2022 ASCE President Dennis Truax on the Past, Present, and Future of Civil Engineering
Outdated education with low pay, but worn out infrastructure and sustainability needs? 🤔These are the two sides of civil engineering today — and nobody has lived and breathed the field as much as Dennis D. Truax to know the right way to look at it. 👇Dennis is a civil engineer who has spent decades shaping the profession in leadership positions. From leading Mississippi State University’s civil department to serving as ASCE President in 2022! In this episode, he shares the harsh truths and the hidden opportunities he sees today for civil engineers. And if that’s not enough, he also gives us a sneak peek into a new platform that challenges the old work model of one company, 40-hour workweeks.(Yep. You read that right. 😨)If you want to hear wisdom from someone who’s been in the trenches, led at the highest levels, and is still working to shape the future of civil engineering even after “retirement,” you’ll love this conversation. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The High-Level Professional Roles He's Held Over His CareerHas Today's Civil Engineering Education Fallen Behind?Broad But Difficult: The Positive and Negative Side of Civil EngineeringThe Hesitation of Young People to Go into CivilA Groundbreaking Concept in Water Resources and Environmental for the FutureThe Biggest Challenge (And Opportunity) in Civil Engineering TodayThe Role of ASCE in the Political Battles for Investments in InfrastructureIs US Infrastructure Improving?Why the Wastewater Field Scores a D (And What Can Be Done About It)What Changed in the Past That Makes Today a Great Time to Be a Civil EngineerA New Civil Engineering Work Model (And the Platform to Leverage It)🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:ASCE 2022 President Dennis Truax VideoEngineer Match GroupThe Infrastructure Report CardInfrastructure Investment and Jobs (IJA) ActUrban Sequoia ConceptMississippi State University💬 CONNECT WITH DENNIS:LinkedInBidcurement, Inc.🎁 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 Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
5 Sep 31min
Mudasir Gulzar’s Journey to Pass the Geotech PE Exam with CEA
Most people kick the PE exam down the road when life gets busy, but Mudasir Gulzar?! He did the opposite! He pulled his exam date forward, leaving him with only one month left to study with…wait for it…a baby on the way! 😮Crazy? Maybe. But it worked! In this episode, he dives into his “rushed” journey to pass the tough, code-heavy Geotechnical PE Exam…while sharing the hard-earned lessons he learned on the way that can save you months of trial and error in your own prep (and get you to pass sooner!)From two study tips he lived by to the game-changer for those taking the Geotech exam to how he used practice exams to maximize his learning…all the way to the one thing you should keep in mind when studying for the PE..If you’re staring down the PE (especially the Geotech PE Exam), his story hits home. It’s not about having endless time — it’s about having the right approach and the right tools to get it done.Tune in now to learn how he pulled this off — and how you can, too. 👍🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:How He First Found Out About the Existence of the FE and PE ExamsHow He Prepped for and Passed the FE Exam on His OwnWhy He Picked Geotechnical Engineering for His CareerA Game-Changing Piece of Advice If You Want to Pass the Geotech PE ExamHow He Prepped in 1 Month After Pulling His Exam Date Forward2 Study Tips He Lived By to PassWhat He Would Do After Finishing Practice Exams That You Must Do as Well3 Reasons Why He Chose (& Stuck With) CEA's PE Review CourseHard-Earned Lessons for Those Taking the Geotech PE ExamThe ONE Thing You Should Keep in Mind When PreppingThe Single Feature of The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course He Enjoyed the MostWhat He Thought of CEA's PE CBT Exam Simulator🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:CEA's Civil PE Review CourseCEA's PE CBT Exam SimulatorNCEES Official Geotech PE Practice ExamGFT CompanyNIT SrinagarUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville💬 CONNECT WITH MUDASIR: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 CourseCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFEvir Envirnmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
3 Sep 28min
From FE to PE: How Ryan Turley Crushed Both Exams With CEA
After passing the FE after 5 tries, Ryan Turley circled back to CEA for the PE exam…and knocked that one out too! 🥊 In this episode, Ryan shares his tips and experience to pull this off. 👇If you’re taking the FE or have just got it done, he shares what happens in between the two exams. He organized himself to start studying for the PE. Why (and how) he chose the Water Resources PE over Transportation. And a lot more.For those taking the PE, Ryan drops some gold nuggets on everything he learned by going through this twice himself. The biggest exam surprise that caught him off guard. The test-taking strategy he used. A simple hack to make studying feel way less like pulling teeth. And more.Whether you’re stuck on the FE or staring at the PE as your next milestone, this one’s packed with tips you can swipe and use right away. 😉Hit play and let Ryan show you how he went from five FE fails to a PE pass on the second try — and how you can, too! ✅ 👷🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:How He Organized His Study Schedule for the PE ExamIs the PE Easier Than the FE?Why He Picked the Water Resources Over the Transportation PE ExamHis Biggest Surprise on the Exam You Need to Be Aware of!The 2 Water Resources Topics Examinees Fear (and How to Prep for Them)How Deep Do You Need to Go on the Codes & Standards for the Water Exam?How Our PE Water Resources Review Course Helped Him Study for the PEThe Biggest Thing About Passing the PE That We Bake into Our CourseHow He Prepped for Theory Questions on the PEWhat Score Should You Be Getting on Practice Exams to Be Ready for the Real Deal?His Test-Taking Strategy to Finish Each Session 20 Minutes Early and Review ItHis Simple Trick to Boost How Much You Retain of What You StudyThe Real Commitment Needed to Pass the PE (And It's Easier Than You Think!)The Secret to Make Studying for the PE a Habit You Actually EnjoyWhy He Recommends Civil Engineering Academy's PE CoursesWhat to Do If You've Been Failing the PE Multiple Times🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:First Interview With Ryan (CEA # 239)The Ultimate Civil PE Water Resources Review CoursePE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam Simulator💬 CONNECT WITH RYAN: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 Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
28 Aug 27min
Should You Switch to Another Civil PE Exam After a Fail?
We know. Failing the PE Exam stings. 😬 Especially after hours of studying and no-fun weekends. When this happened, you wanted to jump ship and switch to another discipline, right? 🤔That’s everybody’s knee-jerk reaction, but here’s the kicker — that move might actually set you back instead of moving you forward! 😨In this episode, I dive into my hot take on one of the most common questions we get here at CEA from PE test-takers like you: Should I switch exams after failing? My answer will not surprise you. Instead, it goes against everything you used to believe about this…but it comes straight from my own experience as a repeat taker who’s been exactly where you are right now.If you’ve failed once, twice, or even a few times already and feel like running to another Civil PE Exam discipline, this one’s for you. 🎧Give it a listen before you make a decision that could delay your license even longer!🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:My Hot Take on Switching PE Exams After a Fail (and Why)4 Advantages You Earned Prepping for Your Failed Attempts7 Advantages You Now Have for Having Taken the Exam BeforeMy Personal Story as a Repeater Taker at This Crossroads Myself5 Downsides of Switching Exams You Don't Even Consider3 Things to Fix That Works Better Than Switching Exams🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Tucker Stafford Interview (CEA #255)Makenzie Allen Interview (CEA #192)ASCE 37-14TSS 2018🎁 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 Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
20 Aug 20min
Engineer vs. Manager: Which Hat Do You Really Want to Wear?
Here’s one of the biggest decisions in a civil engineer’s career — do you keep the hard hat on and stay technical…or swap it for a suit jacket and go full-on manager? 💼👷♂️In this episode, we’re diving deep into the details of the “Engineer vs. Manager” post we did on LinkedIn that racked up almost half a million views and hundreds of shares. 😲The main point of the post? Most engineers think they want to be managers...until they become managers and realize they actually didn’t. 😨So, today, Mark jumps back on the show so we can both share our own journeys going into management. We break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of the manager role so you can figure out whether it truly is for you. 👍If you’ve been wondering whether to climb the management ladder or double down on your engineering craft, this is the conversation you need before making the leap. 😉Hit play and get the inside scoop before you make a move you’ll regret. 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:How Most Engineers End Up in Management (And Why Some Don't)The Type of Engineers Most Suited to Become ManagersThe First Problem You Face Going into ManagementThe Real Functions (and Challenges) of the Manager in an OrganizationPeople Problems Managers Face DailyThe Battle the Manager Has to Fight for His EmployeesWhy Most Engineers Feel Pressured to Get into ManagementWhat Makes Engineers Switch Back to Technical RolesWhat You Need to Be Effective as a ManagerThe Best Way to Prepare Yourself to Take the Manager RoleResources and Trainings You Should Get Before Becoming a ManagerThe Positive Side of Management (And Who Thrives in It)The ONE Skill You Need No Matter If You're an Engineer or Manager🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Engineer vs. Manager LinkedIn PostAtomic Habits, by Jamer ClearRadical Candor, by Kim ScottThe Manager's Path, by Camille Fournier🎁 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 Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
15 Aug 25min
The Unity Blueprint: How to Build a Winning Work Culture With W. Jeff Williams
No engineering project is a success without one crucial aspect. What is it? 🤔 According to our guest, a powerful leadership tool most people neglect. 👇Today, we chat with W. Jeff Williams, a civil engineer turned mayor of Arlington, Texas. If you think of some of the biggest projects in the state, he’s the guy behind them. Either working on them as a civil engineer or bringing them to the state as the Mayor! 😯Jeff’s done it all and seen it all. After decades of in-the-trenches engineering and leadership work (and wins!), he learned the real secret sauce that makes or breaks engineering projects: unity — aligning people and purpose to transform outcomes.In his book coming out in September, he dives deep into this concept. But today, he gives us a sneak peek into it (plus a lot of other hard-earned lessons for civil engineers in the same shoes). 😉If you’re managing a team at your company, leading a government agency, or in charge of a community organization, this one’s packed with wisdom from a guy who's worn all those hats. 💡Hit play and learn how unity isn’t just a “nice-to-have” — it’s your competitive edge. 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Most Crucial Aspect of Any Successful Engineering ProjectWhat the “Unity” Principle Really Is2 Tips to Create Unity as a LeaderA Sneak Peek at One of the Book’s Important Lessons for EngineersWhy He Moved Into the Public Sector2 Skills You Need to Work in the Public SectorHis Tips for the Future Generation of Engineers with the Tech Revolution3 Pieces of Advice for Young Civil Engineers to Succeed🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:The Unity Blueprint BookThe Unity Blueprint Book (Pre-Order on Amazon)Texas Tech UniversityAT&T StadiumSouthlake Town SquareNational Medal of Honor MuseumPrestonwood Baptist ChurchForbes Publishing💬 CONNECT WITH JEFF:WebsiteNewsletterLinkedIn🎁 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 Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
6 Aug 26min
Billion-Dollar Blunders: The True Cost of China’s Global Buildout
Double-digit, billion-dollar investments into infrastructure projects going down the drain with them? 😨In this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into the wave of mega infrastructure projects built by China across the globe that are already cracking, leaking, and flat-out shutting down. These are massive, government-funded projects that were supposed to last 50+ years…but instead, they’re turning into billion-dollar blunders. Why?Why are they failing so fast? What went wrong during design and construction (and politics)? And most importantly, what can we civil engineers learn from it? Especially now with the U.S. pouring billions into infrastructure upgrades after the 2021 bill? 🤔🎧 Hit play and let’s break down what happens when quality takes a backseat in civil engineering and what we can learn from it to avoid making the same mistake in the US. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:China’s Global Infrastructure Boom5 Chinese-Built Projects That are Falling Apart…in Less Than 10 Years of Service2 Reasons Why These Projects Are Already FailingWhat the Experts Say Is the Root Cause of These FailuresWhy a Contract-Based Model to Pick the Winner Firm Doesn't Work as Well as BidsIs There a Hidden Chinese Agenda Behind Those Projects Across the World?Can China Improve Their Construction Approach and Quality?Why the Cost of Projects is Not the Only Thing That MattersLessons for U.S. Infrastructure Spending That are Worth Their Weight in Gold!🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Wall Street Journal ArticleCoca Codo Sinclair DamNeelum–Jhelum Hydropower PlantIsimba Hydro Power PlantKaruma Hydro Power Plant🎁 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 Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
31 Juli 21min
Know Yourself First, Then Study: How Kenny Winston Found the Right Fit with CEA
We said it before — prepping for the PE usually takes 3-6 months. But today’s guest? He missed that memo and managed to pass this thing with less than 2 months of studying! 🤯Kenneth (Kenny) Winston is a drainage engineer at Consor Engineers who joined us to share his unbelievable 1.5-month journey to pass the Civil PE Water Resources Exam. (Yes, you read that right!)How, you ask? 🤔Here’s the secret — he knew exactly how he learns best, and that self-awareness made all the difference.In this episode, he talks about how he found The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course, why it was the perfect match for his learning style, and what strategies helped him go from overwhelmed to confident in record time.If you feel like your prep just isn’t clicking, this episode shows you that passing fast isn’t about shortcuts. It’s just a matter of knowing yourself…and finding the right-fit resources to help you. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Unbelievable Timeline He Gave Himself to Prep for the PEHow He Found Study Time With a Job, Marriage, and BusinessHis Approach to All Practice Problems That You'll Want to Use TooHis Crazy Strategy to Learn Almost It All...Five Days Before Exam Day!How He Found Civil Engineering Academy (And Why He Went With It)Why Knowing Your Learning Style Is the Real Cheat CodeAre the Exam Questions Tricky...Purposefully?The Only Thing You Can Do to Prep for Theory ProblemThe Test-Taking Strategy He Used on Exam Day to Pass It2 Tips for Everybody Taking the PE Exam to Get it Done FastWhat He Loved the Most About the The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:The Ultimate Civil PE Review CourseConsor EngineersChatGPT💬 CONNECT WITH KENNY:LinkedInkwinston@consoreng.com🎁 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 Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com
23 Juli 30min
