's visible on-site.
Early access to accurate LiDAR data benefits civil engineers by starting projects with precision from the outset, saving time on ground surveys, reducing the need for major design revisions, and easing the stress of tight deadlines and complex project demands.
Access to data, including open-source options, is crucial for preventing setbacks and ensuring efficient LiDAR-based surveying. It allows engineers to plan and execute surveys accurately, minimizing risks and optimizing project timelines effectively.
Rebecca decided on the name Equator Studios to embody the company's emphasis on mapping and its goal of democratizing access to information. The choice reflects a commitment to making geographic data universally accessible and beneficial to diverse users worldwide.
Rebecca's stormwater pond surveys show how LiDAR data could have made a big difference. It would have sped up surveys, improved accuracy in dense vegetation, and saved time and costs,

In this episode, Ann Tomalavage, P.E., PMP, LEED AP, and president of Malarkey Consulting, Inc., interviews me about my civil engineer’s perspective on entrepreneurship, and how I manage it alongside my family life.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions Ann Asks Anthony:

When did you realize you wanted to be an engineer?
When you were in high school or grad school, did you ever imagine having your own business?
What are you most proud of in your life so far, whether it's related to work or family?
Is there anything you would do differently?
Did you find yourself naturally doing entrepreneurial things before you realized you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
What's your secret to consistently making time for your family?
What legacy do you think you'll leave behind?
When your kids roll their eyes, what's going through their minds?
What compliments do you think your kids would give you?
What compliments do you think Jill, your wife, would give you?
What places are on your bucket list for upcoming trips and future destinations?
When you think about it, what has 2024 been the year of so far?
What will the year 2025 be known for?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About a Civil Engineer's Perspective on Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Family Life:


In high school, during Anthony's junior and senior years, his interest in math and science led him to decide he wanted to be an engineer, influenced by guidance from his parents and counselors and solidified by an internship at a civil engineering firm where he worked on land surveying.
In high school and college, Anthony started with ventures like lemonade stands and network marketing, which sparked his interest in owning a business. This early experience continued alongside his engineering studies, shaping his ambition to combine engineering with entrepreneurship.
Anthony is most proud of nurturing growth in his family, supporting his team at EMI, and empowering engineers through podcasts and programs, finding fulfillment in these contributions to both his personal and professional life.
Anthony focuses on learning from mistakes rather than regretting what could have been done differently. He believes in using experiences to shape future decisions and strategies for ongoing improvement in both business and personal endeavors.
Before deciding to become an entrepreneur, Anthony naturally engaged in activities like starting ventures and exploring network marketing during college, which sparked his entrepreneurial spirit and guided his career path toward combining engineering with entrepreneurship.
Anthony ensures he consistently makes time for his family by prioritizing meaningful activities and minimizing distractions, guided by the principles of the 80-20 rule. This approach allows him to strike a balance between work and family life, ensuring he dedicates quality time to those he cares about most.
Focused on advancing youth leadership through the Give Guide Grow Foundation and innovating reading experiences with a unique bookstore concept, Anthony aims to leave a legacy of empowerment and personal growth. His goal is to inspire individuals and communities to embrace leadership, making a lasting impact on their lives.
When Anthony's kids roll their eyes, they're likely thinking about wanting to prioritize their social activities and immediate interests over hearing more about personal growth and responsibilities, finding parental advice sometimes repetitive or unnecessary in their current perspective on life.
Anthony's kids would probably praise him for always supporting them and making sure they're set up for suc...

In this episode, I delve into the core strategies that are essential for achieving successful engineering leadership. Although there are numerous aspects to consider, I will concentrate on the five key strategies that have had the most profound impact on my career. These strategies not only helped me navigate complex technical challenges but also enabled me to foster a collaborative and innovative team environment.


Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the 5 Best Strategies for Successful Engineering Leadership:


Effective communication is essential in civil engineering, as communication challenges can cause up to 80% of project delays and cost overruns. Managers should communicate clearly and concisely, listen actively, provide constructive feedback, and pay attention to non-verbal cues to create a collaborative and efficient working environment.
Empowering and delegating tasks are crucial for building a strong team in civil engineering. Leaders should trust their team, set clear expectations, provide necessary resources, and recognize efforts to ensure everyone feels valued and motivated.
Effective problem-solving is key in civil engineering, as challenges are inevitable in this industry. Great leaders stay calm under pressure, encourage creative thinking, analyze root causes, and develop clear action plans to address and resolve issues methodically.
Continuous learning and mentorship are essential for professional growth in civil engineering. Leaders should prioritize their own development and that of their teams by staying updated with industry trends, sharing knowledge, and encouraging a culture of learning and personal development.
Achieving work-life harmony is crucial for overall well-being and productivity. Leaders should offer flexible working arrangements, promote effective time management, and lead by example to help their teams manage personal and professional commitments effectively.

More Details in This Episode…

About the Host: K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E.
K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E., is a licensed professional engineer and an associate vice president at Verdantas, an emerging environmental, engineering, and technical consulting company with a green, sustainable, and people-first approach in the foreground. James has over 17 years of experience in civil engineering in the land development and municipal fields. Land development services include the design of subdivisions and site plans for compliance with local codes and ordinances, civil/site engineering, stormwater management, road design, and utility design. James has served as a project manager since 2018. In 2021, James was recognized with the Outstanding Project Manager Award at Duffield Associates (now Verdantas) for outstanding performance as a project manager and his consistent display of leadership traits valued by the company, including scheduling, management, proactive communication, collaboration, responsiveness, and client-focused service.

James was selected as the 2021 Young Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Delaware Section, and served as the President of the Delaware Engineering Society and the New Professionals Director on the NSPE Board of Directors from 2021-2023.
Books Mentioned in This Episode:
Free to Focus


Sources/References:
Verdantas
Connect with K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E., on LinkedIn
This Episode Is Brought to You by PPI
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In this episode, I talk with Clint Steele, RPEng (Mech), senior mechanical engineer at Cylite, about how engineers can develop the core skills for global engineering success and how different backgrounds affect engineering practice.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Clint:

What inspired you to write your book "Global Engineering," and what message do you hope engineers will take from it?
How can engineers ready themselves for promotions like project management and stay updated on the new role's requirements?
How can you enhance your skills in problem framing, systemic thinking, and effective application of first principles?
Do you think problem framing, systemic thinking, or applying first principles is more crucial, or does it vary by situation?
What are the typical challenges engineers should consider when aspiring to become global engineers?
Why is it crucial for individuals to take control of their development as they move from school to work, where learning may differ from expectations?
Can you give an intriguing example of how someone's background affects how they practice engineering?
What are some practical steps engineers can take to collaborate more effectively with teams from diverse backgrounds?
What skills or mindsets do you believe are crucial for engineers aiming to work internationally?
Is flexibility crucial for engineers, not just internationally, but also in dealing with diverse regulations and clients, allowing for professional growth?
How do you envision artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning shaping the future of engineering, particularly on a global scale?
Do engineers need to understand AI and machine learning fundamentals as these technologies shape the industry?
What's your final advice for engineers aiming to expand their horizons and thrive in the global engineering arena?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Skills Engineers Need for Global Engineering Success:


The inspiration for "Global Engineering" came from observing how engineers from diverse backgrounds collaborated in China. The message is that engineers can take control of their professional development by understanding and applying the principles of excellent engineering, regardless of their circumstances.
Engineers can prepare for promotions by mastering problem framing, systemic thinking, and first principles. These skills help them adapt to new roles and stay current with their responsibilities.
Enhance problem framing by questioning your initial views and considering alternatives. Improve systemic thinking by consulting diverse perspectives and apply first principles by using solid data to justify decisions.
The importance of problem framing, systemic thinking, and applying first principles varies by situation. Engineers should assess each scenario individually to determine which approach is most effective.
Typical challenges for engineers aiming to work globally include understanding universal principles, finding mentors, and embracing change. But with determination and available resources, they can overcome these obstacles and succeed on a global scale.
Taking control of your development as you transition from school to work is crucial because the learning environment may not meet your expectations. By actively seeking resources and reflecting on experiences, you can adapt and grow effectively in your professional journey.
Chinese engineers transitioning from a factory-like setting to a Western company environment showcased how organizational culture overrides cultural background in shaping engineering practices,

In this episode, I talk with Michael O'Grady, P.E., chief growth officer at Terracon, about essential strategies to master change management effectively in 2024. To understand the importance of change in implementing successful strategies, this step-by-step guide will equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate and succeed in times of transition.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michael:

Can you provide a quick overview of TerraCon, including their size and the services they offer?
What process did you go through to decide to pursue an MBA, and how has it benefited your career?
Did you speak to others who got an MBA to see how it helped them before making your decision?
Is making a lateral career move a valuable steppingstone, based on your experience with it?
What strategies have you found effective for navigating and leading change?
Could you share a couple of things you've learned from navigating change that have helped you or others through similar situations?
Is it crucial to have a clear plan and align it with broader goals from the beginning to maintain engagement and prevent disconnection from tasks?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Master the Art of Change Management:


Terracon, founded in 1965 in Iowa, has grown into a firm offering geotechnical engineering, construction materials engineering, environmental services, and facilities engineering. Today, it has 6,000 employees across 170 U.S. locations and is entirely employee-owned.
Michael pursued an MBA to gain broader business knowledge while working in strategic planning at Terracon. It improved his leadership skills by enhancing his understanding of strategy, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.
Before deciding on pursuing an MBA, individuals often seek insights from others who have completed the program. Many find that approximately 70% of the knowledge gained during the MBA proves valuable in their careers.
Taking a lateral career move can be beneficial. For instance, shifting roles within the company provides insights into driving cultural change, which can benefit various areas of business.
To navigate and lead change well, engineers and scientists should embrace diverse experiences, which enhance their leadership skills. Managing diverse teams and tackling varied challenges as they progress in their careers will make them better leaders in both technical and business settings.
Valuable lessons from navigating change include the significance of patience and taking a long-term view. Effective communication about the reasons for change and its benefits for individuals is essential for success in similar situations.
Having a clear plan aligned with broader goals from the start is crucial to maintaining engagement and preventing disconnection from tasks. Breaking down long-term plans into smaller, achievable steps ensures progress remains manageable and keeps teams focused on the overarching objectives.

More Details in This Episode…

About Michael O'Grady, P.E.
Michael O’Grady joined Terracon in 2000. He is the Chief Growth Officer, responsible for directing the strategic growth of the company. This includes expansion of market sectors served, diversification of services, and development of innovative tools and service offerings to drive future growth. He has been a member of the company’s executive operations committee since 2004 and its board of directors since 2013.

During Michael’s more than 23 years with the company, he has served in multiple executive leadership roles and has been instrumental in helping to lead Terracon’s growth and overall strategy during this time,

In this episode, we are sharing a panel discussion hosted by the ASCE, where I joined Reuben Zylstra, P.E., P.Eng, from Foothills Bridge, and Carla C. Norris, P.E., from AECOM, to discuss transitioning into a civil engineering manager role.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:





Here Are Some of the Questions Asked in This Discussion:

How did you prepare yourself for transitioning from design to leadership, and what were some resources, mentors, or training programs that assisted you during this journey?
How have the transferable skills you learned from your previous roles in ASCE benefited you in your current job or work?
How do you communicate your projected career timeline to upper management clearly and positively?
If you transition from design to management, what are some key actions you would prioritize in your first three months as a manager?
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from a technical engineering role to a managerial position?
Is moving into the role of project coordinator the recommended first step for transitioning into a project management position?
Are there any books on management skills that you would recommend?
Is there a lack of emotional intelligence training for engineers in general, and particularly for managers in the industry?
Can you provide a summary of our discussion today?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Become a Successful Civil Engineering Manager:


Moving into civil engineering leadership from design work involves mastering technical skills, project management capabilities (like scoping and budgeting), and effective people leadership. Enhancing public speaking and engaging with diverse groups through committees or mentorship are key steps toward becoming a successful leader in this field.
The transferable skills gained from previous roles in ASCE, such as project management, organizational abilities, and effective communication, can greatly benefit individuals in their current jobs or work. These skills enable professionals to effectively manage projects, coordinate with diverse stakeholders, and navigate complex interactions, which are essential for success in civil engineering beyond technical expertise.
To communicate your projected career timeline to upper management clearly and positively, begin by initiating open discussions about your career aspirations and goals. Express interest in specific roles or paths within the organization and seek feedback on the skills and expectations needed to advance. This proactive approach demonstrates your readiness and enthusiasm for career growth, facilitating constructive dialogue and alignment with the company's objectives.
Transitioning from design to management requires key actions in the first three months. Start by establishing clear communication with your team to promote collaboration. Develop leadership skills like delegation and decision-making. Set strategic goals aligned with organizational objectives for measurable outcomes. These steps will build a strong foundation for successful management in this transition.
One of the biggest challenges you'll face when transitioning from a technical engineering role to a managerial position is shifting your focus from technical expertise to leadership and decision-making. It requires letting go of hands-on work and developing new skills like delegation and effective communication.
Moving into the role of project coordinator can be a valuable first step for transitioning into a project management position, especially if you're seeking opportunities to assist and learn from experienced project managers. However,

In this episode, I talk with Terry Dussault, president of Yellowknife Consulting Services, about improving workplace safety through training and implementing hazard communication and safe work standards to boost productivity and morale. Terry emphasizes the importance of comprehensive safety practices, covering accident prevention with equipment, vehicle safety, and protection from airborne contaminants.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Terry:

What steps should supervisors take to enhance workplace safety?
How can practical aspects of safety be effectively incorporated into training sessions?
In what ways does implementing a hazard communication and safe work standards system impact employee productivity and morale?
What factors are driving the increase in hazardous communication, workplace safety issues, and strikes, and how can businesses effectively manage these risks?
Given the rising risks, how should businesses address and manage them effectively?
How do you recommend employers ensure compliance and safety in the workplace?
To ensure compliance and safety regarding powered industrial trucks like forklifts, what recommendations do you have given their prevalent use and inherent risks?
What are the essential elements for ensuring compliance and safety in the workplace?
How can workplace incidents involving workers being struck by vehicles, trucks, and equipment be prevented, and how can the consequences be minimized?
Are workplaces utilizing technology to address the issue of people being struck by vehicles?
What measures can employers take to protect workers from airborne contaminants, and how can these actions mitigate financial and legal consequences for the company?
What specific biological hazards are present in manufacturing and aerospace workplaces?
What advice would you offer to engineers and safety professionals who are starting their careers to ensure workplace safety and environmental compliance?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Best Practices for Implementing Training in Workplace Safety:


Supervisors should undergo thorough training on safety protocols and communication skills to enhance workplace safety. Employers should provide ongoing support and follow-up to ensure that safety standards are consistently implemented and maintained.
To incorporate practical safety aspects into training sessions, use interactive exercises in the classroom to engage participants and reinforce learning. Follow this with hands-on practice in real job settings, including performance evaluations, to enhance safety skills beyond theory, especially in high-risk industries like construction.
Implementing hazard communication and safe work standards positively impacts employee productivity and morale by providing clear safety guidelines and a safer work environment. Workers feel valued and secure in environments with strong safety programs, leading to higher morale and improved productivity.
The increase in hazardous communication, workplace safety issues, and strikes is fueled by incidents leading to financial losses, regulatory fines, injuries, property damage, or security breaches. To manage these risks, businesses should prioritize safety improvements, implement robust hazard communication programs, conduct regular safety training, and foster a safety-conscious culture where employees actively participate in safety initiatives.
Implementing a robust safety program with incident and near-miss reporting helps companies identify and address risks early, preventing serious incidents like lead exposure. Regular site inspections and proactive safety measures not only ensure w...

In this episode, I talk with Steven M. Rienks, P.E., PMP, director of engineering at American Surveying & Engineering, about the intricate world of the ASCE Code of Ethics, exploring its historical roots, pivotal importance, and its significant influence on the realm of civil engineering.

***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:



Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Steven:

What led to your interest in the American Society of Civil Engineers Code of Ethics?
Can you give a summary of how the ASCE Code of Ethics has developed and changed over the years?
How do you view the importance of the preamble of the ASCE Code of Ethics in guiding your ethical practices throughout your career?
How has the preamble of the ASCE Code of Ethics influenced your career?
When you reflect on the ASCE Code of Ethics and its impact on your career, do you prioritize the well-being of the five key stakeholders affected by your work?
How do you manage the diverse interests of various stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcomes as a civil engineer?
Do you think any of these areas are sometimes overlooked in engineering when prioritizing public health, safety, and welfare while considering clients, employers, peers, and the environment?
What are typical ethical challenges or dilemmas that civil engineers encounter?
How important do you believe the ASCE complaint form is for maintaining professional integrity in addressing ethical concerns that may arise in the field?
If a genuine ethical issue arises after submitting a complaint, would you report it to the appropriate local board for further action?
When encountering ethical dilemmas, where do you suggest professionals seek assistance or guidance, particularly in complex situations?
When you encounter an ethical complaint, should you understand how the company handles it from a human resources perspective?
How does the ASCE Code of Ethics support engineers in their professional growth and development?
What advice would you give to new aspiring civil engineers starting their careers?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Implementing the ASCE Code of Ethics in Professional Practices:


Steven's interest in the American Society of Civil Engineers Code of Ethics was sparked when he obtained and displayed version two of the code, received in 1980, in his offices for several years. Upon discovering a more recent version on the ASCE website presented in a simpler format, Steven reached out to ASCE to inquire about updating the code.
The ASCE Code of Ethics has evolved over the years, with the first version dating back to 1914, followed by a version from 1980, and the most recent one in 2020; however, he cannot provide specific details on the changes and development of the code since he was not involved in that committee.
Steven values the preamble of the ASCE Code of Ethics as it emphasizes essential principles such as creating safe infrastructure, treating everyone with respect and fairness, addressing societal needs, and improving quality of life, which have significantly guided his ethical practices throughout his career.
The preamble of the ASCE Code of Ethics has greatly influenced Steven's career by emphasizing principles like creating safe infrastructure, respecting individuals, addressing societal needs, and enhancing quality of life, and guiding his ethical decisions and conduct.
When reflecting on the ASCE Code of Ethics and its impact on his career, Steven prioritizes the well-being of the five key stakeholders affected by engineering work: society, the natural and built environment, the engineering profession, clients and employers, and peers.