Leadership/Management

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

April 8, 2020 By EMI

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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:

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:

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

October 23, 2019 By EMI

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In 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:

TCEP 128: Becoming a Well Rounded Civil Engineering Professional

October 9, 2019 By EMI

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In 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:

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:

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

July 3, 2019 By EMI

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

December 5, 2018 By EMI

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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:

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

November 26, 2018 By EMI

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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:

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:

TCEP 098: Management Skills that Civil Engineers Should Build

September 24, 2018 By EMI

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In episode 98 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I speak with Ben Walpole, a writer and editor for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) strategic communications team. We will talk about a few very important management skills that civil engineers should build in order to increase their effectiveness as civil engineering managers.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some important management skills you should build as a civil engineer to increase your overall success:

TCEP 089: Why Civil Engineering CEOs Need to Focus on People with Nick DeNichilo

July 9, 2018 By EMI

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In episode 89 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Nicholas (Nick) DeNichilo P.E., President and CEO of Mott MacDonald North America. Our conversation focused mostly on why civil engineering CEOs need to focus on people and the effect that doing so can have on you in your career and life.

Here are some of the questions I ask Nick about his journey and his work as CEO:

How did you decide that you wanted to go into engineering?
What are some of the things that civil engineers can do in preparation to become a CEO of a civil engineering firm?
How big is the Mott Macdonald “family”?
What is the hardest part of being a CEO?
How do you decide what work you should focus on each day?
As a CEO of a company, how do you maintain a work-life balance?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

TCEP 071: Career Advice from AE Leaders from Across the Country

November 30, 2017 By EMI

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Career Advice from AE Leaders from Across the Country

In episode 071 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am going to give you advice from some of the most successful AE Leaders in the country. I talk to Brett T. Hart, PE, SE, PEng, Will Schnier, P.E., Mike Nelson, Ernesto Guevara Ortiz M.ASCE and Randy Wilburn about different leadership aspects in the everyday life.

Here are some of the questions I ask the AE Leaders:

• What is one of the biggest things your firm is looking to find in civil engineers?
• How do you help your engineers to be able to focus, but at the same time foster communication?
• Tell me what mindset you take on to serve your staff and keep them going in the right direction?
• What are AE firms looking for when hiring civil engineers?
• Name one of the biggest challenges facing civil engineers today in their careers?
• What are some of the things a President/CEO of a company do on regular basis?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on career advice from AE leaders across the Country:

TCEP 070: A Day in the Life of a Geotechnical Engineering CEO

November 8, 2017 By EMI

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In episode 065 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with David Gockel, PE, PP, LEED AP, CEO of Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, about how a day in the life of a geotechnical engineering CEO looks, especially one that is in charge of a very fast-growing firm.

Here are some of the questions I ask Dave:

What prevents engineers from learning other skill sets?
How did you acquire the skills needed to get to where you are today?
Tell me about a memorable success in your career.
Tell me about one of the mistakes you’ve made and what you learned from it.
Is it true that if civil engineers want to achieve a partner/owner status in their firms, that they must be a great business developer?
What is one valuable piece of advice that you can give to a striving seller-doer?
At what point in your career (if ever) did you have a goal of being the CEO?
How would you summarize your job description as CEO?
Would you take us through a typical day as CEO?
What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a CEO?

Leadership/Management

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Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Andy:

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

Engineering Quotes:

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

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michelle:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Becoming a Well Rounded 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 I ask Bob:

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

Engineering Quotes:

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:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some important management skills you should build as a civil engineer to increase your overall success:

Here are some of the questions I ask Nick about his journey and his work as CEO:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Career Advice from AE Leaders from Across the Country

Here are some of the questions I ask the AE Leaders:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on career advice from AE leaders across the Country:

Here are some of the questions I ask Dave:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on a day in the life of a Geotechnical Engineering CEO:

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