Episodes

After Fargo’s 2009 record flood fight when the community mobilized to sandbag and the city came within inches of disaster leaders knew a permanent solution was no longer optional. Dr. Dennis D. Truax talks with civil engineer Joel Paulsen , former Executive Director of the Fargo–Moorhead Flood Diversion Authority, about the Fargo–Moorhead Diversion Project : a $3B+ infrastructure effort combining federal, state, local, and private financing including a historic public-private partnership (P3) wi...

In this episode of 21st Century Engineer , Dr. Dennis D. Truax talks with Katye Miller McGinnis, P.E. about the realities of civil engineering growth: the learning never stops, mentorship takes adaptability, and great projects require empathy inside the workplace and out in the community. Katye shares lessons from healthcare and complex site development, including how to mentor interns and new hires, how field feedback sharpens engineering judgment, why innovation often starts with operations, a...

In this special episode of 21st Century Engineer , Dr. Dennis D. Truax talks with Jennifer Todd about the “ Doubt Tax ” the hidden mental and emotional cost women pay in AEC just to be seen as competent. Jennifer explains why this is different from imposter syndrome, how credibility pressure and bias drive talent out of civil engineering, and why fixing retention starts with leaders building systems that assume competence. The result: stronger culture, better quality of life, and a more producti...

Thomas Smith — longtime ASCE leader and Executive Director for the past 11 years joins Dr. Dennis D. Truax for a special edition of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast. They discuss civil engineering’s future through the lens of workforce shortages, AI, sustainability, extreme weather, and the critical role of advocacy, trusted engineering knowledge, and inclusive pathways into the profession. Tom’s career path: civil engineering → law → ASCE ASCE’s biggest profession-wide impacts (report cards, s...

In this special multi-guest episode, we bring together three industry experts to take on one of the most urgent conversations in civil infrastructure today: how do we build safer, smarter, more resilient projects?Engineers, educators, and practitioners Bill Hayden, Dr. Ahmed Albayati, and Chad Morrison join Dennis to explore:🔹 Why safety must start at the design table, not the construction site🔹 The dangers of siloed thinking in engineering organizations🔹 How systems thinking can transform civil...

When a late-night call revealed foam discharging into the Mississippi River, chemical engineer Liz Rayfield had to make a decision—one that would shut down an entire plant for a week and cost millions. In this episode, Liz joins Dennis for a raw and insightful discussion about: • Ethical responsibility under pressure • Speaking up when management wants silence • The operator who trusted his gut • Why “legal” doesn’t always mean “right” • How young engineers build credibility and courage • Indust...

In this episode, Dr. Dennis Truax speaks with BJ Elkins, P.E. , a water and wastewater engineer recognized by NSPE as an Emerging Leader. BJ shares how a simple message — “you can use math to help people” — sparked a career focused on service. From working in rural Uganda to solving small-town Colorado water crises , BJ opens up about purpose, ethics, continuing education, and what it really means to protect the public through engineering. A powerful conversation for civil engineers, students, a...

In this episode, Dr. Dennis Truax talks with Sangeeta Bhattacharjee, P.E., PMP , the first woman geotechnical engineer in her Terracon office, about resilience, servant leadership, and breaking gender barriers in engineering. From growing up in Bangladesh to becoming a recognized emerging leader in Kansas , Sangeeta shares how faith, persistence, and mentorship helped her define success on her own terms. A must-listen for young engineers, women in STEM, and anyone redefining what leadership look...

This edition of The 21st Century Engineer newsletter spotlights Alex Steelman , PE a 2025 NSPE Emerging Leader who shares her journey from aerospace aspirations to building communities through civil infrastructure. Guided by strong mentors and driven by a love for problem-solving, Alex reflects on early-career challenges, lifelong learning, and the importance of professional societies in shaping ethical, servant leaders. Her story is a testament to resilience, curiosity, and commitment to the pr...

In this episode of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, Dr. Dennis D. Truax sits down with Isaac Oakeson, founder of @CivilEngAcademy , to discuss the future of engineering licensure and why earning your PE still defines professional competency in civil engineering.Isaac shares how his own struggles with the PE exam inspired him to create one of the leading prep platforms for engineers, how computer-based testing (CBT) has changed the game, and why the three-legged stool of education, experience, ...

Civil engineering isn’t a luxury it’s a lifeline. Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with Joe Dibbs (Applied Research Associates) to explore how growing up in Lebanon shaped Joe’s view of infrastructure as necessity, his unlikely start as a pastry chef’s aide , and his shift into pavement engineering and asset management . They discuss the leap from academia to consulting , why trust precedes innovation, capturing veteran expertise with AI , and how ASCE/APWA communities create belonging, leadership opp...

Welcome to the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, where we spotlight professionals shaping the future of civil infrastructure. In this episode, Dr. Dennis Truax interviews Clint Smith, a civil engineer and project manager at Half Associates, and one of ASCE's 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering.Clint shares his journey from academia to consulting, offering insights into the shock of transitioning from theory to real-world water and wastewater design. They dive into the complexity of hydraulic modeli...

In this compelling episode of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, Dr. Dennis Truax (former ASCE President) is joined by civil engineer and infrastructure advocate Ana Tijerina Esquino to break down the 2025 ASCE Infrastructure Report Card. From pothole-ridden roads to outdated water systems, they highlight the hidden costs American families face due to failing infrastructure and the opportunities we have to fix it.Together, they explore how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has begun to ...

Tony Golopany escaped the Kosovo War as a child and went on to design and rate over 100 bridges across the U.S. — all before turning 30. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Dennis Truax explores Tony’s path from refugee to one of ASCE’s 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering. Discover what it really takes to build the infrastructure that holds society together.

Civil engineers are overworked, underpaid, and undervalued — but Erin Robinson is proving it doesn’t have to stay that way. Named one of ASCE’s 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering, Erin joins Dr. Dennis Truax to unpack the real issues no one wants to talk about: ➡️ Pay gaps and broken loyalty in engineering firms ➡️ Why mentorship is failing young professionals ➡️ How community-first design changes everything ➡️ The massive skills gap between school and practice ➡️ Why soft skills aren't soft — ...

What does it take to thrive as a minority woman in engineering and construction? And how do you navigate toxic workplaces without losing your purpose — or your power? In this compelling episode of 21st Century Engineered , Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with Sairan Aqrawi , professional engineer, transit authority leader, certified coach, and unstoppable mentor, for a raw and deeply personal conversation on identity, leadership, and real-world advocacy in the male-dominated world of AEC (Architectur...

What happens when billion-dollar environmental engineering relies on broken models? Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with veteran civil engineer Dennis Lambert to unpack the collapse of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project once positioned as a flagship solution to Louisiana’s land loss crisis. This episode explores how major discrepancies in sediment modeling , bypassed permitting requirements, and a failure to ground truth assumptions led to the project’s downfall. Lambert shares firsthand in...

Civil engineering isn’t just about concrete and calculations—it’s about people, purpose, and the long game. In this episode of 21st Century Engineer , Dr. Dennis Truax welcomes Josh Burnett, founder of Redesign Studio LLC, to talk through the real-world challenges and mindset shifts required in civil infrastructure today. From struggling to find a job after college to cutting millions in development costs through smarter planning, Josh shares hard-earned lessons on purpose, ethics, communication...

What inspires someone to become a civil engineer? In Autumn Buesking’s case: a childhood bridge, a statewide flood, and a spaghetti-and-glue design contest. In this episode of 21st Century Water , host Dr. Dennis Truax welcomes Autumn — named one of ASCE’s 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering — to share her journey from small-town Missouri to designing real infrastructure with national impact. They dive into: Building storm shelters, aquatic centers & school expansions The power of internships an...

What does it take to build a meaningful engineering career in the 21st century?In this episode of The 21st Century Engineer, Dr. Dennis Truax sits down with Intisar Farhan Ahmed, geotechnical engineer and 2025 ASCE New Face of Civil Engineering, to explore how culture, mentorship, and proactive choices shape the future of infrastructure.🎯 Perfect for young engineers, civil engineering students, immigrants in STEM, and mid-career professionals navigating purpose and growth.👇 Timestamps & Topics(C...

In this episode of The 21st Century Engineer , host Dr. Dennis Truax welcomes Monica Gilmore, Executive Director of the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. Together, they unpack why professional licensure (PE) still matters in today’s evolving engineering landscape — and what’s at stake when fewer engineers pursue it. Monica shares: Her 20+ year journey from civil engineer to executive director What most students don’t know about the PE path The “three E’s” o...

What happens when large language models (LLMs) become part of the engineering team? In this episode of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, we sit down with William (Bill) Katzenmeyer, P.E., C.F.M. civil engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of CLB Engineering to explore how LLMs like GPT-4 are redefining workflows in the AEC space. From improving documentation and reducing design errors to creating more adaptive, future-ready infrastructure, LLMs are offering new ways for engineers to think, build,...

Welcome back to another episode of the 21st Century Engineer Podcast , where we explore innovation, infrastructure, and the minds reshaping our world. In this powerful episode, host Dennis sits down with Emma Quail , a seasoned expert in non-revenue water, leak detection, and water infrastructure innovation. Emma, now leading Technology Solutions at Ferguson — the nation's largest plumbing and waterworks distributor — dives into why up to 40% of treated water in the U.S. is lost before it reache...

On this episode of the 21st Century Engineer, we welcome trailblazer Eileen Vélez Vega, PE, MSCE, a civil engineer and aviation specialist who made history as Puerto Rico’s first female Secretary of Transportation and Public Works.In conversation with Dr. Dennis Truxillo, Eileen shares the realities of leading public infrastructure projects in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic restructuring — and what engineers and consultants need to understand about value-based p...