If you’re the entrepreneurial type of civil engineer with (big) plans to open your own “shop” some day and scale it, this episode pulls the curtain on everything you need to know for that journey.

For this one, we sit down with Kevin Franson, one of the owners and the General Manager at Franson Civil Engineers — a water resources engineering firm based in Utah.

Kevin gets into the real stuff that helped scale the firm to two offices and a growing team — hiring strategies, company culture, handling conflict, how to stay competitive, and a lot more to apply at your firm, now or when you start it. 😉 📈

Also, he dives into the ONE thing you need to get crystal clear about before going down that route: the difference between being a great civil engineer…and being a great civil engineering business owner. 💡

(Hint: you cannot be both! 😣)

So, if you’ve ever thought about starting your own firm someday, this is your roadmap.

No fluff. No textbook theory. Just in-the-trenches advice from someone who’s been doing it since the 90s! 💪 🥾

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)

Brigham Young University

Utah State University

The University of Utah

Utah Valley University

📧 CONNECT WITH KEVIN:

LinkedIn

Franson Civil Engineers

Franson Civil Engineers Contact Page

Open Positions at Franson Civil Engineers

🎁 CEA FREEBIES:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!

Website

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

How’s the AEC industry currently doing with lots of Government funding…but high interest rates, inflation, and (even worse) tariffs? 🤔 That’s exactly what we cover in this episode!

For this one, we sat down with Mark Oakeson to unpack the key insights from the annual Utah Business’s AEC roundtable he’s part of — where AEC leaders came together to discuss the biggest challenges, trends, and opportunities (and hopes) shaping the industry today.

From the lack of skilled workers problem we need to solve (and how) to how publicly and privately funded projects are doing in the current economic climate, this episode covers it all. 😉

So, if you want to stay ahead of industry shifts and understand where the AEC is struggling and where it’s headed, this episode is for you. 👍

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• The Key Takeaway From the Event That's the Biggest Issue Right Now

• How AEC Leaders Are Currently Feeling About the Future

• A Surprising Point Affecting Construction Workers Big Time...And Why

• How to Take Care of This Problem Affecting Workers

• The Lack of Skilled Workforce Problem (And the Industry's Effort to Solve It)

• The Big Gap on the Design Side of the Industry That`s Costing Big Money

• What the AEC Leaders Talked About the Implementation of AI

• Where AI is Already Being Used in Civil Engineering

• How Design Professionals Feel Towards the Changes to the ACI 318-19

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Utah Business Magazine

2025 Building, Construction & Design Roundtable Summary

Utah's Associated General Contractors

ACI 318-19

CEA Episode #223 (State of the Industry in 2024)

CEA Episode #179 (State of the Industry in 2023)

CEA Episode #234 (Drones for Inspection with Eric Bitzko)C

EA Episode #216 (Drone Uses in Construction)

CEA Episode #115 (Performance-Based Design)

🎁 CEA FREEBIES:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE Bonus Theory Questions

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!

Website

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

Running an engineering firm is already hard enough. Why make it worse by using static spreadsheets, many disconnected apps, or (even worse) century-old methods your grandpa used to run his shop? 🤔

That’s why we sat down with Robert Yuen, the CEO and co-founder of Monograph — a business management software designed specifically to help architects and engineers run their firms smoothly and profitably.

As a professional in the AEC industry like all of us at the time, Robert saw firsthand and discussed with coworkers the biggest challenges and mistakes his own firm experienced that held it back. Until one day…

During a happy hour on a Friday night, they asked themselves what it would take to solve those challenges — and that’s when Monograph was born. 💡

Whether you have your own firm, run the firm you work at, or have plans to venture out and start your own thing, you’ll want to listen to this interview. Why?

You'll learn everything Monograph has to offer to streamline your business. 😉 🎧

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• What's Monograph All About?
• The Solution to the Biggest Problem AEC Firms Face That Sets Monograph Apart
• A Huge Business Management Mistake AEC Firms Still Make to This Day
• How Monograph Leverages AI to Make Your Firm Runs Smoothly
• Transitioning from Employee to Business Owner...And How You Can Too
• His Piece of Advice to Starting a Business That Goes Against What You Expected
• 2 New Features Coming to Monograph That Will Make You Wanna Sign up Right Away
• Who Monograph is for Based on Firm Size and Operations to Help You Decide
• What's a Day in the Life of the CEO of an Engineering Software Company Like?

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Monograph Software

Monograph LinkedIn Page

University of Illinois, Chicago

University of Michigan

Skidmore Owings & Merrill

📧 CONNECT WITH ROBERT:

LinkedIn

[email protected]

🎁 CEA FREEBIES:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!

Website

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

Tired of juggling multiple tools to track deadlines, assign tasks to team members, store documents…and everything else that comes with managing your projects? 🤔 Then this is for you! 👇

This week, we chat with Adam Loewentheil, who’s the founder of Aldoa — an all-in-on project management software specifically created for small- to mid-sized engineering firms, as well as engineers running their own practice.

In this episode, Adam gives us a LIVE demo of what Aldoa can do that will make you want to throw away all the traditional ways and tools you’ve been using to manage your projects. 🗑️

From tracking budgets, managing clients, and keeping up with deadlines to (hopefully) not losing important files in a sea of emails.

So, if you’ve ever felt buried under “project chaos,” this episode is for you. Plus, Adam is offering 2 months FREE for CEA listeners — so don’t miss it! 🎧

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• What's the Aldoa Software All About?
• How Aldoa Kills The Traditional Ways You Use to Manage Your Projects
• Storing Your Project Documents on Aldoa
• How Aldoa Makes the Most Important Thing in Project Management (a Lot) Easier
• Is There Any Limit to How Much You Can Add to Aldoa?
• The Other Key Aspect of Project Management Aldoa Makes Easier
• Are Things Customizable on Aldoa to Adapt to Your Own Market and Niche?
• How Aldoa Increases Your Business Efficiency (and Why)
• Aldoa's Onboarding and Support Details
• The BIGGEST Issue Civil Engineers Would Love to Solve With Software
• Diving into Aldoa's Financial Tracking Features
• How to Track Your Clients and Key Contacts Within Aldoa
• Access Permission and Platform Editing Features Inside Aldoa
• The Third BIG Aspect of Project Management That Aldoa Also Helps With
• Aldoa's Integration With QuickBooks for Those Who Like the Good 'Ol Way
• The Chat Functionality to Get Everybody on the Same Page (And Grow the Firm)
• How to Sign up for Aldoa...With 2 Months OFF with CEA!

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Aldoa Project Management Software

QuickBooks

📧 CONNECT WITH ADAM:

LinkedIn

[email protected]

[email protected]

🎁 CEA FREEBIES:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:

Civil FE Review Course⁠

⁠Civil PE Review Courses⁠

⁠CFM® Review Course

📚 CEA EXAM PREP RESOURCES:

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH US!

⁠Civil Engineering Academy Website

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

Imagine this: you earn an ABET-accredited degree, pass the FE, and work in engineering for 15 years…only to be told you can’t take the PE Exam because there are no PEs to sign off on your experience?! 😨

That’s exactly what an engineer shared with us on LinkedIn, and that’s the same problem many engineers face in industries where the PE isn’t as common as civil engineering. 😱

So, in this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into this loophole in the PE licensure process that leaves a lot of engineers stuck…plus different ways you can get around it if you find yourself in the same situation. 😉

If you’re a civil engineer who knows you’ll be taking the PE Exam at some point in your career, then this is a must-listen episode if you want to avoid this problem later on. 👍

Go check it out! 🎧

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• The Unseen Loophole in the PE Licensure Process…That Doesn’t Benefit You
• The Big Problem That Creates This Loophole
• What’s Missing in the PE Licensure Process
• Should There Be Alternative Pathways to Get The PE License?
• The Two Requirements That Really Matter to Guarantee Professional Competence
• Does Being a Licensed PE Mean You're Professionally Competent?
• 3 Options to Get Licensed When You Don't Have PEs to Sign Off on Your Experience
• Why Are States So Rigid About the Current Requirements?
• What Young Engineers Must Do If They're Not Directly Working under a PE
• What Young Engineers Can Do If There Aren't PEs in the Company They Work at
• The Key to Avoid This Problem in Your Career Down the Road

✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED:

NCEES Newsletter Issue

🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH US!

Main Website

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

Do you think those who pass their exam are simply smarter than everyone else (including you)? And if you’ve already failed one of these before, do you think you’re simply not “smart enough?” 🤔

Well, think again!

There’s another variable that affects your exam results much more than “how smart” you are ever will — and it’s backed by a study that lasted 13 years! 😲

Now, want to know the most shocking thing this study found?

Only 11% of test-takers take this variable into account when preparing for their exams!

This means it’s the best study technique to use if you want to pass, but very few test-takers use it…including you, probably. 😨

So, in this episode, we’re gonna cover what this technique is all about, and then go even further to explain why it works so well and how you can effectively put it into practice in your own prep. 👍

I promise, if you use this, you’ll pass whatever exam you’re preparing for, whether that’s your FE, PE, SE, PMP…you name it! 😉

Go check it out! 🎧

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• The biggest misconception about passing an exam you probably believe in
• The study technique that impacts your exam results more than anything else
• Why this technique works like magic for taking exams
• 2 aspects of it that make it work better than all the other study methods
• 6 guidelines to apply this technique to your own exam prep…and win on exam day

✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Elevate Education

Douglas Barton’s TED Talk

🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH US!

Main Website

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

Did you know that only 16.7% of women with an engineering degree actually work in engineering?! 😨 That’s a reality Hannah Dunham faced firsthand — and she’s on a mission to change it.

Hannah is a Chemical Engineer who started her career at a paper mill, where she wasn’t just the only woman in the room...but often the only woman in the entire factory. 😮

Navigating a male-dominated industry was no easy feat, but she quickly learned the skills needed to climb the ranks. Eventually, she wasn’t just working alongside men, but managing a team of up 118 of them (plus women, too).

From a young, female engineer on the factory floor to a successful woman in STEM making just as much as men (if not more!), Hannah cracked the code on what it takes for women to succeed in the field.

Now, she’s sharing everything she’s learned through her consulting business, dedicated to helping other women in STEM do the same. 💅 👷

If you’re a woman in STEM (or know one), this episode is packed with insights you can’t afford to miss if you want a successful career.

Hit the play button now! 🎧

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• The 2 Biggest Struggles Women in STEM Report to Her
• What She Learned From Managing Men That She Now Makes It Clear to Women
• The 2 Leadership Skills Crucial for Women to Thrive in STEM
• Her Experience as a Woman Engineer That Inspired Her to Start Her Business
• The 2 Reasons Why There Few Women in STEM...And How to Solve It
• The Best Way to Find a Mentor (And the Two Moments Women Need a Female Mentor)
• 3 Secret Tips for Women to Negotiate Equal Pay She Only Shares With Her Clients

🤝 OUR PARTNER:

Built Bar (Use code CIVAC)

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Auburn University

📧 CONNECT WITH HANNAH:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Climbing Tress Consulting

🎁 CEA FREEBIES:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

📚 CEA EXAM PREP RESOURCES:

Civil Engineering Academy Website

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH US!

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

As civil engineers, we’re used to solving big, complex problems no one can solve…until we run into a simple life debate we can’t figure out. 👇

“Am I saving enough money…or way more than I need?” 🤔

That’s where Andy Cole, PE, comes in. 👇

Andy is a civil engineer turned financial advisor who helps engineers take control of their money — not with one-size-fits-all guidelines, but with strategies tailored to their own goals, and values.

In this episode, Andy helps you understand key financial concepts once and for all with his engineering analogies (which you’ll love).

Also, he dives into the things you should avoid (and do!) for long-term financial success…and how a financial advisor can help. 👍

If you’ve ever worried about how to better manage all the money that comes in from your hard work as a civil engineer, including paying less in taxes, this episode is worth a listen. 😉 🎧

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• The Engineering Analogy To Understand Financial Planning Once and for All
• The Engineering Analogy To Understand Investing
• Why Civil Engineers Should Hire a Financial Advisor
• What Does the Work with a Financial Advisor Entails?
• The 2 Biggest Mistakes You Make With Your Finances as a Civil Engineer
• The FIRST Thing You Should Do To Set Yourself up for Financial Success
• His Career Pivot into Financial Advisory
• How He Slowly Transitioned Into a New Career...And How You Can Too!

🤝 OUR PARTNER:

Built Bar - Use code CIVAC

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

American Water Works Association (AWWA)

CH2M (Now part of Jacobs)

University of Florida

Fiduciary Financial Advisors

📧 CONNECT WITH ANDY:

LinkedIn

[email protected]

Andy’s Company Page

🎁 CEA FREEBIES:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

📚 CEA EXAM PREP RESOURCES:

Civil Engineering Academy Website

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH US!

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

Imagine failing the PE so many times that you decide your next attempt would be your last — pass or walk away. 😨 That was Yameli Herschelman’s reality…until one thing changed for her last try.

Originally from Venezuela, she came to the US for her Master’s degree in Transportation and dreamed of becoming a PE. After struggling with other review courses for her first five attempts, she turned to Civil Engineering Academy for her 6th attempt.

In simple words: the rest is history. 👷 ✅

This episode is packed with hard-earned lessons for repeat takers, from a six-time repeat taker herself who almost gave up on the goal of becoming a PE altogether.

We always say, the PE Exam is 10% technical knowledge and 90% grit. No matter how many times you’ve failed before, Yameli’s perseverance and mindset shift will inspire you to push forward.

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• Where Her Mindset Went After Many PE Failures...And What Changed It
• Is the New PE Exam Really Depth-Specific?
• The Biggest Challenge on the PE...And How to Solve It
• A Killer Test-Taking Tip You Should Know for Your Exam Day
• Why She Thinks Civil Engineering Academy Helped Her Pass
• What She Added to Her Study Schedule That You Should Add to Yours
• When She Would Study for the PE During Her Busy Days
• 3 Aspects of the Transportation PE That Taking Practice Exam Helps With
• Does a Master's Degree Help You With the PE Exam?
• The Most Common Topics on the Transportation PE Exam You Need to Know
• How to Get to Know the Codes Like the Back of Your Hand
• 2 Hard-Earned Lessons for Repeat Takers...From a 6-Time Taker Herself
• Why She Recommends Civil Engineering Academy

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

AASHTO “Green Book”

Highway Capacity Manual

NCEES PE Handbook

PE Transportation Exam Specifications

CEA PE CBT Exam Simulator

CEA Civil PE Review Courses

University of Central Florida

📧 CONNECT WITH YAMELI:

LinkedIn

🎁 CEA FREEBIES:

The 5 Best FE Resources

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

📚 CEA EXAM PREP RESOURCES:

Civil Engineering Academy Website

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH US!

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]

🚨 The Civil Engineering industry is facing a HUGE problem! ⚠️

Experienced engineers are retiring, there are not enough young engineers ready to step into leadership roles, and companies are struggling to fill in the gaps. 😨

Yep, it’s kinda bad (that’s the bad news), but there’s a simple fix to it (that’s the good news).

In this episode, Mark jumps back on to talk about this problem based on his own experiences as a manager at his firm, why this is happening, and more importantly, what companies and engineers can (read: should) do about it.

So, if you’re a young civil engineer looking to grow your career and step into these high-responsibility roles that are now vacant, this episode has lots of strategies for you to do just that. 💼

And, if you're in charge of an engineering firm struggling with this problem, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you identify, train, and retain the next generation of leaders…in-house…before it’s too late!

Go check it out! 🎧

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• The problem with experienced engineers retiring and not enough young engineers
• Why civil engineering firms wait too long to address leadership gaps
• How to spot civil engineers with leadership potential early on
• How to tie performance reviews to leadership potential (instead of just technical skills)
• The 2 best ways to train engineers in leadership roles.
• The single biggest and industry-wide challenge to developing leaders in-house
• The (many) non-monetary ways firms can retain and develop top talent
• Strategies for companies to train their engineers into leaders
• How you can develop leadership skills — even if your company has no training
• Why leadership skills are more important than (probably) ever before

✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED:

American Concrete Institute (ACI)

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)

Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI) Trainings

Six Sigma Certifications

🎁 OUR FREEBIES:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

📚 OUR EXAM PREP RESOURCES:

Civil Engineering Academy Website

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH US!

Newsletter

Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

YouTube Channel

[email protected]