Success

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

July 3, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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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 118: Information Civil Engineers Should Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success

May 22, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 118 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I visit with Karen Morgan, P.E. who is the owner and founder of the AEC Proposal Institute. We discuss what information civil engineering professionals need to seek up-front for proposal writing success. Morgan discusses 5 specific points that you can use as a checklist to ensure you write more winning proposals.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 5 Important Points Engineers Should Always Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success:

TECC 198: Maker’s Versus Manager’s Schedule for Engineers

March 19, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In this episode, I am speaking with Chris Marshall, P.E., Regional Geotechnical Engineer at Professional Services Inc. (PSI) in Houston, Texas. We talk about the strategies he uses when dealing with everyday distractions in his engineering career and we discuss the difference between a maker’s and manager’s schedule, and how you might utilize these different schedules in your engineering career.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the key points discussed about Maker’s Versus Manager’s Schedule for Engineers:

TECC 194: Do You Prefer Sprinting or Jogging with Your Professional Development Efforts?

January 22, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In this episode of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, I outline two different approaches to professional development. I explain the advantages and disadvantages of each of these approaches, and how you can use them to increase your overall success in your engineering career and life.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are the 2 different approaches to professional development:

Focus on Your Planning to Be Productive in Your Engineering Career

December 27, 2018 By Christian Knutson, PE, PgMP, PMP

Most engineers I know are interested in achieving a relatively high level of productivity in their professional and work activities. Since most are working long hours, they aren’t interested in spending time on none-value added activities. Those who are successful in optimizing their productive time, do so through focusing on developing a plan of action.

Productivity is associated with creating value. While you can feel productive attending project meetings, reviewing designs, or obtaining closure on a long-standing issue, it may or may not result in value beyond making you feel productive. In my mind, productivity (a.k.a. creating value) comes only in achieving movement towards the accomplishment of a defined goal.

With this concept in mind, let’s unpack how to get from focus to productivity in your engineering career.

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

December 5, 2018 By Anthony Fasano

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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:

TECC 187: Goal Setting for Engineers Based on One Engineer’s Proven Process

October 16, 2018 By Anthony Fasano

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In this episode, I talk with Adam Zach, PE, a project engineer at an environmental engineering firm in Grand Forks, North Dakota. We talk about the importance of goal setting for engineers and how setting goals has greatly contributed to his success in his career, but even better Adam shares his process in this episode, so you can use it too!

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the key points discussed about goal setting for engineers:

TCEP 100: The Civil Engineering Podcast Episode 100 Compilation Episode

October 8, 2018 By Anthony Fasano

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In this episode, we have published a special compilation episode which consists of clips from some of our past episodes related to our career elevator advice question. This question gets asked at the end of each episode and goes as follows: “If you got into an elevator with a civil engineer and had about 30 to 40 seconds with him or her and had to give him or her career advice in that short period of time, what would it be?” We are so grateful for the support of our listeners and excited to share this milestone 100th episode with you!

Engineering Quote:

Here is a summary of the elevator advice from our guests in this compilation episode:

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

July 9, 2018 By Anthony Fasano

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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:

Why Communication for Engineers Is so Important

June 19, 2018 By Anthony Fasano

Why Communication for Engineers Is so Important is a
guest blog by Thomas A. Anderson, P.E:

Do you remember the telephone game?

In school, you and your classmates tried to pick a phrase and “pass it on” by whispering it to the person next to you. Then the phrase was passed from person to person until the last person announced the phrase. How much did the phrase change during the game? As people relay message from one person to the other, the message will often be distorted.

While the game is a lot of fun. It also teaches us important lessons.

If you do not receive information from a reliable source, you may not get the correct information. It turns into gossip.
If you do not produce information properly, it will not be received as planned

Communication skills are vital to success in your personal life and your engineering career. Poorly delivered messages can turn into misunderstanding, frustration, or even a disaster.

By practicing communication, you will understand more of what people say. Your family, friends, and co-workers will have the confidence to come to you when they find themselves in need.

Success

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 5 Important Points Engineers Should Always Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the key points discussed about Maker’s Versus Manager’s Schedule for Engineers:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are the 2 different approaches to professional development:

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 key points discussed about goal setting for engineers:

Engineering Quote:

Here is a summary of the elevator advice from our guests in this compilation episode:

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:

Why Communication for Engineers Is so Important is a guest blog by Thomas A. Anderson, P.E:

What are the keys to clear communication?

Why Communication for Engineers Is so Important is a
guest blog by Thomas A. Anderson, P.E: