Unleashed With Big Red Dog Engineering

Welcome back to WGI Unleashed! In this episode, we have the opportunity to chat with Jeffrey Bergmann, P.E., a Senior Project Manager, and Structural Engineer. Jeffrey is a leader with our Structural Solutions team and is a direct impact on public and private projects across the country ranging from Bridge Design, Seawalls, Piers, Cell Towers, to Vertical Construction and more. Jeffrey spoke with us about his team's ability and passion to deliver structural expertise to projects requiring unique structural solutions. We also discussed a bit of Jeffrey's professional history, which began in New Mexico working for the incredibly interesting government and military contracts surrounding interesting structures and technology. He eventually made his way to South Florida because of his love for the weather there, not to mention scuba diving. He spends his time in his community with his family and has aspirations to improve his music skills with each day!

Welcome back to WGI Unleashed! In this episode, we have the opportunity to chat with Jeremy Rocha, P.E., a Senior Project Manager and Parking Solutions Expert. Jeremy is a leader within our Parking Solutions team who specializes in the structural and functional design of parking facilities, master planning, feasibility and parking studies, restoration, and preservation. Jeremy spoke to us about the impact of thoughtful parking design in an urban environment -- something that everyone experiences but often will never notice until it is poorly executed. We discuss how the planning and functional elements in projects are often delegated to design professionals that do not have experience in creating a resilient and effective parking facility. He described how working with a Parking Solutions consultant can connect the knowledge gap on the design of such a critical component of a project.   We also chat with Jeremy about his personal passions and his love for all things Houston -- as a native Houstonian, Jeremy

Welcome to a special episode of WGI Unleashed -- we have the unique privilege of having a roundtable discussion with three leaders in our firm: Nancy Clements, Senior Vice President of our Transportation Division, Kimberlee DeBosier, our Director of Project Excellence, and Lisa Nisenson, our Vice President of New Mobility & Connected Communities.   Each of these leaders has a deep passion for their respective fields. Nancy brings a tremendous amount of expertise and experience as the leader of our transportation division and has led that division to significant accomplishments, in Florida especially. Kim joined the WGI team this year to help champion project management success and training as well as bolster our leadership's ability to deliver exceptional project results across all disciplines.  Lisa also joined the team this year to deepen our commitment to transportation and community planning innovation and make certain that WGI remains on the cutting edge of adaptable, sustainable community design.  

WGI Unleashed Podcast Episode 20 – Rick Harman PWS, CEP Project Manager, Environmental Welcome back to WGI Unleashed! In this episode, we have the opportunity to chat with Rick Harman, a Project Manager, and Environmental Scientist. Rick serves as a part of our Environmental team, a division of PLACE, and creates value for public and private clients with his expertise in wetlands, endangered species, coastal impacts, and more.  Learn more about what inspires Rick by listening to the full episode! Click Here to View All Episodes If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to listen and subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play Music, or wherever you get your podcasts! --- You can learn more about Rick and connect with him through his LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-harman-cep-pws-695a9a9/ Follow WGI and our hosts online at: Website – https://www.wginc.com Twitter – @wantmangroup Instagram – @wantmangroup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wginc/ Madeline Szwed: LinkedIn – https://www.link

WGI Unleashed Podcast Episode 20 – Tiffany May, Director, Private Landscape Architecture Welcome back to WGI Unleashed! In this episode, we have a conversation with Tiffany May, Director of Private Landscape Architecture in West Palm Beach, Florida!   Learn more about what inspires Tiffany by listening to the full episode! Click Here to View All Episodes If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to listen and subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play Music, or wherever you get your podcasts! --- You can learn more about Stephen and connect with her through her LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-may-pla-asla-leed-4544b74/ Follow WGI and our hosts online at: Website – https://www.wginc.com Twitter – @wantmangroup Instagram – @wantmangroup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wginc/ Madeline Szwed: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelineszwed/Twitter – @madelineszwed Shaun Theriot-Smith: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauntheriotsmith/Twitter – @theriotsmithBlog – Building

WGI Unleashed Podcast Episode 18 – Stephen Dees, Survey Technician Welcome back to WGI Unleashed! In this episode, we have a conversation with Stephen Dees, a Survey Technician with our Geospatial team in Tallahassee, Florida! While studying Geomatics at the University of Florida, Stephen was exposed to a variety of technologies and techniques in the surveying and mapping world that piqued his interest. His coursework and internship experiences led him to pursue a career as a Professional Surveyor and Mapper upon graduation. Stephen joined WGI full time in 2016, and he gets to work on a variety of project types for public, private clients across the Southeast.  Stephen shares with us that he loves using technology to work on projects that help improve his communities and the environment. He is also helping to shape the future of his profession by educating the next generation of students about the rewarding, exciting (and lucrative) career in the surveying and geospatial industry. Like many Floridians, Stephe

WGI Unleashed Podcast Episode 17 – Eddie Gaytan, National SUE Field QA/Project Delivery Manager Welcome back to WGI Unleashed! In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting with Eddie Gaytan, a Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Project Delivery Manager in Chicago. Eddie serves with our Geospatial Division, bringing a special technical expertise to the pursuit of surveying underground utilities and structures. Eddie discusses with us his passion for surveying the built environment and using all of the innovative tools of his trade to develop accurate and reliable mapping data for design. In fact, Eddie championed the introduction of a new excavation technology to improve WGI’s existing fleet, which contributed to more efficient survey trips and safer work environments for his teams. We also visit with Eddie on his love for Chicago, its sports teams, and his family. He provides insight into his hobbies and his free time, which can be just as technically focused as his occupation. Click Here to View All E

UNLEASHED Podcast Episode 16 – Maria Bolivar, Project Manager Welcome back to WGI Unleashed! In this episode, we head to our corporate office in West Palm Beach, FL to get to know Maria Bolivar, a project manager in our PLACE Division. Maria joined our firm just four months ago and is already making an impact at WGI by utilizing her passion and experience for private land development projects and offering our clients WGI’s services as a “complete package.” The discussion covers how WGI has given Maria the opportunity to do what she has always wanted, all the lessons learned, and the experience she has gained along the way. Maria says, “I realized I needed to go back to consulting and put all of these pieces that I have together and just do what I’ve always wanted to do. Be involved in the whole project from beginning to end and offer clients and private developers the best services which will allow us to differentiate ourselves by offering a complete package to our clients. And right now, is the best time to

Episode 015 - Introducing WGI Unleashed - Will Schnier, P.E. and Matthew Stewart, P.E We're Back! In this episode, we speak with Will Schnier and Matthew Stewart about the recent news - BIG RED DOG and WGI have joined forces to create an engineering and professional services firm of the future! The discussion covers the similarities between the two companies' cultures and services, and the opportunities that the additional resources will immediately provide for our team members and clients. We also discuss how WGI will help shape the future of our smart and connected cities. Will says, "The combination is like throwing gasoline on a fire. The net effect for our clients is that they will have a wider range of services that we can offer, and we're able to provide more resources to our clients in a resource-starved market. Ultimately it creates a more stable footprint, a more stable firm, which everyone can benefit from." Matt adds, "The opportunity for our team members is what really gets me jazzed up. This opp

Episode 014 - Dane Edwards - Project Designer Let’s get to know Dane Edwards, a civil project designer in our Austin office! Dane joined BIG RED DOG as an intern in 2014 and started full time in 2015. He quickly combined his art background with new skills in AutoCAD and Civil 3D to become an integral part of our commercial project team. We discuss some of the projects that Dane works on and the opportunities that BIG RED DOG has provided for Dane to excel in his career. We also discuss Dane’s plethora of hobbies and interests - including sports, gardening, motorcycles, hiking, and travel (just to name a few). You can learn more about Dane and connect with him through his social media: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dane-edwards-ab6a399b/ Listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you download podcasts! If you have feedback – we’d sincerely appreciate your rating and comments in those storefronts as well. Follow BIG RED DOG and our hosts online at: Blog – www.bigreddog.

Episode 013 – Bayleigh Collins, E.I.T. – Structural Graduate Engineer This week we sit down with Bayleigh Collins, a structural engineer in our Sugar Land office. Bayleigh joined our firm in 2018 and is already making an impact and contributing to structural engineering projects in Texas and throughout the country. We discuss Bayleigh’s upbringing in Houston and her time living overseas in Eritrea and Qatar. We also discuss her civil and structural engineering education at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, her passion for animals (especially dogs), and her experience in recruiting and mentoring interns. You can learn more about Bayleigh and connect with her through her social media: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayleigh-collins/ Listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you download podcasts! If you have feedback – we’d sincerely appreciate your rating and comments in those storefronts as well. Follow BIG RED DOG and our hosts online at: Blog – www.bigr

Episode 012 - Madeleine Hirsch E.I.T. - Graduate Engineer Welcome back! In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with one of our Traffic and Transportation Engineering team members: Madeleine Hirsch! Maddie joined the company less than two months ago and has already found a place that feels like home. She describes what it’s like working in a field that has very tangible effects on people’s lives as they make their way from their home into the outside world. We even touch on the latest transit trend to consume Austin and San Antonio -- scooters! Madeleine is an alumna of Texas A&M University in College Station (which is also where she happened to grow up!) where she studied Civil Engineering and participated in the Women’s Triathlon team. In her spare time, Maddie loves to run, swim, and cycle around Austin. She recommends the book How to Make Yourself Poop: And 999 Other Tips All Runners Should Know to the BIG RED DOG library. You can learn more about Maddie and connect with her through her soc

Episode 011 - Kristi Johnson-Noble - Recruiting and HR Manager Kristi Johnson-Noble is the Recruiting and Human Resources Manager at BIG RED DOG. She plays an important leadership role in the organization by building a Human Resources department, recruiting talent, and helping to shape the culture of the firm. In this episode, we discuss some of the challenges recruiting talent in this economy, the qualities that we look for in candidates, and how BIG RED DOG’s collaborative culture permeates throughout the company regardless of job function. We also discuss Kristi’s large family and how she likes to travel, camp, and spend time outdoors. You can learn more about Kristi and connect with her through her social media: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-johnson-noble-2b205859/ Listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you download podcasts! If you have feedback – we’d sincerely appreciate your rating and comments in those storefronts as well. Follow BIG RED DOG and ou

Episode 010 – Jesus Donato P.E., Project Engineer We return to our Houston office in this episode to speak to Jesús Donato - a Project Engineer on our Civil team who is part of the big growth of our Houston market! At the time of this recording, Jesús was on the eve of celebrating his one year anniversary with BIG RED DOG, so he gave us a great rundown of what he’s gained from his full year of experience with the company. Jesús describes his passion for sustainability and building the communities that he lives in, whether it’s a single family subdivision, schools, or innovative commercial properties. He is an avid soccer player and passionate bicyclist who loves to explore his city with his spouse, who also happens to be an environmental consultant. Jesús recommends the Land Development Handbook to the BIG RED DOG library, in addition to PROCESS by Jonathan Jones. You can learn more about Jesús and connect with him through his social media:LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesus-m-donato/ Listen to it on

Episode 009 – Russell Yeager P.E., Director of Civil Engineering BIG RED DOG is a multi-discipline engineering firm and the majority of our work is in civil engineering services. In this episode we have the privilege of speaking with the leader of our civil team, Russell Yeager! We have the opportunity to discuss what it’s like managing such a large section of our firm and what gets him excited to serve our clients and fellow team members. Russell is based out of our office in San Antonio -- a city for which he holds a deep passion for. He has been involved in a number of projects that have shaped the changing landscape of San Antonio; he also serves in a number of organizations, including the Real Estate Council of San Antonio and South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. In his free time, Russell has a passion for the outdoors and spending time with his spouse and two sons at his family’s ranch south of San Antonio. He also recommends the following book for the BRD Library: Bringing out the Best in People, by

Episode 008 – Ashley Weldon, Accounts Payable Administrator Every professional services firm needs a backbone of organization and effective systems -- especially engineers! Thousands of design professional firms across the world operate and succeed because of the unsung heroes of accounting, human resources, marketing, and more. In this episode we speak to one our own heroes of accounting: Ashley Weldon! Ashley is BIG RED DOG’s Accounts Payable Administrator. She pays our bills -- literally! She speaks to us about what it feels like working in a culture that values and elevates the folks that keep our business running each day. Ashley reveals some of her creative communication techniques to stay in touch with the production teams and leadership (which may or may not involve memes). She also describes her passion for the outdoors and music, and gives us insight into how she believes BRD is making engineering cool. You can learn more about Ashley and connect with her through her social media:LinkedIn – https://

007 - Joel Blok, P.E. - Construction Services Team Leader Every successful design should result in a successfully constructed product. That’s what this episode’s guest is tasked with facilitating in our Austin market. Joel Blok is our construction phase manager and ensures that BIG RED DOG is proactive and responsive in the construction process of our projects. From assisting the design team with QA/QC to pre-construction kickoffs through submittals, inspections, and eventually delivery, Joel and his team help bring the BRD expertise onto the ground. Joel came to Austin from Michigan. He describes his experience with Engineers Without Borders while in college and his numerous personal endeavors outside of work, including bird watching, photography, writing, and more -- he’s a regular Renaissance Man! We also kickoff a new segment! Within this new segment, Joel recommends the following books: Just Mercy and Birding Without Borders. You can learn more about Joel and connect with him through his social media:Lin

006 - Siri Soth, E.I.T. - Graduate Engineer We’re celebrating the 9th Anniversary of BIG RED DOG Engineering on this episode! We have the pleasure of speaking with Siri Soth, one of our Graduate Engineers from our Austin Civil Commercial team. Siri started her career with BIG RED DOG as an intern while finishing her degree at the University of Texas at Austin. She speaks to her experience of getting ahead of the game by utilizing both a Spring and Summer semester to gain experience in land development before graduation. She also gives insight into her incredible study abroad opportunities that afforded her the opportunity to positively impact communities overseas. Siri talks about her day-to-day life with her team in the Austin office and relates how the culture of the office and team produces a work environment that resonates with her professionally and personally. You can learn more about Siri and connect with her through her social media:LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/siri-soth-e-i-t-7430a1a4/ Lis

005 - Walker Santiago - Senior Civil Designer In this episode, we speak to one of the individuals who are on the front line every day helping us create accurate, expertly designed construction plans and documents. Walker Santiago is a Senior Project Designer and Shareholder with over two decades of civil design experience in the land development and public works industry. Walker has a virtually encyclopedic knowledge of CAD, drone technology, 3D modelling, Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR), and nearly anything tech that can enrich the design process! Learn about his experience working in the Austin and San Antonio offices as well as what it’s like to be a shareholder with the company. You can learn more about Walker and connect with him through his social media: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/walker-santiago-2984048/ Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you download podcasts! If you have feedback – we’d sincerely appreciate your rating and comments in tho

UNLEASHED 004 - Amanda Saldivar - Assistant Civil Team Leader We’re taking the Unleashed tour to San Antonio on this episode! Amanda Saldivar started as the 5th employee in the San Antonio office just over 5 years ago. As our second largest and oldest office, San Antonio services a thriving development market and Amanda and her team are experts in making projects successful in the region. We speak to her about what makes the SATX office such a great place to work at. Amanda discusses her path towards civil engineering and land development, coming from a family of engineers and getting her degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She also invests a great deal into mentorship and enjoys giving back to her alma mater at UTSA and is proud to give back to her hometown in a very real way. You can learn more about Amanda and connect with her through her social media:LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-saldivar-31167b51/ Listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever y