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TCEP-The Civil Engineering Podcast

TCEP 149: The Business of Engineering — Scaling an Engineering Firm

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scaling an engineering firmIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Brian Saunders, founder and CEO of BigTime Software. Brian talks to us about the business of engineering, and more specifically, about scaling an engineering firm and provide some great on how you can grow your engineering firm.

Engineering Quotes:

scaling an engineering firm

scaling an engineering firm

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Brian:

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TCEP 148: How AEC Professionals Can Continue to Learn and Grow in This New ‘Normal’

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AEC ProfessionalsLearning is essential to our existence.  It is an indispensable tool for every career and organization. In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I provide five ways that AEC firms can deliver training and make sure that their professionals continue to learn during what many people are calling the ‘new normal.’

Engineering Quotes:

AEC Professionals

AEC Professionals

Here Are Five Ways AEC Firms Can Ensure Their Professionals Continue to Learn and Grow in This ‘New Normal’

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TCEP 147: Surviving and Thriving in the Age of Digital Transformation

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digital transformationIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Bret Tushaus, project director at Deltek, about digital transformation and how AE firms will need to be tech-savvy and innovative to survive and thrive in the world we live in today. He also shares an inspiring story about his career change that brought him into the software world.

Engineering Quotes:

digital transformation

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Bret:

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TCEP 146: What Does Hostage Negotiation Have to Do With Consulting Engineers?

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Hostage NegotiationIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Dan Oblinger about hostage negotiation. Dan explains how hostage negotiation fits into consulting engineering and also provides five specific ways that engineering firms should look at to evaluate their negotiation and communication abilities.

Engineering Quotes:

Hostage Negotiation

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Dan:

  • With the current situation in the United States, is it a challenge for you to go to work every day?
  • Can you talk to us about how you got into consulting with engineers and how you went to some AE companies and pitched the idea of negotiation to them?
  • What should civil engineering consultants look for to evaluate their negotiation and communication abilities?
  • Do you have a framework in your day-to-day hostage negotiations?
  • Are there specific strategies that you use in your negotiations?
  • Is there a challenging situation that you dealt with that you are open to sharing with our listeners?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Negotiation Culture in Your Civil Engineering Practice:

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TCEP 145: What High School Students and Undergraduates Should Know About Civil Engineering

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high school studentsIn this episode I talk about what high school students and young adults should know about a career in civil engineering. This episode is intended to be a resource that you can share with high school students and their parents to inform them about the profession of civil engineering. You can also view this episode on our YouTube channel.

Engineering Quotes:

high school students

high school students

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode: 

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TCEP 144: How the Coronavirus Crisis Will Change Commercial Construction in the U.S.

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commercial constructionIn episode 144 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Jennifer Goodman, writer and editor at Construction Dive, about how the coronavirus crisis has changed commercial construction and what the general outlook will be for the rest of the year and beyond.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Jennifer Goodman of Construction Dive:

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TCEP 143: COVID-19: Mitigating Impacts on Construction Projects

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construction projectsIn this episode, I talk to Will Buckby LLB MCIHT, a Contracts and Projects Lawyer at Beale & Co. Will discusses the impact COVID-19 is going to have on the construction markets and projects, what relief is available out there for contractors and consultants, and what notices they should be giving to their employees.

Disclaimer: Please note, the information is this podcast episode and all associated documentation is not legal advice and should NOT be taken as such.  Consult with your own attorney for legal advice related to your projects.  EMI is NOT a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Will Buckby:

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TCEP 142: Cybersecurity Tips for Civil Engineers Working Remotely During COVID-19

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cybersecurityIn this episode, I talk to Jonathan Hard, CEO and President of H2L Solutions, Inc. (H2L). H2L specializes in cyber and information assurance and provides cybersecurity solutions for government and commercial customers. Jonathan talks about cybersecurity, both what individual engineers can do to protect themselves in the world of homeworking and what engineering companies need to consider, and why the company should be working with the United States government.

Engineering Quotes:

Cybersecurity

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Jonathan Hard:

  • What are some of the key cybersecurity things that homeworkers should be thinking about?
  • Are there any other actions that an individual may want to be thinking about to strengthen their home cybersecurity systems beyond a VPN?
  • Are there things that company managers need to be thinking about with regard to additional items or activities to make sure that their staff is up to scratch with cybersecurity?
  • Can you explain what the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is?
  • As we look to the future, where do you see the IT industry going with regard to homeworking, businesses, and what you think the new normal is going to look like?
  • How can people get connected with you and learn more about what you and your company are doing?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Cybersecurity:

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TCEP 141: Tips for Civil Engineers on Crisis Management and Becoming Confident Leaders

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Crisis Management

In this episode, I talk with Andy Platz, PE, who is the CEO and President at Mead & Hunt. Andy talks about his career journey of how he went from being a fresh graduate to a CEO of a company. He provides some great crisis management tips to civil engineers and also gives very actionable advice to civil engineers aspiring to become leaders in the field. Andy also talks about how he and other leaders at Mead & Hunt are leading their firm through this COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Engineering Quotes:

Crisis Management

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Andy:

  • Can you please tell us about your career progression as a civil engineer?
  • As a leader of a civil engineering company, how do you manage crisis management at your firm?
  • How has your staff responded to this time?
  • How does one be prepared for something like this pandemic?
  • Was being the CEO a career goal that you had early on in your career?
  • Are there any skills and characteristics that you find in a lot of civil engineering leaders that allow them to be in leadership roles?
  • What is your philosophy on social media and how an engineer and engineering firm should utilize it?
  • How do you think being an ESOP (or having employee owners) impacts the culture of a company?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Crisis Management and Becoming Confident Leaders:

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TCEP 140: A Near Death Experience, the COVID-19 Coronavirus, and How Civil Engineers Can Help Reduce the Spread of Pandemics

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Coronavirus

In this episode, we focus on a topic that is on everyone’s minds — the coronavirus and how it should be a wake-up call to civil engineers. And we’re discussing this with Michael Paddock, PE, PS, a licensed civil engineer and surveyor. Twenty years ago, Mike was told he had three to six months to live and since then, through Engineers Without Borders (EWB), he’s helped to grow communities around the world. He also talks about his work managing mega civil engineering projects, and the one thing you must be able to handle to do so.

Engineering Quotes:

Coronavirus

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michael:

  • Can you tell us about how you went from civil engineering to dedicating your time to Engineers Without Borders?
  • How old were you when you got the news about your stage 4 cancer?
  • When you get this news from the doctor, how did you proceed over the coming months?
  • You recently wrote an article for ASCE entitled, “Coronavirus a Wake-Up Call for Civil Engineers.” Can you tell us about the article?
  • How did you find out about EWB and what moved you towards them?
  • EWB is a membership organization. Could you please explain to us how it works?
  • Did finding out that you had cancer change your life philosophy?
  • What is it like to manage mega-projects?
  • What are some of the skills needed to be able to work on mega-projects?
  • In terms of getting good at managing mega-projects, is on the job experience the main way to get good?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Coronavirus and How We as Civil Engineers Can Make an Impact

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