Engineering Management Institute

UPCOMING TRAINING

Building Confidence: Empathetic Stakeholder Engagement

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Empathetic Stakeholder Engagement is a guest blog by Michael Burns, PE, PgMP, DBIA

Stakeholder EngagementPreviously, I encouraged you to broadly engage your network as you explore your professional intentions, creating balance, reducing stress, and inspiring learning objectives. A positive step in a naturally closed system, relying on trusted peers. Yet, as professionals in the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry, we learn early on in our careers that a wide variety of dynamic voices, which we refer to as stakeholders influence our work and the infrastructure assets we deliver. For sustained success, we must consider the voices who inform and are informed by our work.  

So how do we build confidence as we face challenges, working with these dynamic stakeholder groups? The Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of many good resources to learn the science associated with stakeholder management. Let’s focus on the art of engaging diverse voices for our collective success — personally, professionally, and across the project delivery lifecycle.  

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Meet Mathew Picardal, P.E. – An Engineer Focused on Inspiring the Next Generation of Structural Engineers

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The Engineering Management Institute is thrilled to have Mathew Picardal, P.E. as host of the Structural Engineering Channel Podcast. Mathew is a licensed engineer practicing structural engineering in California. He recently started a YouTube channel called Mat Picardal Structural Engineering Life to inspire the next generation of structural engineers. In Mathew’s own words he started the YouTube channel because,

“When I was a student, I would google things on the internet to find out what the structural engineering field was like, but there wasn’t a lot of good positive content out there that was really useful.”

Mathew’s role as host of EMI’s podcast, The Structural Engineering Channel, is yet another way for him to give back to the structural engineering community.  He currently hosts The Structural Engineering Channel alongside Alexis A. Clark, P.E., Structural Engineering Trade Manager at HILTI North America.  The show serves to bring important industry information, including technical and non-technical news, to practicing structural engineers worldwide.

The show has already covered topics including BIM and Collaboration Between Structural Engineers and Drafters, Sustainability and Resilience in Structural Engineering, The Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity (SE3) Project, and CROSS (Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety) Is Now Here in the United States.

The Structural Engineering Channel podcast is published bi-monthly on Thursday mornings and is available on Apple Podcasts and other popular podcast outlets.

“My goal is to inspire the youth to become more involved in the structural engineering profession, whether it is getting involved in your professional societies or just help mentor the next generation of structural engineers.” – Mathew Picardal, PE, Structural Project Manager at DCI Engineers

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TCEP 137: The Role of Project Management in Consulting Engineering

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Consulting EngineeringIn this episode, I talk to Ann Tomalavage, PE, PMP, LEED AP, a licensed professional engineer who has spent the last 20+ years training engineering professionals on how to become great project managers. Ann talks about some of the key points to becoming a successful project manager, and she also discusses the role of project management in consulting engineering.

Engineering Quotes:

Consulting Engineering

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Ann Tomalavage:

  • How did you get into project management training and how did you become so interested and passionate about the topic of project management?
  • What differences could an engineer expect when transitioning from a project engineer to a project manager role?
  • What made you decide to start a project management training course?
  • You recently talked at an ACEC event on project management; could you tell us about it and the feedback that you received from the audience?
  • What would you say is one of the biggest challenges for engineers in terms of making the transition to project management?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About The Role of Project Management in Consulting Engineering:

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Take Action Despite Uncertainty

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This is a guest blog by Jeff Perry

Take Action

“Treat mistakes as learning, not failure” ~ Dan Sullivan 
“Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast” ~ Tom Peters  
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” ~ Thomas Edison 
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” ~ Winston Churchill 

These quotes, and others like them, seem to be preached more and more, all of the time. Viewing failure in this way is actually quite important; it allows us to move through uncertainty, even though that uncertainty can be a source of great fear. But believing in the principle doesn’t mean it’s automatically easy to actually do it. So how do we deal with fear, move through uncertainty, and take action anyway? Here are four ideas:

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TSEC 18: Blast Protection and Active Shooter Mitigation in Structural Engineering

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Blast ProtectionIn this episode of The Structural Engineering Channel Podcast, we talk to Sharon Gallant PE, SE, managing principal at KPFF Consulting Engineers. Sharon talks about blast protection and shares some interesting insights about active shooter and hostile vehicle mitigation related to structural engineering design.

Engineering Quotes:

Blast Protection

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Sharon in This Episode:

  • Could you give our listeners an idea about your career journey to date and what you focus on today as a structural engineer?
  • Can you tell us about your involvement in the ASCE SEI Structures Congress?
  • Can you tell us about the history of blast engineering?
  • How have you seen the threat of terrorism most impact the job of structural engineers?
  • What type of people would benefit the most from going to the panel you are presenting at the Congress?
  • Can you give us a sneak peek into the session entitled Active Shooter Mitigation: Ballistic Hardening and Other Ideas, which you will be presenting at the SEI Congress?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Blast Protection and Active Shooter Mitigation in Structural Engineering:

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How to Seek out Mentorship in Construction and Engineering

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This is a guest blog by Holly Welles

Mentorship in ConstructionIn many professions, it’s easy to find a mentor, primarily when you work with those who have years of experience. Unfortunately, this often isn’t the case for construction workers and engineers, as more and more young people enter the field every year. Mentors are a valuable resource for many as they provide insight, guidance, and career opportunities. Here are a few ways you can seek out mentorship in construction and engineering. 

Mentorship in Construction

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TCEP 136: How to Network Effectively as a Civil Engineer — Even as an Introvert

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Network EffectivelyIn episode 136 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am going to give you three actions that you can use to network effectively and build relationships. These networking tips will help you improve your relationship-building skills and give your civil engineering career a jumpstart, whether you are an introvert or an extrovert.

Network Effectively

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Networking:

  • According to the dictionary, the word “introvert” refers to a shy person. Many engineers are labeled as introverts because they are analytical, technical, and deal with details.
  • As engineers progress in their careers, their managers often expect them to build relationships and bring in new business to the firm. When you can’t do that, it can become a barrier to advancement in your career.
  • Networking should be thought of as building relationships. If you take on that mindset, it will be easier to become a successful networker and excel in your career.

Here Are Three Specifics Actions You Can Take to Network Effectively:

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Designing Your Engineering “To Be” List

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

To Be ListImagine being your best self.

Imagine how much more content and less stressful life would be if you could “do you” really well and effectively—and do so all the time? 

The First Step Is to Imagine It

For most, being our best self includes: 

  1. Doing excellent work, 
  2. Doing what we do best every day, 
  3. Growing and advancing, and 
  4. Having a life and impact beyond our career alone. 

The good news is that these are all possible and all in our control. Once we imagine them, we can begin to take other steps to realize them. 

The Next Steps: 

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TSEC 17: Mentoring for Structural Engineers and a Special Introduction

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In episode 17 of The Structural Engineering Podcast, we will introduce a new co-host for the podcast and we will also cover a special topic in honor of January being National Mentorship Month. We are going to talk all about mentoring in general: how to find a mentor as a structural engineer, how to become a great mentor, and how mentorship programs can help structural engineering companies grow.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Mentoring for Structural Engineers:

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Engineering Management Institute Welcomes Alexis Clark, P.E. as New Host of the Structural Engineering Channel Podcast

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Ridgewood, NJ – Alexis A. Clark, P.E., Structural Engineering Trade Manager at HILTI North America, has contributed to the industry she loves, structural engineering, in many ways over the course of her career.  Her involvement in industry goes beyond technical contribution by serving at the local, state and national levels of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and empowering the next generation to pursue and succeed in STEM fields through her work as a Concrete Canoe judge, a tenured mentor for the ACE Mentor Program, and as President of the Board of Directors for The Girls interested in Engineering Math and Science (or GEMS) Camp in Texas.

The Engineering Management Institute recently invited Alexis to become one of the co-hosts of their latest podcast, The Structural Engineering Channel.  Alexis jumped at the opportunity.

“My number one goal with being the host of the structural engineering podcast is to be that filter to distill relevant, interesting, inspiring information that you would want to know as a structural engineer and deliver it to you in a way that is fun and convenient to access.” – Alexis A. Clark, P.E., Structural Engineering Trade Manager, HILTI North America

Alexis will host The Structural Engineering Channel alongside Mathew Picardal, P.E., also a licensed engineer, practicing on structural projects in California.  The show will serve to bring important industry information, including technical and non-technical news, to practicing structural engineers worldwide. [Read more…] about Engineering Management Institute Welcomes Alexis Clark, P.E. as New Host of the Structural Engineering Channel Podcast