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TCEP 173: How to Build a Vision-Driven Civil Engineering Company

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vision-driven civil engineering companyIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, that is part of our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs series, I talk to Rene Portieles II, P.E., the Chief Executive Officer of Epic Forensics & Engineering, Inc. about his journey of starting an engineering company and how today, they are building a vision-driven civil engineering company around one very important theme. Stick around until the end to hear some of the great advice Rene gives, not just to grow a company, but also to grow as an engineering professional.

Engineering Quotes:

vision-driven civil engineering company


Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Rene:

  • Tell us more about your family history, and history in contracting and how that has been valuable in what you are doing today?
  • What is forensic engineering?
  • What does a mission/vision statement mean to you in terms of growing a civil engineering firm, and how do you utilize it at Epic Forensics & Engineering?
  • How do you share your mission/vision with the company?
  • How big is Epic Forensics & Engineering?
  • What are some of the typical problems you see in engineering firms when they are trying to grow or scale a company?
  • How do you find, develop, and retain the right people in your firm?
  • What advice can you give civil engineers out there who are trying to grow their companies?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Building a Vision-Driven Civil Engineering Company:

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TCEP 172: Intelligent Infrastructure: A New Vision for Civil Engineering Professionals

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Intelligent InfrastructureIn this episode, I talk to Dr. Luna Lu Ph.D., the ACPA Professor and Director of the Center for Intelligent Infrastructure at Purdue University, about intelligent infrastructure and how it can benefit civil engineers and the community.

Engineering Quotes:

Intelligent Infrastructure

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Dr. Luna Lu Ph.D.:

  • Can you please provide us with an update on the condition of the U.S. infrastructure from your perspective?
  • Please tell us more about the discovery of functional nanomaterials with tunable properties for energy harvesting and infrastructure sensing applications, and what intelligent infrastructure is?
  • How would you say one can achieve intelligence?
  • What is the overall goal you would like to achieve with the research on sensors that could speed up construction schedules?
  • In your article in The Exponent called “Building the way to a smart future,” it mentions that smart infrastructure aims to create roadways and bridges that can communicate with cars and collect data. How will that work?
  • Can you share with our listeners some of the other exciting projects you are currently working on?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Intelligent Infrastructure:

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TCEP 168: The Importance of Having a Vision-Driven Company (and Developing Your People)

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Vision-Driven CompanyIn this episode, the third in our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs series, I talk to Jenny Snape, P.E., Managing Partner at Batture, LLC about building a vision-driven company with a social mission that does both profit and pro-bono work.

Engineering Quotes:

Vision-Driven Company

Vision-Driven Company

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Jenny:

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3 Reasons You Must Set Your Vision Before Setting Your Professional Goals

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vision

Anthony and I are both proponents of goal setting.  We’ll each tell you that if you’re unsure of what action to take next, don’t do anything until you’ve re-focused your goals.  Why?  Goals serve as a target against which we can take aim and focus our energies.  As an engineer, setting goals must become second nature.

Because you’re in the profession of bringing goals into reality.

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TECC 90: Vision Setting and Blueprinting for Long-Range Vector Setting for Engineers

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Vector Setting for Engineers

In this episode, Chris Knutson and I dive into long-term goal setting or vector setting for engineers and give you some actionable steps on how to do it.

Vector Setting for Engineers

Key points:

The best way to shape the future of your engineering career is to design it.  Here is a summary of this episode which can help you to design your ideal career.

A vision is a statement of what future success looks like and is not tied to a timeframe (the question of why).

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Vision, Vista, and Volume: A Better Approach to Thinking About Success

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Discussions about achieving success are typically approached in one dimension.  We talk about vision, breadth of experience and work/life balance in stovepipe segments as if one doesn’t influence the other.  Much of the blogging and books on success I’ve read follow this track.  They touch on the three dimensions, but only on that dimension.   The truth is, however, that success we realize in any undertaking comes about only through our actions in three dimensions.  A better approach to thinking about success takes into account our own vision, our vista (breadth of experience) and volume (depth we give to each undertaking).

Working on any one dimension is good but it leaves value on the table.  We don’t get the benefit of identifying the interrelations, or lack of them, between, the dimensions.  For example, let’s say your vision for success in life includes ‘providing guidance to others and using my engineering skills to help my community’.  If your breadth of experience includes prior leadership roles and the knowledge of the engineering challenges and opportunities at the community level, then your vision and vista align.  On the other hand, if you’ve never been in a leadership role and therefore lack experience on how to guide others, then your vision and vista are out of alignment.  You’ll need to identify an opportunity where you can fill the gap on leadership to develop your skill in guiding others. [Read more…] about Vision, Vista, and Volume: A Better Approach to Thinking About Success

TGEP 34: Earth Retention Systems in Geotechnical Engineering

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Earth Retention SystemsIn this episode, we talk to Stan Worst, P.E., the Operations Manager at Schnabel Geostructural Design & Construction about the ever-changing profession of geotechnical engineering and more specifically, earth retention systems, and how they have changed over the past twenty years.

Engineering Quotes:

Earth Retention Systems

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Stan:

  • Please could you explain what earth retention systems are?
  • How have typical earth retention projects grown or changed over the past twenty years?
  • Tell us about a challenging earth retention project you have worked on in the past and how it has benefited your engineering career?
  • Getting an engineering degree does not always prepare engineering students to be managers. How do you feel about that statement, and how can engineering students better prepare themselves for managerial roles?
  • What skills are lacking in newly graduating engineers, and what skills do they have which most working professionals do not have?
  • What advice do you have for engineers to find and develop the next generation of engineering talent?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Earth Retention Systems in Geotechnical Engineering:

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TSEC 61: How to Choose the Right Structural Framing System for a Building

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Structural Framing SystemIn this episode, we talk to Jim Amundson, P.E., SE, Vice President, and Principal at Coffman Engineers, about important aspects you need to know about when selecting the appropriate structural framing system for a building.

Engineering Quotes:

Structural Framing System

Structural Framing System

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Jim:

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TECC 256: Finding the Right Engineering Career Path (That Best Fits Your Professional Passion)

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engineering career pathIn this episode, we talk to Zakary Smith, an entrepreneur, innovator, and the founder of Instaversal, an engineering company that creates true partnerships that enable companies that develop and scale products to accelerate their complete product development lifecycle, connecting with a vetted global supply chain of experts. Zack provides some great tips on how you can find the right engineering career path that best suits your passions.

Engineering Quotes:

engineering career path

engineering career path

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Finding the Right Engineering Career Path:

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What the Redefinition of Winning Means for Your Success

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This is a guest blog by Peter C. Atherton, P.E.

Redefinition of WinningTo be successful as leaders and leadership teams, we need to see both the “big picture” and what’s happening “on the ground” within our firms and the marketplace.  

Being a leader at any level is about constantly looking for problems to solve and opportunities to realize — but which ones are the right ones, which ones have the greatest return on investment, and in what order should we pursue them?  

The Big Picture 

As part of my work these days as a management consultant, I purposely look for meaningful patterns of issues and opportunities that express themselves in leadership teams throughout the industry, across the country, and in both smaller and larger firms.  

And to this end, I see eight great challenges changing our industry in real time:  

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