Engineering Management Institute

Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs

TCEP 185: How to Grow a Civil Engineering Company Successfully

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Grow a Civil Engineering Company

In this episode, the ninth episode in our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs Series, I talk to Brian Barker, P.E., M.S., Principal at Deuel & Associates about how to start and grow a civil engineering company successfully, specifically some of the challenge you will face when you start, and how to overcome them.  Brian also talks about how you can reduce your company’s risk through client diversification.

Engineering Quotes:

Grow a Civil Engineering Company

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Brian:

  • How do you find, develop, and retain the right people in your firm?
  • What markets can a civil engineer think of getting into to grow their company?
  • Are there benefits to having an in-house surveying component in a civil engineering company?
  • What needs to be focused on daily to continue the growth of your company?
  • What advice do you have for civil engineers getting into the leadership part of a civil engineering company?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Grow a Civil Engineering Company:

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TCEP 180: From Employee to Owner of a Civil Engineering Company (In Just 60 Days)

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Civil Engineering Company

In this episode, the eighth episode in our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs Series, I talk to Kevin Riggs, P.E., President & CEO at Cole Design Group, Inc. about growing a civil engineering company and developing your team. He also shares a very interesting story of how he went from an employee to owner of a large firm in just 60 days.

Engineering Quotes:

Civil Engineering Company

Civil Engineering Company

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Kevin:

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TCEP 178: Growing Your Civil Engineering Firm: Being Proactive, Not Reactive

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Growing Your Civil Engineering Firm

In this episode, the seventh in our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs (CEE) series, I talk to Bonnie Moss, P.E., President at MBCO Engineering, LLC, as part of our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs series about growing your civil engineering firm and why being proactive offers a business a lot of advantages.

Engineering Quotes:


Growing Your Civil Engineering Firm

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Bonnie Moss, P.E.:

  • How has the experience of working for a public agency helped you in growing your (private consulting) company?
  • Do you have a process for identifying who needs training or development to ensure you are consistently developing your people?
  • Do you have specific metrics, measurables, or numbers that you are looking at regularly to monitor the health of your company?
  • Trickling down to the people who work in the company, are they held accountable through key performance indicators?
  • Does your company emphasize capturing core processes that can be practiced consistently throughout the company?
  • How often do you have meetings in your company, and what do those meetings look like?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Growing Your Civil Engineering Firm: 

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TCEP 175: Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2021 Report

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Future of Work in Engineering

In the episode that is part of our Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs series, I talk to Peter Atherton, P.E., President and Founder of ActionsProve, LLC, and author of Reversing Burnout, about the recently released Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2021 Report.

The 2021 report was conducted by Actions Prove, in partnership with the Engineering Management Institute, and created based on a survey with 587 engineers and architects in the U.S. The goal was to examine whether individuals and AEC companies see a viable career path in “mixed hybrid” work — which includes both flexible formats for traditional jobs and independent careers — for engineers and architects. The study also examines whether employers are prepared to engage independent professionals under these new conditions.

There are four different frameworks throughout the Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2021 report, and in this episode, we talk about one of them that highlights the key considerations for transitioning to a hybrid workforce model.

Engineering Quotes:


Future of Work in Engineering

4 Key Considerations Related to Remote Work that AEC Employers Should Be Aware of:

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

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vision-driven civil engineering company

In 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 170: Leading a Fast-Growing Civil Engineering Company in Today’s World

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fast-growing civil engineering company

In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Peter Moore, P.E., LEED AP, ENV SP, F.ASCE, President of Chen Moore and Associates, and official nominee for worldwide ASCE President-Elect in 2021 about his experience over the years being a leader at a very fast-growing civil engineering company. The interesting part about his experience is that he became a part-owner at a very young age. He also discusses his vision as nominee for the ASCE President-Elect 2021.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Peter:

  1. How do you personally make sure you are working on the right things each day when leading a fast-growing civil engineering company?
  2. When you have a fast-growing civil engineering company, how do you identify and solve problems?
  3. How important is it to create and document core processes and practice them consistently across the company?
  4. How do you build your company culture and carry it through in the company?
  5. You are a nominee for the ASCE President-Elect in 2021. Can you share with us what your vision is as a nominee?

Here Are The Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Leading a Fast-Growing Civil Engineering Company:

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

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Vision-Driven Company

In 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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TCEP 166: Growing a Civil Engineering Firm: People Development Strategies

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Growing a Civil Engineering Firm

In this episode, which is part of the Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs series, I talk to Brian Smith, P.E., civil engineer and founding partner of Urban Design Partners, about growing a civil engineering firm, but specifically around growing your people.

Growing a Civil Engineering Firm

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Brian:

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TCEP 164: How to Effectively Measure Business Growth in Your Civil Engineering Firm

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In this episode, which is the first episode in our new Civil Engineering Entrepreneurs series, I talk to Gordon Greene, P.E., of Patel, Greene & Associates about how to effectively measure business growth and the use of standing operating procedures in the business world.

Engineering Quotes:

Measure Business Growth

Measure Business Growth

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Gordon:

  • Why is it important for a company to have a vision or mission statement?
  • How do you ensure that the everyday tasks or actions that your people are taking are contributing toward the overall vision?
  • What is your philosophy around meetings?
  • Does every person in your company have a goal or goals that they are working toward, and are these goals aligned with the vision of the company?
  • Are there specific metrics, indicators, or numbers that you use to effectively measure business growth at your company?
  • How often do you monitor those metrics and what tools do you use to monitor them?
  • What have you found to be the most important indicator in the terms of the health of your civil engineering firm?
  • Are the people who work in the company held accountable through key performance indicators and other metrics?
  • Does your company emphasize capturing core processes that can be practiced consistently throughout the company?
  • As a leader, how do you ensure these processes are captured and practiced consistently across the company and that they are followed by all the employees?
  • As the company grows, should you consider stepping away from the project work?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Measuring Business Growth:

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