Today, we’re celebrating the incredible contributions of engineers by spotlighting one of our own — Marie Peedin, PE, Water/Wastewater Section Head based in New Bern, NC. 

In our latest episode, Marie shares insights from her engineering journey — from what first inspired her to pursue the field, to the rewarding municipal projects she’s helped bring to life in her own hometown. 

Marie’s passion for engineering doesn’t stop at work. Her technical expertise has also driven personal ventures, like building a rental real estate portfolio and developing land for a future tiny home community.  

Her advice for aspiring engineers? "Love what you do and do what you love." 

Let’s celebrate professionals like Marie who use their skills to make a lasting impact — both professionally and personally. 

Tune in to hear Marie’s full story and be inspired this Professional Engineers Day! 

In this episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we’re spotlighting Christian Barrera, a civil engineering intern in our Washington, DC, office, in recognition of National Intern Day.

Christian shares his experience in JMT’s rotational internship program, where he’s gaining hands-on exposure across departments like traffic, roadway, project delivery, construction management, and water resources. 

Hear his story and advice for future interns and stick around until the end for a message from our Recruitment Team Leader, Jenny Pickel, on upcoming internship opportunities! 

Learn more about our internship opportunities: JMT Careers Page 

In this episode, we sit down with Douglas Mangum, MA, RPA, a Senior Archaeologist from our Houston, TX office. 

Douglas shares how his passion for archaeology was sparked at a young age—by reading his mother’s anthropology textbook—and how that early interest set him on a unique and sometimes challenging career path. 

He also dives into his decade-long work at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, where his research helped rewrite parts of a historic battle, leaving a lasting impact on both his career and the field. 

Whether you're interested in archaeology, historic preservation, or just love a great career story—you won’t want to miss this one! 

In honor of Women in Engineering Day, we sat down with Haley Boyd, a talented Water/Wastewater Design Engineer, for a special episode of the Meet JMT podcast. 

Haley shares how her passion for environmental protection and public health inspired her to pursue a career in water engineering. She speaks about her work on a Charles County CCTV project, where she reviewed extensive sewer inspection footage, developed a detailed tracking spreadsheet to monitor key metrics and flag duplicates, and redesigned the entire review process to be more efficient and user-friendly. 

Outside of work, Haley’s love for hiking, snowboarding, and being immersed in nature continues to influence her thoughtful approach to solving engineering challenges. 

Tune in to the episode to hear more about Haley’s journey, her work, and what drives her every day! 

In this episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we sat down with James Dodson, PE, PLS, CPM, a Senior Associate and Surveyor based in our Raleigh, NC office.  

James shares his journey from 27 years at NCDOT to his current role at JMT, reflecting on how his work has shaped and streamlined workflows across the AEC industry. He also takes us back to his early days at NC State, offering insights into a career built on experience, adaptability, and innovation. 

And here’s a fun twist: James is also a tribute artist for Sheriff Andy Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show! He talks about how stepping into character helped him overcome public speaking nerves and build connections with a unique community. His performances, including those at the Mayberry Days Festival, help support local nonprofit organizations and 501(c)(3) causes—a meaningful way he gives back through his passion.

Tune in to hear James’s story; it’s one you don’t want to miss! 

Get to know more about James as Andy Taylor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzKtH3SbJro&t=349s

In our latest episode of the Meet JMT Podcast, we sat down with Michael Holden, PE, RSP1, Project Manager and Office Leader at our Spartanburg, SC, office.

Michael shares insights into his role managing diverse civil engineering projects and building strong client relationships. His journey into civil engineering was sparked by a passion for math and the outdoors—ultimately leading to a rewarding career shaping community infrastructure.

Beyond his professional work, Michael has been deeply involved with the Luz Project (Light Project), a Brazil-based mission organization, since 2005. As vice president and church construction leader, he helps organize an annual mission trip to Maceió, Brazil. There, the team builds churches, leads children’s Bible clubs and sports camps, supports women’s ministries, and distributes food and clothing to those in need.

Tune in to hear Michael’s story of leadership, purpose, and impact—both locally and globally.

In our latest Meet JMT podcast episode, we sit down with Kurt Goddard, our newly appointed Rail and Transit Practice Leader based in Hunt Valley, MD.

With a deep-rooted background in telecommunications, Kurt has played key roles in transformative infrastructure projects — from installing Vermont’s first cellular phone system to contributing to massive undertakings like Boston’s Big Dig and NYC’s East Side Access.

Kurt shares how the profession found him — not the other way around — and dives into a visionary 1996 project on fully automated highways in collaboration with General Motors and Bechtel. 

Outside the office, Kurt discusses his passions for riding motorcycles and practicing martial arts — activities that help him stay sharp, balanced, and ready for the next big challenge.  

In our latest episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jon Conner, PLA, LEED AP — Landscape Architect and Discipline Lead for our Landscape Architecture group — as part of our ongoing celebration of World Landscape Architecture Month.

Jon shares his journey into Landscape Architecture, beginning with a foundation in architecture and ultimately shifting focus due to a deep passion for designing outdoor spaces and understanding the intricate relationship between people and their environment.

He reflects on impactful projects like the Green Tracks pilot project for the MTA in Baltimore and the City of Rehoboth Beach Streetscape project, both of which highlight the value of thoughtful, sustainable design in public spaces.

Jon also dives into how his personal hobbies — including golf and spending time outdoors — have shaped his professional lens, deepening his appreciation for landforms, user experience, and the power of place.

Tune in to hear more about Jon's insights and inspirations!

In this episode of the Meet JMT Podcast, we had the privilege of sitting down with Mark Shrift, RLA, ASLA a talented landscape architect based in Harrisburg, PA.

With over 35 years of experience, Mark reflects on some of the most impactful projects of his career, including the National Civil War Museum and various sports facilities for the City of Harrisburg. He shares the personal significance of these projects, especially how they have positively impacted his family and community. 

Outside of work, Mark shares his passion for the outdoors, including fly fishing and golfing. 

Don't miss this insightful conversation as we celebrate World Landscape Architecture Month! 

In celebration of Women's History Month, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Tara Alexander, Water Resources Section Head at our Round Rock, Texas office, on the latest episode of the Meet JMT podcast!

In this episode, Tara shares her inspiring and unconventional journey into engineering. She initially started in business but discovered her true passion for engineering while working alongside engineers at a mining company.

Tara also discusses her rewarding career as a drainage engineer for TxDOT, where she loves the variety of projects and the chance to work across Texas. She’s also proud of the entrepreneurial spirit she's been able to embrace at JMT, growing the water resources department in Texas from just herself and her first EIT to a thriving team of 12 full-time employees across 4 offices!

Lastly, Tara opens up about her personal journey of managing lower back pain for 25 years and the healing she found through energy healing. 

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about career growth, overcoming challenges, and embracing new opportunities!