Page 11 - CEGE Magazine Spring 2017

dedicated to aesthetics. There are small, incremental ways to tell the story about infrastructure and change perspectives over time. The new generation of civil engineers can do that.
CEGE Students
The caliber of student I see coming out of the U is outstanding. These students get a strong technical education. They also see value in understanding how those principles apply in real world practice. They reach out early in their programs to get to know professionals and the field. The young students are obviously being encouraged by the fac- ulty and staff to network, and they are doing that. There are a lot of universi- ties represented in our 500-person firm, but personally, I seek out UMN grads.
I am a member of the Professional Advisory Board for CEGE, and I appre- ciate the opportunity that gives me to see correlations between what the U
is trying to accomplish and what the profession is trying to accomplish.
Civil engineering projects take a long time to plan and construct and affect
a lot of people; we have to take a long perspective. The public works indus- try is experiencing a lot of attrition as our engineers retire, and at the same time, much of our urban infrastructure is approaching the end of its life. I see this need for new professionals as an opportunity to revitalize and to create a work force that reflects the diverse pub- lics we serve. We want public under- standing and support for the projects we propose. Local support can lead
to legislative buy-in, which can lead to political support and funding for public projects. It is a grass roots effort.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
Facing this challenge reminds me of a lesson from college. Professor Ladislav
Cerny, a concrete guy, taught the civil engineering materials course. At the time, it was probably one of the tough- est classes in terms of effort. It took one or two all-nighters every week to get
his reports done. It was torturous! He would look out over a sea of students— just tired, worn out. He related our experience to a stress-strain curve of materials: “You have to be exposed to stress and you have to yield before you find your limit strength.” He’s absolutely right. You have to push your limits to reach your ultimate potential. I thought that was brilliant to take that technical idea of the strain hardening phase and relate it to our life experience.
That is one reason I am grateful for the young people coming into the business. They are pushing themselves. They are asking, what can I do for the world? I hope to foster that attitude; I see it as a real asset for our industry. I am passion- ate about taking advantage of the talent and the values and the spirit of these new engineers. They are a new, refresh- ing kind of people with attitudes that are aligned and supportive of what we do as civil engineers. They will undoubtedly help elevate our quality of life!
Community Involvement
At this point in my career, I am looking for new and different ways to connect with the communities I am working with and working for. The Rotary is one of the opportunities I’m involved in. There are a number of UMN alumni in Rotary. Part of the fundraising in my club supports scholarships for Burns- ville high school students. I also work with the Dakota County Workforce Development Agency.
I am on the board of 360 Communities, a nonprofit social services agency that supplies resources for self-sufficiency.
I got to know the former CEO of this organization through my Rotary Club. I’m now on my second term on the board, and I have a lot of passion for this work. 360 Communities is the largest non-profit in Dakota County and is widely known and respected. The name comes from our holistic approach. When someone comes in seeking assis- tance, we ask comprehensive questions so we can understand the whole picture and give them a sustainable solution. I have been proud to participate with this organization.
CONTINUING GIFT OF MUSIC
My wife and I stay in touch with the marching band, we support the band. Most recently, we participated in a fundraising event for new uniforms. They embroidered the donors’ names on each uniform, and we got to meet the student wearing “our” uniform. She plays the mellophone. It was fun to do that.
We also marched in the last homecoming parade and halftime show to celebrate the band’s 125th anniversary. It was fun to meet up with old alums and friends. We got to tour the back halls of the stadium and see the marching band facilities, which I hadn’t seen yet. We really appreciate being able to stay in touch with the band in these ways.
Playing the sax has been a lifelong hobby and creative outlet. I play now with the Prior Lake Windjammers—check this summer’s Music in the Parks schedules for the cities of Hopkins, Edina, and Shakopee!
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering | DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GEO- ENGINEERING 11