America’s Infrastructure Just Got Its Grades (And They're Not All Bad!)
🚨 Attention! 🚨 The ASCE just dropped their latest Infrastructure Report Card…and in this episode, we break it down for you so you know where the work (and money!) is headed! 😉The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card is an in-depth analysis of the conditions of 18 major infrastructure categories across the US. The current overall grade? 🤔A solid C — which, believe it or not, is actually a step in the right direction — but it’s not all good news either. 😞Some categories crucial to our own economy and day-to-day life — or worse, our safety — saw grades slip, and there’s still a big investment gap to make sure our infrastructure is not in bad shape…or even close to a complete crash! 😨So, this is a great way to understand where more civil engineers will be needed, where the money is going, and what kinds of projects are likely to take off in the coming years…so you can position yourself in the right place, at the right time. 😉 💰🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What the Different Infrastructure Grades MeanWhat the Findings of the Report Card Means for Civil EngineersThe Overall Grade for America's Infrastructure...And WhyThe 2 Categories That Received a Lower GradeA BIG Trend That's Getting into All Aspects of the IndustryThe Future of the Energy Industry With Increasing DemandA Non-Technical Bottleneck Slowing Things DownThe Infrastructure Factors ASCE Considers to Come Up With the GradesAll the Grades of Every Infrastructure CategoryThe Reason Why the Lowest-Graded Categories Got the Lowest GradesThe Investment Gap for Each Category...And How to Solve It3 Action Items the ASCE Recommends to Improve US InfrastructureThe Biggest Threat to US Infrastructure (And What to Do About It)One Aspect of Infrastructure Projects That HAVE to Get Better🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:ASCE Infrastructure Report Card Website2025 Infrastructure Report Card (Complete)2025 Infrastructure Report Card (Executive Summary)Map for America's Infrastructure Conditions🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
30 Apr 29min
How Aggie Li Crushed the Civil FE on the First Try While Still in School
What’s it like to crush the Civil FE Exam on the first try, with less than two months of exam prep…all while still juggling a full course load in grad school?! 😮Just ask Aggie Li. 👇Aggie is a civil engineering master’s student at UMass Amherst who became an EIT using The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course, and is now headed for an internship position at Burns & McDonnell.In this episode, Aggie brings all the good energy as she shares her decision to take the FE early, why she felt she needed a course even with university resources provided for free, and how she carved out study time in an already packed weekly schedule.If you’re a student in either undergrad or grad school and needs that motivation to lock in and get this done before work and life get in the way, this episode will fire you up! Aggie’s got a bright future ahead, and after listening, you will feel like you do, too. Guaranteed! 😉 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:Her Decision to Take the FE While Still a Student (And You Should, Too!)Why She Wanted a FE Review Course Even With Free University MaterialHow Much Prep Time Do You Need for the FE as a Student?The ONE BIG Reason She Picked Civil Engineering AcademyWhat Her Weekly Study Schedule for the FE Looked Like While in SchoolThe Things She LOVED About CEA’s FE Review CourseThe 2 Topics She Struggled With the Most on the FEAre the AIT Questions Really "Bran-New" Question Types?Her Take on Taking Practice Exams That Most People Don't GetWhat Score Should You Aim for When Taking Practice Exams?Why the FE CBT Exam Simulator is One of the BEST Features of the CourseA Down-to-Earth Tip For Those Prepping for the FE...But Unsure About ItHow She Triumphs as a Woman in STEM (And How You Can Too)🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:FE Review Courses Ranking, by Test Prep InsightPE Transportation Course WaitlistUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst📧 CONNECT WITH AGGIE:LinkedIn🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEAWebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
24 Apr 26min
The Engineering of Communication Towers With Sudarshan Kasera, PE, PMP
Here’s a career path that doesn’t even come to mind when you hear “Structural Engineering,” but uses the same basic knowledge and it’s just as lucrative — Telecommunications. 📡 👇This week, we sit down with Sudarshan Kasera, P.E., PMP, a Structural Engineer by education who now applies all that knowledge of the design of buildings and bridges to designing communication towers across the US at Crown Castle. 📶In this episode, Sudarshan breaks down how he managed to get into this “niche of a niche” career (almost)…and why it’s a good idea for other civil engineers to consider as well — plus how to do it.What codes and standards do you need to know? Which software do you need to learn? What licenses do you need to get? 🤔Whether you're a young engineer looking for a career path that’s not the traditional fields, or a practicing engineer curious about a new direction, it’s all in here for you! 😉 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What Makes Telecom a Good Career Choice — Money-WiseWhat He Does Today as a Structural Engineer in the Telecom WorldThe Fascinating Aspect of Working in Telecom (And It's Not What You Think)4 Codes You Need to Know If You Want to Get into TelecomWhat are the Foundation Types Used to Support Telecom Towers?The Most Used Software Tools in the Telecom WorldWhich Licenses Do You Need to Work in Telecom?His Top PE Exam Prep Tip That Made His Journey (Way) EasierHow a Review Course for the PE Helps You Balance Work and Study TimeThe Easy Way Companies Can Get Their Engineers Licensed...FasterThe Importance of a Good Support System When Prepping for Your ExamsIs the PMP a Good Addition to the PE License?His Tips for Young Civil Engineers to Get Into Telecom (+ How to Do It)🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:California Civil Engineering ExamsPMP CertificationTIA-222-IInternational Building Code (ICC IBC-2024)ASCE-7AISC 360tnxTowerMStowerRISA-3DMathcadCrown CastleUniversity of Cincinnati📧 CONNECT WITH SUDARSHAN:LinkedIn🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
15 Apr 24min
Building, Running, and Growing a Civil Engineering Firm with Kevin Franson
If you’re the entrepreneurial type of civil engineer with (big) plans to open your own “shop” some day and scale it, this episode pulls the curtain on everything you need to know for that journey.For this one, we sit down with Kevin Franson, one of the owners and the General Manager at Franson Civil Engineers — a water resources engineering firm based in Utah.Kevin gets into the real stuff that helped scale the firm to two offices and a growing team — hiring strategies, company culture, handling conflict, how to stay competitive, and a lot more to apply at your firm, now or when you start it. 😉 📈Also, he dives into the ONE thing you need to get crystal clear about before going down that route: the difference between being a great civil engineer…and being a great civil engineering business owner. 💡(Hint: you cannot be both! 😣)So, if you’ve ever thought about starting your own firm someday, this is your roadmap.No fluff. No textbook theory. Just in-the-trenches advice from someone who’s been doing it since the 90s! 💪 🥾🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:2 Things You Needed to Know Yesterday If You Want to Start a FirmThe 4 Quadrants of Civil Engineering Firms to Know Before Getting StartedThe Engineering vs Business Side of a Firm: Which One Are You in?Why You Should Start a Firm With the End in Mind...From the Get-GoThe BIG Problem Firms Are Facing Today in the Civil Engineering Industry2 Ways Civil Engineering Firms Can Stay Competitive TodayThe One Skill Firms Are Looking for in Job Candidates (And Yours Should Too!)The SINGLE Interview Question Structure to Filter the Competent CandidatesThe Importance of Company Culture to Building a Firm (And How to Create It)The Right Way to Recognize the Work of Employees…And It's Not MoneyHow a Company Should Manage Conflicts and Arguments🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)Brigham Young UniversityUtah State UniversityThe University of UtahUtah Valley University📧 CONNECT WITH KEVIN:LinkedInFranson Civil EngineersFranson Civil Engineers Contact PageOpen Positions at Franson Civil Engineers🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
9 Apr 28min
The State of the AEC Industry in 2025 with Mark Oakeson
How’s the AEC industry currently doing with lots of Government funding…but high interest rates, inflation, and (even worse) tariffs? 🤔 That’s exactly what we cover in this episode!For this one, we sat down with Mark Oakeson to unpack the key insights from the annual Utah Business’s AEC roundtable he’s part of — where AEC leaders came together to discuss the biggest challenges, trends, and opportunities (and hopes) shaping the industry today.From the lack of skilled workers problem we need to solve (and how) to how publicly and privately funded projects are doing in the current economic climate, this episode covers it all. 😉So, if you want to stay ahead of industry shifts and understand where the AEC is struggling and where it’s headed, this episode is for you. 👍🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Key Takeaway From the Event That's the Biggest Issue Right NowHow AEC Leaders Are Currently Feeling About the FutureA Surprising Point Affecting Construction Workers Big Time...And WhyHow to Take Care of This Problem Affecting WorkersThe Lack of Skilled Workforce Problem (And the Industry's Effort to Solve It)The Big Gap on the Design Side of the Industry That`s Costing Big MoneyWhat the AEC Leaders Talked About the Implementation of AIWhere AI is Already Being Used in Civil EngineeringHow Design Professionals Feel Towards the Changes to the ACI 318-19🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Utah Business Magazine2025 Building, Construction & Design Roundtable SummaryUtah's Associated General ContractorsACI 318-19CEA Episode #223 (State of the Industry in 2024)CEA Episode #179 (State of the Industry in 2023)CEA Episode #234 (Drones for Inspection with Eric Bitzko)CEA Episode #216 (Drone Uses in Construction)CEA Episode #115 (Performance-Based Design)🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
1 Apr 28min
The Next-Level Software for Managing Engineering Firms With Robert Yuen
Running an engineering firm is already hard enough. Why make it worse by using static spreadsheets, many disconnected apps, or (even worse) century-old methods your grandpa used to run his shop? 🤔That’s why we sat down with Robert Yuen, the CEO and co-founder of Monograph — a business management software designed specifically to help architects and engineers run their firms smoothly and profitably.As a professional in the AEC industry like all of us at the time, Robert saw firsthand and discussed with coworkers the biggest challenges and mistakes his own firm experienced that held it back. Until one day…During a happy hour on a Friday night, they asked themselves what it would take to solve those challenges — and that’s when Monograph was born. 💡Whether you have your own firm, run the firm you work at, or have plans to venture out and start your own thing, you’ll want to listen to this interview. Why?You'll learn everything Monograph has to offer to streamline your business. 😉 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What's Monograph All About?The Solution to the Biggest Problem AEC Firms Face That Sets Monograph ApartA Huge Business Management Mistake AEC Firms Still Make to This DayHow Monograph Leverages AI to Make Your Firm Runs SmoothlyTransitioning from Employee to Business Owner...And How You Can TooHis Piece of Advice to Starting a Business That Goes Against What You Expected2 New Features Coming to Monograph That Will Make You Wanna Sign up Right AwayWho Monograph is for Based on Firm Size and Operations to Help You DecideWhat's a Day in the Life of the CEO of an Engineering Software Company Like?🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Monograph SoftwareMonograph LinkedIn PageUniversity of Illinois, ChicagoUniversity of MichiganSkidmore Owings & Merrill📧 CONNECT WITH ROBERT:LinkedInrobert.yuen@monograph.com🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
28 Mars 22min
Building Better Software for Consultants and Engineers with Adam Loewentheil
Tired of juggling multiple tools to track deadlines, assign tasks to team members, store documents…and everything else that comes with managing your projects? 🤔 Then this is for you! 👇This week, we chat with Adam Loewentheil, who’s the founder of Aldoa — an all-in-on project management software specifically created for small- to mid-sized engineering firms, as well as engineers running their own practice.In this episode, Adam gives us a LIVE demo of what Aldoa can do that will make you want to throw away all the traditional ways and tools you’ve been using to manage your projects. 🗑️From tracking budgets, managing clients, and keeping up with deadlines to (hopefully) not losing important files in a sea of emails.So, if you’ve ever felt buried under “project chaos,” this episode is for you. Plus, Adam is offering 2 months FREE for CEA listeners — so don’t miss it! 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What's the Aldoa Software All About?How Aldoa Kills The Traditional Ways You Use to Manage Your ProjectsStoring Your Project Documents on AldoaHow Aldoa Makes the Most Important Thing in Project Management (a Lot) Easier Is There Any Limit to How Much You Can Add to Aldoa?The Other Key Aspect of Project Management Aldoa Makes EasierAre Things Customizable on Aldoa to Adapt to Your Own Market and Niche?How Aldoa Increases Your Business Efficiency (and Why)Aldoa's Onboarding and Support DetailsThe BIGGEST Issue Civil Engineers Would Love to Solve With SoftwareDiving into Aldoa's Financial Tracking FeaturesHow to Track Your Clients and Key Contacts Within AldoaAccess Permission and Platform Editing Features Inside AldoaThe Third BIG Aspect of Project Management That Aldoa Also Helps WithAldoa's Integration With QuickBooks for Those Who Like the Good 'Ol WayThe Chat Functionality to Get Everybody on the Same Page (And Grow the Firm)How to Sign up for Aldoa...With 2 Months OFF with CEA!🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Aldoa Project Management SoftwareQuickBooks📧 CONNECT WITH ADAM:LinkedInadam@aldoa.comfrank@aldoa.com🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 CEA EXAM PREP RESOURCES:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH US!Civil Engineering Academy WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
20 Mars 32min
The Experience "Loophole" in the PE Licensure Process
Imagine this: you earn an ABET-accredited degree, pass the FE, and work in engineering for 15 years…only to be told you can’t take the PE Exam because there are no PEs to sign off on your experience?! 😨That’s exactly what an engineer shared with us on LinkedIn, and that’s the same problem many engineers face in industries where the PE isn’t as common as civil engineering. 😱So, in this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into this loophole in the PE licensure process that leaves a lot of engineers stuck…plus different ways you can get around it if you find yourself in the same situation. 😉If you’re a civil engineer who knows you’ll be taking the PE Exam at some point in your career, then this is a must-listen episode if you want to avoid this problem later on. 👍Go check it out! 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Unseen Loophole in the PE Licensure Process…That Doesn’t Benefit YouThe Big Problem That Creates This LoopholeWhat’s Missing in the PE Licensure ProcessShould There Be Alternative Pathways to Get The PE License?The Two Requirements That Really Matter to Guarantee Professional CompetenceDoes Being a Licensed PE Mean You're Professionally Competent?3 Options to Get Licensed When You Don't Have PEs to Sign Off on Your ExperienceWhy Are States So Rigid About the Current Requirements?What Young Engineers Must Do If They're Not Directly Working under a PEWhat Young Engineers Can Do If There Aren't PEs in the Company They Work atThe Key to Avoid This Problem in Your Career Down the Road✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED:NCEES Newsletter Issue🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH US!Main WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
12 Mars 22min