PE Day 2024
Every year, National Professional Engineers (PE) Day shines a spotlight on the individuals who innovate, design, and build the infrastructure that powers our daily lives. From the roads we travel on, the water systems that safeguard our health, and the networks that connect our communities, engineers play an essential role in shaping our world.
In honor of this special day, we are thrilled to present a Q&A session with some of our outstanding engineers. They have shared insights about their careers, what inspired them to join this field, and the passion that drives them to excel. Join us as we dive into the minds of these dedicated professionals and celebrate their contributions to engineering excellence.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
I have always been good at math, science, and problem solving. I also always enjoyed building model airplanes and other things growing up. I did not know what kind of engineer I wanted to be and started Mechanical. Once things started to move, I made the switch to Civil since F = ma = 0 😊. I decided to focus on Transportation as a specialty since it seemed very interesting after having a speaker from my future first employer tell us all about it in an intro to Civil course (CVEN 207 for the Aggies out there). What has come full circle for me is now every semester I get the opportunity to discuss Traffic and Transportation for that same class.
What message would you like to convey to young aspiring engineers?
I could put a lot of things here but this is what I have decided on: As soon as you start getting project experience, start on your SER and add to it as you go. Once it is time to submit an SER with 4 years of experience it is a lot easier to simply pull it out of a file than to try and piece together everything you did over the prior 4 years.
What message would you like to convey to young aspiring engineers?
Engineering is a very rewarding and satisfying profession, and having the PE license is the springboard that allows you to maximize your engineering career.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
My chemistry teacher when I was a sophomore in high school was the first person to bring up engineering to me. He was very passionate about it being a great career. It piqued my interest and that was the beginning of my journey in engineering.
Has there been an engineer who was a significant mentor or role model for you in your engineering career?
My supervisor for much of my time at TxDOT (I’m a TxDOT retiree) has been the biggest influence in my career. He was extremely passionate about always learning and he was the most organized engineer I’ve ever known. He believed in always being as prepared as possible.
Has there been an engineer who was a significant mentor or role model for you in your engineering career?
Throughout my career, I’ve always encountered people that make a difference, whether that’s through direct mentorship, or even leading by example. At CobbFendley, I’d like to specifically call out and thank Vineeta Ram, PE for being a great role model for our Broadband group, but also showing what it takes to be a great engineer and a great person.
What opportunities do you see for the future of engineering?
The world is evolving rapidly, and it is essential for everyone to do their best to keep up. Specifically, with engineering, as new progress is made, or new technological advancements have been identified, it is important to implement these updates. The way broadband has exploded recently as an engineering field is a direct correlation with these trends.
What was the hardest part in preparing for the PE exam? What advice would you give to engineers currently preparing for their PE exam?
The hardest part was learning how to study for a test again after 8 years of being removed from school. With enough time, it was doable. But with hindsight, I wish I would’ve taken the PE Exam as close to when I took my FE Exam, that way I could still remember everything.
Has there been an engineer who was a significant mentor or role model for you in your engineering career?
I grew up wanting to be an engineer just like my dad. He studied engineering at Texas A&M, and I always knew I wanted to do the same thing. In high school my favorite teacher was my Chemistry teacher, so that’s when I specifically decided to pursue a Chemical Engineering degree. When I started as an EIT, I was fortunate to have multiple mentors through the years to guide me and invest in helping me personally grow and develop, and I feel like it’s my responsibility to do that for others and pass along the knowledge like so many others did for me.
How has being a licensed PE contributed to your professional growth and development?
Having my PE license has opened doors that I otherwise wouldn’t have had and has allowed me to challenge myself and complete difficult projects that at the start seemed daunting. That has given me confidence that we can achieve things we thought were nearly impossible. Having a PE license has helped me become a leader and reach the goals that I had for my career.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
My path to my PE was most definitely the most nontraditional one. During my first college experience as a Navy ROTC student in New Orleans – I used to poke fun at my fellow midshipmen who were going through the Civil Engineering program. While they were cramming for their exams, I was doing 12 oz. curls, and swearing I would NEVER become a civil engineer. 10 years later, I’m in Strength & Materials class and hating life – but I kind of liked the coursework. I realized then that I didn’t choose to be an engineer; it chose me. Fast forward to passing the PE exam, I remember a mentor of mine telling me that now that I have my PE, the REAL learning begins. He was so right.
What was the hardest part of preparing for the PE exam? What advice would you give to engineers currently preparing for their PE exam?
College was a challenge, and the FE and PE exams were painful – but you truly begin the REAL work when you are responsible for the quality of your end product. One of the best words of wisdom shared with me was that our reward is not a paycheck, but rather having a client rave over your work to another client. Never stop learning.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
The idea of women being a minority in the engineering industry inspired me to accept the challenge and demonstrate to young girls that engineering is an option for them.
What was the hardest part of preparing for the PE exam? What advice would you give to engineers currently preparing for their PE exam?
It was difficult going home after work and studying while friends were going out to party, but it’s all worth it after passing the exam. I recommend studying 8 hours per week for 3-4 months before the exam. Also, organizing your notes is key to knowing where to find information needed for each exam question.
What message would you like to convey to young aspiring engineers?
Becoming an engineer will open doors for you because an engineer can really work anywhere – especially if you’re a PE. The exam is tough, but not impossible. Do not get discouraged if you don’t pass the exam on the first try.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
My mom. We built the addition to our home together when I was in Junior High and High School. She designed it and had to take it to an engineer for approval. We then constructed fully, minus a few tasks like drywall. I also loved Legos growing up; something I have passed on to my kids. This role fits me well. I like the challenges to overcome by solving problems.
What message would you like to convey to young aspiring engineers?
Engineering school, I believe, does the job of instilling the art of critical thinking. Understanding tasks is only part of the job. Another part is thinking about why you are doing the task and how you could do it better.
How has being a licensed PE contributed to your professional growth and development?
Being a licensed PE has opened a lot of doors for me. I have been given more opportunities to design, review designs, manage projects, and client face. Having the qualifications to sign and seal documents is valuable. The responsibility that comes with the PE is my motivation to become the best engineer I can be.
What was the hardest part of preparing for the PE exam? What advice would you give to engineers currently preparing for their PE exam?
The hardest part about preparing for the exam for me was time management. Working a full day and then studying is very exhausting. Make sure you plan to have no plans while preparing for the PE exam. My advice for engineers currently preparing for their PE exam would be to familiarize themselves with the manual as much as possible and get a good night’s rest the night before the test.
What message would you like to convey to young aspiring engineers?
The roles engineers play are crucial to life as we know it. The job consists of anything from making our lives easier to saving the planet. You really can make a difference and being an engineer is worth it.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
My father is an engineer although I didn’t know what “engineer” meant when I was younger. At our old house, he designed and built a custom playhouse in the backyard for my sister and me. I was amazed. It even had little shutters that opened and closed over the windows. How cool was it that it looked just like the drawing? He designed something on paper that somehow turned into reality.
Has there been an engineer who was a significant mentor or role model for you in your engineering career?
I have been lucky to have two great mentors who are both here at CobbFendley. Brad Matlock, PE and Kerry Lackey, PE have been a significant part of my career and growth. I have been at CobbFendley for almost 11 years now. The three of us have learned lessons through many projects over the years, grown together, and supported each other.
What message would you like to convey to young aspiring engineers?
When I first started my career in civil engineering, I worked at another company and didn’t enjoy the work I was doing. I left engineering. I changed careers and taught high school algebra and geometry. After a few years of teaching, engineering started looking good again. I am lucky everything turned out the way it has, and I love what I do now at CobbFendley. I do wish that I would have talked to my supervisor about what I liked and didn’t like before I made a major life change. There is so much variety in engineering. My day at work is likely completely different than someone else’s day at work, even in the next office. When you are new to the field, you don’t know all of the possibilities. Ask questions, talk to others about what they do, take every opportunity to learn something new, and find what you love doing.