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TCEP 086: Talking Through a Huge Civil Engineering Career Decision

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Civil Engineering Career DecisionIn episode 086 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with one of our listeners who is facing a difficult civil engineering career decision. He has to decide whether or not to stay in the private consulting sector or to move to a public career path.

Here are some of the questions I ask:

  • What discipline of civil engineering are you involved in and how long have you been practicing?
  • Are you considering government employment or working with a private contractor who is working for the government?
  • Where do you see yourself in your career 10 years from now?
  • What makes your work fulfilling?
  • What is the current breakdown of your department and what level are you at in at your department?

Engineering Quotes:

Civil Engineering Career Decision

Civil Engineering Career Decisions

Here are some key points discussed on making a critical civil engineering career decision:

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TCEP 085: From Taxi Driver to Globally Recognized Transportation Engineer Featuring Gridlock Sam Schwartz

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Sam SchwartzIn 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:

Sam Schwartz
Sam Schwartz

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

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TCEP 083: How Civil Engineers Can Create Added Value for Clients

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Create Added ValueIn 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:

Create Added Value

Create Added Value

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

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TCEP 082: One Civil Engineer’s Passion for Culture and Community

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Passion for Culture

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:

Passion for Culture

Passion for Culture

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

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TCEP 080: Is Civil Engineering Becoming a Commodity?

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Commodity

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:

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TCEP 075: 5 Steps to Selecting 80/20 Goals to Boost your Civil Engineering Career

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5 Steps to Selecting 80/20 Goals to Boost your Civil Engineering Career

Selecting 80/20 GoalsIn 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:


Selecting 80/20 Goals
Selecting 80/20 Goals

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

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TCEP 073: Civil Engineering Career Navigation Advice from a Young Engineering Manager

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Civil Engineering Career Navigation Advice from a Young Engineering Manager

Career NavigationIn 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:

Career Navigation

Career Navigation

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

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TCEP 068: How Hurricanes may Affect the Future of Civil Engineering

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hurricanesIn 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:

Hurricanes

Hurricanes

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

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TCEP 063: Challenging Aspects of Construction Engineering with Ralph Tulis

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Construction EngineeringIn 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

Construction Engineering
Construction Engineering

Construction Engineering

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

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TCEP 062: Growing a Civil Engineering Company from Day 1 to 15 Employees

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

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?

Engineering Quotes

Growing a Civil Engineering Company

Growing a Civil Engineering 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 8×10 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 wherGrowing a Civil Engineering Companye 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.

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To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success