TCEP-The Civil Engineering Podcast

TCEP 126: Starting A Civil Engineering Firm

September 11, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 126 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will be talking with Dax Hoff, PE who is the founder and owner of Dax Consulting. Dax outlines the process of starting a civil engineering firm and also covers some of the aspects of building an engineering business including finding new business and hiring the right people.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Dax:

Tell us about your background and career journey and how you got to where you are today.
Take us through your thought process of deciding on starting a civil engineering firm.
Did you always feel that you wanted to become a business owner?
What are some of the benefits to starting a civil engineering firm?
What are some of the risks in starting your own business?
How do you bring in new business when starting and growing a civil engineering firm?
Talk to us about the process of hiring engineering staff?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Starting A Civil Engineering Firm:

TCEP 125: The Design Build Project Delivery Process and Why It Will Continue to Become More Popular

August 28, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 125 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is our second episode in our Women in Civil Engineering series, I will be talking to Mary Lang, P.E., P.P., LEED GA, who is a principal at Yu & Associates. Mary will discuss design build and what civil engineers should know about this delivery process, which while it has been around for a while, continues to become more and more popular.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Mary:

What advice can you give some of the younger female engineers out there?
Tell us about the time you took a break in your career to raise your children?
What is Design Build?
What are the benefits and risks of using this delivery process from the engineer’s perspective?
Do you see Design Build becoming more popular moving forward?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Design Build:

TCEP 124: Technology, Innovation, and Smart Cities – What Civil Engineers Need to Know

August 14, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 124 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will be taking you with me to Philadelphia where we will be visiting the offices of Pennoni to talk to Joseph Viscuso, PE, PLS, ENV SP who serves as Pennoni’s Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Growth. We will be talking about smart cities and specifically about understanding how important it is to embrace technology and to be innovative in your career. Viscuso also elaborates on the next wave of technology which is heavily reliant on the 5G network and also the threats that cyber security has on smart cities. You can also view this episode on YouTube. You don’t want to miss this one!

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Joe:

I know that you spend a lot of your time traveling to different cities and venues to discuss innovation and technology—why do you think that is important for the future of firms like Pennoni?
How do you see innovation/technology changing the everyday landscape in the engineering profession?
If I gave you a crystal ball, what would you see about the future of smart cities?
If I gave you a magic wand, how would you use it to increase smart city momentum?
We have heard a lot about cyber security threats – how can this impact smart cities?
What are some of the challenges for cities to adopt smart technologies?
What can residents do to move the conversation further on smart city solutions?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Smart Cities, Technology and Innovation:

TCEP 123: Women in Civil Engineering – Inclusion, Diversity, and STEM Oh My!

July 31, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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Monica Morales, PE, ENV SP

In episode 123 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Monica Morales, PE, ENV SP who is a water engineer for Jacobs in their Los Angeles office. This is the first episode in a special series we are publishing entitled Women in Civil Engineering. In this episode, we will focus on the importance of inclusion and diversity in engineering. Monica also discusses sustainability through STEM Outreach and the importance of women in engineering.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Monica:

What does it mean to be a statistically improbable engineer, like yourself?
Tell us more about the statistics for the United States in terms of diversity in engineering and civil engineering?
Talk to us about the importance of inclusion and diversity?
What can we do to help more under-served students to pursue STEM careers?
Why do you think it is important for engineering employers to diversify their leadership?
How do you make STEM activities fun for students?
Tell us more about drawing girls into STEM specifically?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:

TCEP 122: How to Work Faster but Also Work Smarter as a Civil Engineering Professional

July 17, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 122 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I provide some strategies for working faster but also working smarter as a civil engineering professional. In today’s fast paced world, engineers need to work faster to get everything on their plates accomplished. Working fast often leads to making many mistakes which can be catastrophic in the civil engineering world, but what if you could work faster, but also smarter? If you can do this, you will be setting yourself up for major success.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 7 Strategies That You Can Use to Work Faster but Also Work Smarter as a Civil Engineering Professional:

TCEP 121: From Engineer to CEO and Everything In-Between

July 3, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 121 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will be bringing you with me to visit with William T. Thomsen, PE, who is the President and CEO of Urban Engineers of New York, DPC. We will be talking about his career journey and what has factored into his success and progression from engineer to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He’ll also talk about how his Engineering Management degree has helped him in his career.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Bill Thomsen, PE:

Take us through your career progression from engineer to CEO?
At what point in your career did you become part of the executive leadership team?
What does it take to manage large scale projects like the ones you have managed?
Your father was the President of a construction company, how did his career influence your career?
You have a degree in Engineering Management, how has that degree helped you?
What worries you about the Civil Engineering industry right now?
Is it possible to have work-life balance as an engineering executive?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Going from Engineer to CEO:

TCEP 120: The State of the Structural Engineering Industry from the ASCE SEI Structures Congress Part 2

June 19, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 120 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, you are going to hear interviews from my recent visit to the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Structures Congress. The interviews will cover both technical and professional development topics related to civil and structural engineering as well as personal development including effective communication skills for engineers.

This is the second of a two part series. The first part can be found here on our new sister podcast The Structural Engineering Channel which you can find in iTunes here.

Engineering Quotes:

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

TCEP 119: Working in the Public Sector Versus Private Sector for Civil Engineering Professionals

June 5, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 119 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I visit with John M. Keller PE, PMP, who serves as the Executive Director of The New Jersey Turnpike Authority. We talk about the differences between working in the public sector versus private sector and John provides some very specific examples, which may help you if you are deciding between these two career paths.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask John Keller during the interview:

TCEP 118: Information Civil Engineers Should Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success

May 22, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 118 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I visit with Karen Morgan, P.E. who is the owner and founder of the AEC Proposal Institute. We discuss what information civil engineering professionals need to seek up-front for proposal writing success. Morgan discusses 5 specific points that you can use as a checklist to ensure you write more winning proposals.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 5 Important Points Engineers Should Always Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success:

TCEP 117: The Importance of Staying Calm, Cool, and Collected as a Civil Engineering Professional

May 8, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 117 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I visit with Tracy Bratton, PE. who is the Land Development Division Manager at Doucet & Associates, based in Austin Texas. We talk about the importance of staying calm, cool, and collected as a civil engineering professional. We also talk about the role that sound technical experience plays in an engineer’s confidence level as well as the ability to manage projects.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Tracy:

Tell us about your career journey.
Tell us about the time you spend in Venezuela.
When you started working in Land Development, was it something that you initially liked doing?
Talk about the importance of having sound technical knowledge in your field in order to become a successful manager.
What are some of the things you learned about managing teams in different locations?

TCEP-The Civil Engineering Podcast

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Dax:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Starting A Civil Engineering Firm:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Mary:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Design Build:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Joe:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Smart Cities, Technology and Innovation:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Monica:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 7 Strategies That You Can Use to Work Faster but Also Work Smarter as a Civil Engineering Professional:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Bill Thomsen, PE:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Going from Engineer to CEO:

Engineering Quotes:

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

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask John Keller during the interview:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 5 Important Points Engineers Should Always Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Tracy:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Staying Calm, Cool, and Collected as a Civil Engineering Professional: