Engineering Management Institute

UPCOMING TRAINING

Leadership/Management

TCEP 182: Five Tips for Improving In-House Training Programs for Civil Engineering Firms

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in-house trainingIn this episode,  I talk to Michael Dooley, P.E., LEED AP, the Principal at Bayer Becker about in-house training programs for civil engineers. Mike is involved with several professional organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (ULI), National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP), University of Cincinnati Real Estate Roundtable, and Tristate Society of Healthcare Engineers.  In this episode, he provides five great tips on how engineering leaders can improve their in-house training programs. 

Engineering Quotes:

in-house training

in-house training

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Mike:

  • Proper employee training is important. There’s some debate over if in-house training is the best approach. What is your opinion on this?
  • You have five tips that you would like to share with our listeners about how they can improve in-house training efforts. Tip number 1 is “Do your homework.” Talk to us about that one, please.
  • Tip number 2 is to find a balance between the technical and the human side. What does that mean, and how would one do that?
  • Tip number 3 is “diversification of thought and experience.” What do you mean by that?
  • Tip number 4 is “emphasis on storytelling.” What stories are you referring to here?
  • Tip number 5 is “rinse and repeat.” Explain this statement as related to training?
  • Any last pieces of advice on internal training programs?

Here Are The Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Improving In-House Training Programs for Civil Engineering Firms:

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TCEP 169: Civil Engineers Need To Lead the System of Systems

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lead the system of systemsIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Maria Lehman, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, the Director of U.S. Infrastructure at GHD, and an official nominee for the worldwide ASCE President-Elect 2021. Maria will be talking about America’s infrastructure, the ASCE Report Card, the needs of the civil engineering profession, and how civil engineers need to lead the system of systems.

Engineering Quotes:


Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Maria Lehman on How Civil Engineers Need to Lead the System of Systems:

  • The American Society of Civil Engineers unveiled their 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure on March 3rd. Can you share with us some of the results and grades that were given to the different sectors?
  • The Failure to Act: Economic Impacts of Status Quo Investment Across Infrastructure Systems quantifies how the persistent failure to invest in our aging infrastructure impacts the economy. Can you share some of its findings and how it affects the cost to families when we don’t invest in infrastructure?
  • How do you successfully deliver mega-projects? 
  • How would you say civil engineers need to lead the system of systems?
  • Do you have any advice for civil engineers out there who are planning to get involved with mega-projects, or who are considering pursuing a career similar to yours?
  • You are a nominee for the ASCE President-Elect 2021. Can you share with us what your vision is as a nominee?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Leading the Systems of Systems:

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TCEP 160: How a Civil Engineering Firm Can Maximize Employee Engagement

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civil engineering firmIn this episode, I talk to Jeff Peacock, P.E., the President and CEO at Parametrix Inc., about his career journey of becoming a CEO, leading a multidisciplinary civil engineering firm, and the benefits of having multi-disciplines under the same roof.

Engineering Quotes:

civil engineering firm

civil engineering firm

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Jeff:

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TCEP 155: Learning and Development: Understanding People Starts With Understanding Yourself

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Learning and DevelopmentIn this episode, I talk to Gil Hantzsch, P.E., FACEC, the CEO at MSA Professional Services, Inc., about his career journey of becoming a CEO. He provides some great learning and development advice throughout the episode, which makes it one of my favorites.

Engineering Quotes:

Learning and Development

Learning and Development

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Gil:

  • How big is your firm and what markets do you serve?
  • What advice can you give engineers who want to be in a leadership role but are struggling to work with people?
  • How do you see the civil engineering industry going for the next three to five years and beyond?
  • With all that has happened with the pandemic, does this change the way you think about the future for the company?
  • You are a big proponent of learning and development. Why is it important to you?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:

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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 129: Two Civil Engineering Presidents on the Steps They Took to Success

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Civil Engineering PresidentsIn episode 129 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, our fourth episode in our Women in Civil Engineering series, I talk to two female civil engineering presidents from different cities in Texas. They are Julia Harrod, P.E., F.NSPE who is the President of MWM DesignGroup and Bonnie Moss, P.E. who is the President of MBCO Engineering. We talk about the steps they took to become successful civil engineering presidents and they also provide some great advice on how you can become a productive and successful civil engineering professional in your field.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask These Two Civil Engineering Presidents:

  • What are the ups and downs of being a business owner?
  • Tell us about the philosophy of work/life balance.
  • How do you prioritize your tasks for the day?
  • How did you obtain the necessary financial experience and skills to run a company?
  • What is it like to be a civil engineer in Texas?
  • Tell us about the hiring process you follow.
  • Did you always want to be the president of a firm?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:

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TCEP 128: Becoming a Well Rounded Civil Engineering Professional

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Well Rounded Civil Engineering ProfessionalIn episode 128 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is our third episode in our Women in Civil Engineering series, I visit with Michelle Briehof, P.E. who is a project manager at Maser Consulting.

Michelle talks about some of the non-technical aspects and actions you can take as a civil engineering professional to build confidence and equip yourself as a well rounded civil engineering professional. She walks us through her career journey, from the beginning of her career up to where she is now and the experiences that have helped her to attain her position. She also tells us about the Maser Women’s Organization and how it has helped all employees at Maser, men and women, to build confidence and get the necessary exposure needed to become well-rounded engineering professionals.

Engineering Quotes:

Well Rounded Civil Engineering Professional

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michelle:

  • Tell us more about the Maser Women’s Organization
  • How has the Maser Women’s Organization impacted you?
  • How does being a mother impact your career?
  • Tell us about your involvement in the different disciplines at your firm?
  • Have you found that developing knowledge in different civil engineering disciplines has been helpful in your efforts?
  • How important is it to have confidence as a manager?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Becoming a Well Rounded Civil Engineering Professional:

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

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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:

Engineer to CEO

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

  1. Take us through your career progression from engineer to CEO?
  2. At what point in your career did you become part of the executive leadership team?
  3. What does it take to manage large scale projects like the ones you have managed?
  4. Your father was the President of a construction company, how did his career influence your career?
  5. You have a degree in Engineering Management, how has that degree helped you?
  6. What worries you about the Civil Engineering industry right now?
  7. 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:

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TCEP 106: The State of Employee Engagement and Why Organizations Have Been Looking at Engagement All Wrong

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Employee Engagement

In episode 106 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Bob Kelleher who is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and consultant. We talk about the importance of employee engagement and Bob also provides some great tips on having empathy in the workplace, and how by doing so, you can help with the overall success of your engineering organization.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the questions I ask Bob:

  • What is your definition of engagement?
  • Why do you need to engage the WHOLE person?
  • How do you utilize empathy?
  • Talk about this idea of selecting and developing the first line leader?
  • Tell us about the challenge of engagement and the different generations?

Here are some key points discussed in this episode about employee engagement:

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TCEP 105: From Civil Engineering to Helping Civil Engineers in Texas Every Day

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Helping Civil Engineers

In episode 105 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I speak with Lindsay O’Leary, PE, LEED AP about her career path from a civil engineer to now working full-time as the Executive Director for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Texas Section where she is helping civil engineers to achieve success on a daily basis.

Engineering Quotes:

Helping Civil Engineers

Helping Civil Engineers

Here are some of the questions I ask Lindsay about how she went from being a civil engineer to helping civil engineers on a daily basis:

  • How did you go from being a civil engineer to Executive Director for the ASCE Texas Section?
  • Do you think you would be able to do this job successfully if you weren’t a civil engineer?
  • What are some of the challenges the organization is facing that you have to deal with?
  • What were you dealing during the Hurricane Harvey disaster?

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

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