Engineering Management Institute

Leadership/Management

TCEP 219: Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms: This Is Why You Need It

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Cybersecurity for Engineering FirmsIn this episode, I talk to Michael Castro, C.DIR., ASC, MBA, the Founder and CEO of RiskAware (Cybersecurity) Inc., about the importance of cybersecurity for engineering firms and how engineers can introduce cybersecurity into their business.

Engineering Quotes:

Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms

Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michael:

  • How can engineers introduce cybersecurity into their business?
  • How is cybersecurity affecting the engineering community specifically?
  • How often should businesses be reviewing their cybersecurity measures?
  • What are your cybersecurity metrics and how do you address/achieve them?
  • What are the top three simple and cost-effective things people can do right now to protect their business’ cybersecurity?
  • Do you have any advice for engineering managers who would like to implement cybersecurity at their firms?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Cybersecurity for Engineering Firms: 

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TCEP 218: Top 10 Career Tips from Leading Civil Engineering CEOs

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career tipsIn this episode, I provide you with the top 10 takeaways and career tips from our first 10 episodes on The Civil Engineering CEO show. It is a video show that features CEOs from leading civil engineering firms, and because they shared such insightful information, we thought it would be great to recap some of those key pieces of advice and share them with you here.

Engineering Quotes:

career tips

Here Are the Top 10 Career Tips from Leading Civil Engineering CEOs:

1. Always Be Thinking About How You Can Increase Your Value to Your Company

In episode number 1, I talked to Kevin L. Haney, P.E., the President and Chief Executive Officer for Colliers Engineering & Design (formerly Maser Consulting). Kevin recommended that all civil engineers should always be thinking about how they can increase their value to their company — your value is essentially all you have in your career. How valuable are you?

Here is something he said that stood out to me:

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TCEP 217: What It Means to Be a City Engineer and a Public Servant

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City EngineerIn this episode, I talk to Kara M. Boyles, Ph.D., P.E., a registered professional engineer who became the City of South Bend’s first female city engineer in January 2017, about what it means to be a city engineer.

Engineering Quotes:

City Engineer

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Kara:

  • Tell us about your career journey and how it has led to you becoming the first woman to serve as City Engineer for South Bend?
  • What are your current roles and responsibilities as the City Engineer for South Bend?
  • Why is this job important to you and what made you stay on the public side?
  • What do you find fulfilling about being the City Engineer, and about being a public servant?
  • Can you give us an example of what robust and well-planned infrastructure means?
  • What is South Bend’s desire to be “smart” and what does it mean?
  • What key leadership principles and core values help guide you as a leader?
  • Which course do you teach at ND and how does it relate to what you do as City Engineer?
  • How can getting an MBA help engineers in their career?
  • What research have you been doing around women’s career commitment?
  • How do you avoid burnout and keep a balance in your life?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About What It Means to Be a City Engineer:

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TCEP 216: The Biggest Challenges Facing the Construction Industry Today

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Biggest ChallengesIn this episode, I talk with Aaron Witt and Dan Briscoe about some of the biggest challenges and mistakes construction business owners make and how you can avoid making those same mistakes.

Engineering Quotes:

Biggest Challenges

Biggest Challenges

Biggest Challenges

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Aaron and Dan:

  • Why the mission “Make the Dirt World a Better Place”? How does having a mission help your business?
  • How do you work together to lead the company? What about the board and the leadership team?
  • What are some of the biggest challenges you have experienced in the construction industry and what would you say are the biggest challenges facing the construction industry today?
  • What’s the biggest mistake you see small and large construction business owners making, and do you have any tips you can give the listeners for avoiding these mistakes?
  • What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made and lessons learned in the past four years as a startup?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Biggest Challenges Facing the Construction Industry Today:

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TCEP 214: The Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2022

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Future of WorkIn this episode, I talk to Peter Atherton, P.E., about an in-depth study we did together about the state of the industry and talent market — and how companies can compete in a fast-changing world. We also highlight some of the key findings that are in the Future of Work in Engineering and Architecture 2022 report.

Engineering Quotes:

Future of Work

Future of Work

Here Are Some of the Questions We Answer:

  • Why do you say that the great resignation isn’t over yet?
  • Why do professionals leave their employers?
  • What is the driver behind the stress in our organizations and why should company owners be cognizant of the shape of our firms?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed About the Future of Work in Engineering & Architecture 2022:

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TCEP 213: Women in Engineering: One Woman’s Journey to Engineering Success

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Women in EngineeringIn this episode, and in honor of National Women in Engineering Day, I talk to Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., F. ASCE, Regional Director of Lochmueller Group, who was recently elected as the ASCE President Elect for 2023. Marsia is also the author of a book called “Cross, Yield or Burn – Navigating the Bridges of Life,” and in this episode, Marsia shares an inspiring story about her career journey leading up to her role as ASCE President and also talks about how we can promote diversity and gender equality for women in engineering.

Engineering Quotes:

Women in Engineering

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Marsia:

  • How did your elevator accident change your perspective in life as well as your journey into ASCE leadership?
  • Did you have to develop new habits after your accident?
  • What is your vision and goal as leader of ASCE?
  • Why did you decide to write your book, “Cross, Yield or Burn – Navigating the Bridges of Life”?
  • What do you hope people will take away from your story and where can listeners find your book?
  • What can be done to promote diversity and gender equality for women in engineering?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Women in Engineering:

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TCEP 197: The Latest Surveying Trends That Civil Engineers Should Be Aware Of

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surveyingIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Joey C Wilson II, PE, RLS, President and CEO at Wilson & Associates about the relationship between civil engineering and surveying and discuss some of the latest surveying trends out there, like enhanced drones, LIDAR, and Visual Design Construction (VDC).

Engineering Quotes:

surveying

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Joey:

  1. How did you get involved in the company, and ended up where you are today?
  2. What is the relationship between civil engineering and surveying?
  3. Why is surveying so incredibly important when it comes to the inspection of high-risk areas?
  4. How has the drone industry helped civil engineers to complete their work more accurately?
  5. How important are good ground control points?
  6. What is VDC (visual design and construction)?
  7. What is LIDAR in construction?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About The Latest Surveying Trends:

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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 systems

In 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 firm

In 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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