The QBS Express

What does the next generation of engineers actually want from their employers — and are we listening? Two ACEC Kansas Scholarship winners join the podcast to share their journeys into engineering, what makes a great internship, how companies can stand out at career fairs, and what they're really looking for in a future employer. From site visits to mentorship, flexibility to communication, Hailey Nicholas and Connor Gibbs offer a candid look at what it's like to be an engineering student today — and what the industry can do better to keep young talent engaged.

Highlights

• Hailey grew up dancing in Andale, Kansas, and balances her analytical engineering mind with the creativity of dance — a rare right-brain/left-brain combination
• Connor's path to civil engineering started with dreams of baseball, a few high school engineering classes, and a natural aptitude for math
• Both credit STEM exposure early on — Hailey through Girl Scouts and her aerospace engineer dad, Connor through multiple engineering courses at his large high school
• Hailey applied for the ACEC Kansas Scholarship three years in a row before winning — perseverance paid off
• Connor discovered the scholarship through an email from his civil department secretary and had never heard of ACEC before
• Internships taught both students that applying classroom knowledge in the field accelerates learning — and that a summer without one can feel like falling behind
• Connor's internship journey spanned design (Trek Design Group), construction (Alberici Constructors), and his current role at Turner Construction on a massive EV battery plant in DeSoto
• Hailey valued site visits — including a power plant tour during her time at Affiliated Engineers — and appreciates employers who explain the full project context, not just the task
• Both students want companies to show up at career fairs with more than trinkets — personal connections, guest lectures, and pre-fair events make a real difference
• LinkedIn works for recruiting outreach; Facebook and Instagram are less effective for students seeking career information — company websites still come first
• What students want most: mentorship, growth opportunities, people who share knowledge, and a workplace that treats colleagues like family
• Jeff's advice to new engineers: be open-minded, communicate with your employer, and treat coworkers like family — you'll spend a third of your life with them
• Scott's advice: let your personality show — the engineers who rise are the ones who can communicate and connect, not just calculate

Chapters

0:00 — Welcome And Guests

1:09 — Hailey's Early Influences

4:30 — Connor's Path To Civil Engineering

8:52 — Scholarship Discovery

10:54 — Internships And Lessons

15:43 — What Makes A Great Internship

21:07 — Plans After Graduation

22:22 — Recruiting At Career Fairs

23:25 — Personal Recruiting Connections

23:58 — Beyond Career Fair Trinkets

24:34 — K-State Job Boards And Events

25:20 — Career Fairs For Interns

27:10 — Social Media Recruiting Reality

31:10 — What Students Want From Employers

34:33 — Showing Mentorship In Interviews

36:31 — Advice For New Engineers

41:02 — What Employers Want Most

43:02 — Flexibility And Humility At Work

46:33 — Lightning Round Fun Questions

50:19 — Final Thanks And Wrap

Resources Mentioned

• ACEC Kansas Scholarship Program
• University of Kansas (KU) Civil Engineering program — engineering.ku.edu
• Kansas State University Architectural Engineering program — k-state.edu

Other Resources:
Learn more about ACEC Kansas

In this special episode of the QBS Express, recorded in Washington, D.C., we partner with ACEC National’s Engineering Influence and sit down with U.S. Representative Ron Estes of Kansas for a conversation on tax policy, infrastructure, and regulatory reform. 

About the Guest: 
Representative Ron Estes has represented Kansas's 4th District in the U.S. House since 2017, following service as Sedgwick County Treasurer and Kansas State Treasurer. An engineer by training with years of private-sector experience, he brings a practical, problem-solving perspective to Congress and has been a key ally to ACEC members on the tax issues that affect engineering firms. 

What We Cover: 

• His lead role on the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act, and the years-long push to restore immediate R&D expensing instead of five-year amortization 
• Why R&D cash flow matters for startups and small firms, not just big businesses 
• The outlook for surface transportation reauthorization and shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund 
• Why infrastructure means more than roads and bridges: water and wastewater treatment, waterways, and the systems that move goods and services 
• Regulatory simplification and permitting reform, and why lawmakers with private-sector experience understand that businesses have to live with the policies Congress passes 

Watch the Full Episode on ACEC National's Engineering Influence: https://youtu.be/-zRvVbGeqd8 

In this special episode of the QBS Express — recorded in Washington, D.C.  — host Scott Heidner (Executive Director, ACEC Kansas) and co-host Rob Krewson (President, ACEC Kansas) sit down with U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt of Kansas for a wide-ranging conversation on infrastructure, policy, and public service. 

About the Guest 
Congressman Derek Schmidt has spent his career in Kansas public service — as a legislative staffer, ten years in the Kansas State Senate, three terms as Kansas Attorney General, and now representing Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. A licensed attorney, he brings a practicing professional's perspective to the policy conversation. 

What We Cover 

• Congressman Schmidt's career path from the Kansas Senate to Attorney General to Congress 
• His long-standing support for ACEC Kansas's Emerging Leaders Program, where he's spoken to the group nearly every year since its inception 
• Why infrastructure investment matters — even in tough votes back home in southeast Kansas 
• The case for qualifications-based selection (QBS) and why the best value isn't always the lowest price 
• The outlook for a surface transportation reauthorization bill and the risks of letting authorization lapse 
• What's changed moving from state to federal service — bigger bureaucracy, longer timelines, and the relationship-building required to get things done in a 435-member House 
• How ACEC Kansas and its delegation work together on regulatory issues, not just legislation 

Watch the Full Episode on ACEC National’s Engineering Inc: https://youtu.be/4BpTygqRegg?si=j3fMVw1XDq-ZnHJ0 

Other Resources:
Learn more about ACEC Kansas

What happens when a city of 6,000 people lands the largest economic development project in the history of its state? That's exactly what De Soto, Kansas is navigating right now — and the story behind how they got there is one worth telling. I sat down in De Soto with City Administrator Mike Brungardt and Public Works Director and City Engineer Joe Johnson to unpack the infrastructure, relationships, communications, and plain hard work that turned a former World War II ammunition plant into one of the most buzzed-about economic development sites in the country.

Highlights

• De Soto's transformation from a bedroom community of ~5,500 to the home of Panasonic's $4 billion lithium-ion battery facility — the largest economic development project in Kansas history
• How a 9,000-acre former Army ammunition plant (once employing 10,000 workers) became the foundation for modern advanced manufacturing
• The city annexed the entire 9,000-acre site, formed a TIF district, and began seriously pursuing economic development in the early 2020s — and Panasonic was the grand slam on the first pitch
• $245 million in public infrastructure improvements delivered between 2022 and end of 2024, including a new 8-million gallon water plant, expanded wastewater plant, $40 million in sewer lines, a new water tower, roadway, and a dedicated fire station
• All major city projects used accelerated delivery methods — progressive design-build and CM at-risk — because traditional delivery would never have met Panasonic's timeline
• KDOT designed and built four lanes of divided roadway in two years — their first-ever progressive design-build project — while Panasonic was simultaneously building a $4 billion facility
• KDHE became an unofficial partner, assigning a dedicated staff person to the project and engaging in early design discussions rather than just reviewing final plans
• The power of early, proactive community communications — and the lesson both guests said they'd do differently with hindsight
• Why "shovel-ready" is more than a buzzword: each completed infrastructure project creates excess capacity that makes the next deal easier to close
• A candid discussion on data centers, the next frontier for De Soto, and the need for clear-eyed, community-centered engagement on that opportunity

Chapters

0:00 – Welcome to QBS Express

1:20 – Meet Joe Johnson

2:30 – Meet Mike Brungardt

5:56 – De Soto Growth Metrics

9:13 – Ammunition Plant Origins

12:50 – Remediation to Redevelopment

16:51 – Stakeholders and Oversight

22:51 – Community Concerns

22:51 – Building a Comms Team

26:12 – How Deals Take Shape

28:11 – Competing for Projects

28:45 – Momentum and Capacity

30:33 – Shovel-Ready Sites

31:20 – Infrastructure Overview

31:50 – Panasonic Funding Catalyst

34:34 – Scope and Fire Station

36:28 – 245 Million Buildout

37:41 – Fast Track Delivery

39:53 – Regulatory Partnerships

41:42 – KDOT Success Story

43:10 – Why Relationships Matter

46:24 – Surprises and Lessons

51:29 – What Comes Next

54:47 – Personal Rapid Fire

57:25 – Closing Thanks

Resources Mentioned

• KCADC – Kansas City Area Development Council – Regional economic development organization referenced as a top-tier partner in attracting large-scale investment; Tim Cowden, KCADC president, was a previous guest on QBS Express
• Kansas Department of Commerce – State agency involved in economic development recruitment and site selection
• KDHE – Kansas Department of Health and Environment – Oversaw environmental remediation of the former ammunition plant and served as a key regulatory partner during infrastructure design and permitting
• KDOT – Kansas Department of Transportation – Designed and built four lanes of divided roadway to serve the Panasonic site; their first progressive design-build project

Other Resources:
Learn more about ACEC Kansas

What does it look like when a lifetime of unlikely adventures—escorting the Secretary of Defense on a Turkish ferry, commanding a geotechnical lab full of PhDs, playing cello to reset your soul—actually teaches you how to lead? Colonel Fred Reynolds is back for Part 2, and this time we get to the heart of it: the leadership maxims he's earned the hard way.

Highlights

• Col. Reynolds escorted a sitting U.S. Secretary of Defense through Turkey for four days—as a lieutenant colonel assigned essentially by accident
• When the Secretary wanted to cruise the harbor, Reynolds negotiated use of a docked passenger ferry—there was nothing else available
• His post-military career at Black and Veatch took him back to Turkey to manage a massive hydropower program on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—until the Turkish Lira collapsed and the deal fell apart
• A Muslim Turkish engineer, a Catholic priest, and a Protestant American Army colonel all crawled under a church together to fix its floor—and the engineer refused to charge because "it's all for the same God, isn't it?"
• Reynolds earned his PhD in earthquake engineering while working at Black and Veatch—and used it to design earthquake-resistant water caissons at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers
• He plays cello under the instruction of a cellist from the Kansas City Symphony and calls it his best therapy
• He has published a 17-page scholarly article on German World War I Zeppelin aviation—through the lens of philately
• Ten leadership maxims drawn from 29 years of military service, Black and Veatch, and a life well-examined

Chapters

0:00 – Back for Part Two

0:31 – Secretary of Defense Visit

2:41 – Hiring a Harbor Ferry

4:28 – Powerful People Are Human

4:49 – Rapid-Fire Army Career

7:30 – Retirement and the ACEC Link

8:02 – Black and Veatch Turkey Pitch

12:46 – Hydropower Deal Falls Apart

13:35 – Church Floor and Shared Faith

17:16 – PhD and Earthquake Design

19:03 – Cello as Therapy

20:56 – German WWI Aviation Research

22:35 – Publishing Through Philately

23:21 – Leadership Maxims Setup

24:26 – Leaders Can Be Made

26:10 – The Skillset of Leaders Can Be Taught

29:13 – Walk the Talk

31:10 – Appreciate Differences

33:22 – Choose People Carefully

36:13 – Give People the Resources to Succeed

37:29 – Cohesive Teams Win

38:17 – Cover Weaknesses, Not Cheerleading

42:06 – You're in the Seat for a Reason

43:28 – Promotion Is Capability, Not Reward

45:16 – The Curse of the Possible

47:55 – Closing Thanks and Farewell

Resources Mentioned

• West Point (United States Military Academy) – Where Col. Reynolds learned the foundational leadership principles of Duty, Honor, Country
• Please Understand Me – The book on personality types and leadership that Reynolds credits as an epiphany; rooted in the four ancient Greek temperaments
• Black and Veatch – The engineering firm where Reynolds worked for nearly 20 years post-retirement, including international hydropower projects in Turkey

Other Resources:
Learn more about ACEC Kansas

How can life take you from a small farming town in Ohio, with no money for college, to two combat tours in Vietnam, intelligence work across the Middle East, and a career that spans three decades of distinguished military service?

That's the question at the heart of this conversation with retired Colonel Fred Reynolds — a West Point graduate, Army Ranger, combat engineer, and military intelligence officer whose story is as remarkable as his resume. Fred shares how a high school counselor's offhand suggestion ("West Point is free") set off a chain of improbable events that would shape everything that followed. From clearing live 750-pound bombs in the A Shau Valley to memorizing Russian aircraft tail numbers on the streets of Damascus, our first part of Fred's journey is a masterclass in trusting the path, doing the work, and leading from the front.

Highlights

• Fred grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio — a small blue-collar town where the economy ran on automobiles and barter, and where hard work was simply what everyone did
• A high school counselor told him West Point was free — and Fred took that single tip all the way to a congressional nomination and admission
• He flew to Washington, D.C. (front-page news in his hometown), met with Congressman Clarence J. Brown through a network of people he had never met, and delivered a speech that earned him his nomination
• At West Point, Fred discovered what it felt like to no longer be the top dog — surrounded by class presidents, football captains, and academic standouts from across the country
• After graduation, he attended Ranger School ("the hardest thing I've ever done") and Airborne School before heading to Vietnam
• As a combat engineer platoon leader in the A Shau Valley, his first mission was sweeping for mines and manually detonating massive 750-pound B-52 dud bombs — by hand, with fuses and plastic explosives
• He extended his tour in Vietnam to take command of Bravo Company, with a 30-day detour to go on a tiger hunt in India between tours
• His definition of success in Vietnam: accomplish the mission and take care of your men
• Between wars, the Army sent him to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, where he learned Turkish through a 47-week total immersion program — English was never spoken in class after week one
• Assigned as a military attaché, he traveled through Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon — drinking tea, playing backgammon, and building cultural bridges through shared religious texts
• In Syria, he memorized Russian aircraft tail numbers from Damascus airfields entirely by memory — using a mental framework he'd been trained in — then reported them to the U.S. consulate
• He served as the only Turkish-speaking major in a room full of U.S. and Turkish generals during high-level NATO defense committee meetings, relaying real-time translations to U.S. leadership

Chapters

0:14 — Podcast Welcome

2:30 — Why This Story Matters

3:15 — Rural Ohio Childhood Roots

5:33 — Work Ethic and Hard Times

7:23 — Finding a Free Path

8:32 — Washington Nomination Journey

14:02 — West Point Reality Check

16:13 — Choosing Engineers and Vietnam

19:12 — Ranger and Airborne Training

21:11 — Vietnam Arrival and First Mission

24:44 — Sweeping the A Shau Valley

25:56 — Defusing 750-Pound Duds

27:16 — Running the Fuse Drill

29:01 — First Operation Lessons

29:40 — Second Tour and Tiger Hunt

31:22 — Defining Success in Combat

34:01 — Postwar Promotions and Grad School

35:12 — Learning Turkish Immersion

38:01 — Attaché Work in Iran

39:41 — Faith Talks and Common Ground

41:57 — Syria Tail Numbers Memory

44:32 — NATO Turkey and Translating

45:39 — High-Level Defense Meetings

47:43 — Spying Fears and Soccer Talk

50:08 — Wrapping Up and Next Episode

Resources Mentioned

• West Point (United States Military Academy)
• Defense Language Institute (DLI), Monterey, California
• U.S. Army Ranger School
• Black & Veatch

Other Resources:
Learn more about ACEC Kansas

The QBS Express was joined recently by ACEC KS President Brian Armstrong and Past President Agnes Otto. Take a listen as we look back at 2025 and look ahead to 2026. It’s not only a great review of ACEC Kansas activity, but also a chance to learn much more about our fearless leaders as they share their experiences and some nuggets of wisdom!

Episode #35 of the QBS Express is available now!

Highlights

• 2025 legislative session successfully stopped transportation fund sweeps and advanced water infrastructure priorities

• The governor's new water task force mirrors the successful transportation planning model that led to the IKE program

• ACEC Kansas maintains formal partnering committees with KDOT, Army Corps of Engineers, State Board of Regents, and others

• Qualifications-based selection (QBS) remains the organization's top advocacy priority, protecting the engineering procurement process

• The Emerging Leaders Program, now in its 19th year, continues developing future industry leaders

• City and County Public Improvement Awards provide unique PR opportunities at statewide conferences

• Economic Lifelines partnership strengthens transportation funding advocacy at the state level

• Building relationships—with legislators, agency leaders, and fellow engineers—drives the most tangible ROI for board members

Chapters

0:00 – Welcome and Introductions
4:10 – 2025 Legislative Session Wins
10:26 – Water Task Force and Infrastructure Priorities
13:42 – Formal Partnering Committees Overview
29:51 – KSPE Partnership and Collaboration
34:06 – City and County Public Improvement Awards
38:37 – Economic Lifelines and Transportation Advocacy
45:52 – Scholarship Program and National Success
51:19 – Fall Membership Lunches Across Kansas
56:11 – ACEC-KDOT Partnering Conference Highlights
1:02:08 – Water Quality Seminar and Rural Development Events
1:04:13 – Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) Advocacy
1:09:47 – Emerging Leaders Program Deep Dive
1:17:41 – Personal Board Journeys: Agnes Otto
1:20:59 – Personal Board Journeys: Brian Armstrong
1:24:04 – Why Serve on the ACEC Kansas Board?
1:31:56 – Looking Ahead: Infrastructure Funding and AI Challenges
1:37:44 – Past Presidents Dinner and Legacy
1:40:01 – Lightning Round Questions
1:44:13 – Final Thanks and Wrap-Up

Resources Mentioned

• KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) – Multiple partnering committees including leadership liaison, road design, and bridge design

• KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) – Informal quarterly partnering meetings

• US Army Corps of Engineers - Kansas City District – Joint partnering committee shared with Missouri ACEC

• OFPM (Office of Facilities and Property Management) – State design partnering committee member

• League of Kansas Municipalities – Host of annual City Managers Conference where city improvement awards are presented

• Kansas Association of Counties – Host of annual conference where county improvement awards are presented

Other Resources:
Learn more about ACEC Kansas

What does it take to attract and inspire the next generation of engineers? Hear directly from two standout scholarship winners, Matthew Young and Isaiah Choma, as they share their journeys, motivations, and what they’re really looking for in an employer. From switching majors and navigating internships to the importance of work-life balance and company culture, this conversation is packed with honest insights and a few laughs along the way.

Highlights

• The winding path from biology to civil engineering
• How scholarship opportunities shape student decisions
• The real value of internships (and the “space to be incompetent”)
• What young engineers want from employers—beyond salary
• The role of company culture and growth opportunities
• Lightning round: favorite bars, movies, and dream travel destinations

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome and introductions at SMH Engineering in Manhattan, KS

01:00 – Meet Matthew Young: background, family, and early interests

03:00 – The journey to engineering: switching majors and finding a fit

08:30 – Why K State? College choices and COVID-era experiences

13:00 – Internships: from city government to Black & Veatch

22:50 – Landing a full-time offer and what matters most in a job

25:15 – Isaiah joins: biomedical engineering, film, and global ambitions

29:00 – What young engineers look for in employers and company culture

33:30 – Questions for employers: best days, worst days, and the future of work

41:00 – Lightning round: favorite bars, movies, and retirement dreams

53:20 – Final thoughts and thanks

Resources Mentioned

• ACEC Kansas Scholarship Program
  ACEC Kansas Scholarships
• Black & Veatch
  Black & Veatch Careers
• Kansas State University (K-State)
  K-State Engineering
• SMH Consultants
  SMH Consultants
• ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers)
  ASCE
• AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction)
  AISC

Other Resources:
Learn more about ACEC Kansas

The QBS Express podcast welcomes House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard to the show.  Join us as we discuss his journey from childhood through the world of volunteering with the campaigns of others, and finally to his election to the Kansas Legislature and quick rise to be House Minority Leader.  Along the way we’ll discuss people, hobbies, and experiences which shaped his life and commitment to public service.

Have you ever wondered what drives someone to pursue a career in public service? Raised in Topeka, Kansas, Brandon shares his unique childhood experiences, from turning entrepreneurial at 13 with a lawn-mowing business to his vibrant involvement in theater and music. Learn how his early interest in policy was sparked by debates on same-sex marriage, leading him to active participation in student government at the University of Kansas, and finally, a career in politics. Discover the pivotal moments and key influences, including his mentors and the bipartisan relationships that have shaped his political stance. Plus, get a glimpse into his favorite dining spots, vacation destinations, and musical preferences. This episode is not just about policy but understanding the person behind the leadership role.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:45 Childhood Memories and Early Influences

02:16 Entrepreneurial Spirit and School Activities

03:49 Musical Pursuits and High School Decisions

08:17 Mentors and Inspirational Figures

12:07 Journey into Public Policy

14:27 College Activism and Early Political Involvement

18:40 Forming the Johnson County Young Democrats

21:09 Decision to Run for Office

24:06 The Moment of Decision

25:21 Journey to House Minority Leader

26:57 Navigating the State House

28:22 Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

30:35 Challenges and Triumphs

37:00 Building Bipartisan Relationships

42:47 Engaging with Constituents

46:30 Personal Favorites and Closing Thoughts

Other Resources:
Brandon Woodard

Learn more about ACEC Kansas

The QBS Express is delighted to welcome Kansas Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi to the show.  Join us as we go from an idyllic childhood in Colwich, KS to working on multiple campaigns, being a legislative staffer, running for the Senate and eventually attaining the role of Senate Majority Leader.  Along the way we learn about Senator Blasi’s inspirations, philanthropic work, and some of his favorite parts of being a legislator and public servant.

Representing the 26th district in West Sedgwick County, you will get a personal glimpse into his life, the importance of community and relationships, and hear his advice for those looking to get involved in public service.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:55 Senator Blasi's Early Life and Childhood

01:20 Growing Up in a Small Town

07:14 Influences and Early Political Interests

10:57 First Steps into Politics

12:22 College Years and Community Service

13:50 Early Career and Political Campaigns

15:07 Working in the Kansas Legislature

19:11 Transition to Chief of Staff

21:48 Decision to Run for Office

22:52 A Resignation and a New Opportunity

23:44 Early Political Career: City Council at 18

25:13 Running for the Senate: The Precinct Path

26:50 Winning the Senate Seat and Leadership Reflections

30:35 The Importance of Building Relationships

37:53 Lightning Round: Personal Insights

38:28 Encouraging the Next Generation

48:42 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Other Resources:
Chase Blasi

Learn more about ACEC Kansas