WGI Unleashed

Welcome back to another captivating episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast!

In our 80th episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with none other than Mike Madison, PE, WGI's esteemed Vice President of Transportation Roadway. Get ready to delve into the fascinating life and career of yet another exceptional member of WGI with your hosts, Dan DeBellis & Katie Bolger!

Mike's journey is as dynamic as the roads he designs.

Born in Virginia Beach, Mike's childhood was initially shaped by his mother's service in the Navy - requiring the Madison family to regularly re-locate around the world. From Sicily and the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean to Key West, Florida, and finally settling in Jacksonville during his formative years, Mike's upbringing instilled in him a sense of adaptability and resilience, qualities that would serve him well in his future endeavors.

Despite his affinity for competitive swimming and being the backstop for his high school baseball team during his years in Jacksonville, Mike found his true passions lying in the realm of engineering. While contemplating his academic path at Florida State University, he initially toyed with the idea of pursuing Chemical Engineering or Law before ultimately finding his calling in Civil Engineering—a decision that would shape the trajectory of his career.

Straight out of college, Mike embarked on his professional journey with WGI—setting the stage for a successful and fulfilling career. Over 15 years later, Mike's dedication to his profession and his unparalleled expertise have become synonymous with WGI's commitment to excellence in transportation infrastructure.

Among Mike's many achievements, the Dixie Highway Design-Build project holds a special place in his heart. One of his first large-scale endeavors, this project not only showcased Mike's technical prowess but also underscored the collective strength of WGI's Transportation department. It was a challenge that Mike embraced wholeheartedly, ultimately emerging victorious and leaving an indelible mark on WGI's legacy.

Beyond his corner office and drafting tables, Mike is a man of diverse interests and passions.

An avid CrossFit enthusiast and triathlon runner, he embodies the spirit of perseverance and discipline in all facets of his life. Moreover, as a devoted husband and father, Mike cherishes moments spent playing baseball with his 10-year-old son, bridging the gap between work and family with unwavering grace.

As we draw the curtains on yet another illuminating episode, Mike's story serves as a testament to the limitless possibilities that await those who dare to chase their dreams. From humble beginnings to professional acclaim, Mike's journey exemplifies WGI's core value — Commitment to Greatness.

Tune in next time as we unravel more captivating tales and insights on the WGI Unleashed Podcast. Until then, stay inspired and keep unleashing your potential!

Visit your favorite podcast app now and subscribe to WGI Unleashed to receive alerts every time a new episode drops. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!

Welcome back to another captivating episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast!

In our 79th episode, we dive into the noteworthy journey of Taylor Allen, PE, a Civil Market Leader from WGI's San Antonio, TX office.

So, grab your headphones and tune in as we explore Taylor's unique story, from his Texan roots to celebrating a decade of work with WGI.

Taylor, born and raised in San Antonio, TX, always dreamed of attending a big university.

Having grown up just outside of the University of Texas at Austin, it seemed like destiny that he would one day join the Longhorn Nation. Yet, it was actually Texas A&M University in College Station that Taylor ultimately fell in love with, where he spent four years and discovered his passion for "urban living," thus setting the stage for his future endeavors.

Upon graduation, however, Taylor's career took an unexpected turn as he explored a different field prior to pivoting back into the world of design. And with a hunger for growth paired with the goal of attaining a Professional Engineers License, Taylor sought a firm and mentor with the experience to support his growth both personally and professionally, which he ultimately found with WGI.

Now celebrating over 10 years with WGI, Taylor reflects on the growth, challenges, and successes of the past decade, with his commitment to making a positive impact on his hometown through his work serving as a testament to his passion for community growth and development.

On a personal note, join us as Taylor divulges his travel spreadsheet and passion for travel as he details his recent explorations of Brussels, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen. Plus, you'll have to tune in to find out if he's experienced the thrill of hot air balloon rides or hiked in and out of the Grand Canyon!

And beyond travel, Taylor also shares some of his interests outside of the office. From his thoughts on yardwork to his passion for making meaningful connections, Taylor is truly an enigma waiting to be unraveled.

Are You Ready To Get Unleashed?

So, don't miss the laughter, insights, and surprises that await!

Tune into Episode 79 of WGI Unleashed to learn about Taylor's potential proof of alien life, how his idea of a backyard diverts from the norm, exactly where Taylor plans on traveling next, and so much more - Trust us, this is one podcast you won't want to miss.

Visit your favorite podcast app now and subscribe to WGI Unleashed to receive alerts every time a new episode drops. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!

Welcome back to another episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast! Today, we're diving deep into the remarkable journey of Edgar Segovia, a seasoned Civil Engineering Project Manager hailing from the vast landscapes of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Buckle up as we unravel the unique story of Edgar's life, from humble beginnings to becoming a mentor and leader at WGI.

Edgar's roots trace back to the heart of nowhere – the rural landscapes of the Rio Grande Valley. Growing up in challenging circumstances, Edgar's determination and resilience shone through.

Our protagonist's educational journey led him to UT Pan American, now known as UT Rio Grande Valley, where he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering. Edgar's insight into the world of engineering echoes his belief that you don't fully understand it until you immerse yourself in the field.

The story takes an adventurous turn as Edgar found his first job opportunity in Civil Engineering in Laredo, Texas, where he lived with his best friend for two years. It was during his college days at UT Rio Grande Valley that he encountered the love of his life through a series of intriguing circumstances – cue the romantic subplot!

Edgar's entry into WGI came through an "old school method" that got him in the door. His decision to join WGI was influenced by trust, as he sought a mentor with experience, wisdom, and reliability. Little did he know that he would evolve to become a mentor himself, utilizing his knowledge for the betterment of others.

In his role at WGI, Edgar has spearheaded several mentorship initiatives, including "Speed Dating," Lunch Coupons, The Summit, and ART, fostering a culture of collaboration and growth within his office. Edgar's passion extends to client relations, particularly in his work with the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). While others focus on design work, Edgar thrives on building meaningful connections and ensuring client satisfaction.

Beyond the professional realm, Edgar's softer side is revealed through his love for animals. He's the proud parent of two rescue bunnies named Cosmo and Luna, proving that his heart is as big as his professional achievements.

For Edgar, the best things in life are a mix of "Beer, BBQ, and Football," and he recently acquired a brand new grill that he loves using to cook tacos al pastor, Mexican street corn, and much more for large groups of family and friends!

Discover the hilarious allergy that Edgar loves bringing up to his Doctor at his yearly check-ups, learn about his passion for romance and celebration, and determine whether or not you think he has met Quentin Tarantino by tuning in to our latest episode!

Join us as we explore the incredible odyssey of Edgar Segovia, from his humble beginnings to his influential role at WGI. This is a conversation you won't want to miss – tune in now and be inspired by the story of Edgar!

Welcome back to another captivating episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast! In this installment, we had the privilege of sitting down with Juan Enriquez, a seasoned project surveyor from our Geospatial Team in Austin, TX. Juan's journey in the world of survey drafting began at a remarkably young age, and his passion for the profession is both inspiring and infectious.

Juan's story unfolds in the charming town of Reynosa, Mexico, where he was exposed to the world of surveying through an educational initiative requiring students to practice a trade while in grade school, leading to Juan's interest in the world of engineering being piqued at age 11. This early exposure ignited Juan's interest in drawing, drafting, and the intricate world of land survey work.

After relocating to San Marco, Texas, Juan pursued his education at a trade school, eventually earning his GED (even though he already had his high school diploma!). He continued his academic journey at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Juan's unconventional path led him to his first job in a construction company, where he honed his skills in construction management and architectural drafting, leading to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the engineering industry as a whole.

Throughout our conversation, Juan's deep appreciation for the history of his profession became evident. Reminiscing on some of his favorite and most interesting projects, we learned how his appreciation for the history behind his profession has shaped his career. Beyond his work, Juan finds joy in spending time camping with his daughters, gardening with his wife, and cooking delightful meals. And did we mention he's a self-proclaimed 'cat person' with a 'dog problem'?

Discover the person behind the profession as Juan shares one of his biggest fears while working in the field. Learn about his family dynamics, including his wife's fluency in Thai and his amusing struggle to do more than ask for food in the language. Plus, delve into Juan's hypothetical scenario of a lottery win and what his first purchase would be!

In this episode, we unravel the intricacies of Juan's journey to WGI and how his unique upbringing shaped both his life and career. Join us as we ponder hard-hitting questions, from the possibility of Juan's training as a Catholic Priest to the mystery of whether he holds a Brown Belt in martial arts. It's a conversation you won't want to miss—tune in to WGI Unleashed to explore the journey of Juan Enriquez!

In the highly-anticipated 76th episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we had the distinct pleasure of engaging in conversation with Jeff Brophy, WGI's accomplished Vice President of PLACE. With an impressive resume that includes over 20 years of experience, an esteemed license, and an education abroad, we could not have been any more excited to feature Jeff on the latest episode of WGI Unleashed.

During our compelling conversation, we uncovered that Jeff is actually the second guest of WGI Unleashed, hailing from the picturesque environment of Southern Ontario, Canada. It was in this region that he proudly earned his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the esteemed University of Guelph.

Following his graduation, Jeff embarked on a journey that took him from the eastern expanse of Southern Ontario to the western beauty of British Columbia, traversing the American north and taking in the scenery of the surrounding areas. Recognizing the financial challenges of this venture and spurred by some 'words of encouragement' from his parents, Jeff redirected his course southward, ultimately finding himself in the vibrant community of South Florida. It was here that he secured a career opportunity with an engineering firm, where he fine-tuned his skills. In 2014, his then-firm was acquired by WGI, catapulting him into a realm of endless possibilities for career advancement.

Jeff generously shared the narrative of his origin in landscape architecture, recounting his childhood visits to Disney World, which sparked an enduring fascination with park layouts and maps as opposed to the conventional rides and attractions.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Jeff opened up about his family life, recounting the joys of playing hockey with his sons and daughter. He revealed the charming story of meeting his wife during his University of Guelph days, highlighting the perseverance it took to convince her to join him in the Sunshine State.

Despite his self-proclaimed quiet demeanor, Jeff disclosed his genuine enjoyment of public speaking in his work. The most gratifying aspect, he explained, is receiving public feedback on projects he has contributed to.

In a parting gesture of generosity, Jeff offered valuable advice for aspiring landscape architects and those interested in assuming leadership roles in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

Don't miss the opportunity to delve into our latest podcast episode, where you'll discover Jeff's thoughts on the actor he envisions portraying him on the big screen, unravel the intricacies of his journey to achieving dual citizenship, and ponder the intriguing question of whether or not Jeff has ever shared a dance with Serena Williams - It doesn't get better than this!

On the 75th episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Cheryl Callender, a Studio Manager on WGI's Landscape Architecture team in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL! Cheryl boasts over 25 years of professional experience, 7 of which she has spent with us here at WGI.

In speaking with Cheryl, we learned that she was born and raised in the Central American country of Panama, where she is proud to have obtained her Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the University of Panama.

Post-graduation, Cheryl spent the first seven years of her career as a licensed architect in Panama before being offered the opportunity to relocate to the United States to further her education via a Master's program. It was then that she decided to make the jump from architecture to landscape architecture by obtaining her Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Florida A&M University.

Cheryl shared what drew her into the architecture industry as well as what she loves most about the field, her reasoning for making the transition to landscape architecture, and the likenesses and differences between the two professions.

Cheryl also told us the story of how she met her husband, who just happens to be a professional landscape architect, and we were shocked to find out that he actually works with us here at WGI, too!

We then learned that Cheryl is tri-lingual, speaking English, Spanish, and French, and discovered that she had a hand in developing a memorable commercial you may have seen a time or two for a well-known tax preparation company.

In her spare time, Cheryl enjoys traveling to new places, working out, visiting the Disney parks with her family, and diving into home improvement projects.

So what are you waiting for? Check out Cheryl's podcast today to discover Cheryl's hidden talent, learn more about the many languages she speaks, and hear about the unique place where she said: "I do."

On the 74th episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we head down to our corporate office in West Palm Beach, FL, to chat with Keegan Larson, our VP, Transportation Operations Manager. Keegan began his professional career with WGI in our Transportation Engineering Division and is steadily approaching his 20-year anniversary with our firm.

Tune in as we learn about Keegan's original roots in the Pacific Northwest, spending the first several years of his childhood in Seattle, WA. However, with his father working as a consulting engineer on large-scale transportation projects, Keegan found himself relocating around the nation as he grew up, spending time in New Jersey as well as Tallahassee and Orlando, Florida.

With a passion for engineering, like his father, and a yearning for a true "college town" experience, Keegan packed his bags and headed to Purdue University in Indiana, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. Be sure to listen 🎧 to his two truths and a lie segment to find out some of the other things that Keegan picked up while in school!

Upon completing college, Keegan had already lined up a job working with the same firm as his father. However, much to his dismay, that plan fell through in the 11th hour, and Keegan found himself perusing the Purdue job boards, which is where he happened upon an opening at WGI. The next thing Keegan knew, he was sitting face-to-face in an interview with our CEO, David Wantman.

Despite a questionable first impression of the office at that time, Keegan found himself quite impressed with David's knowledge of the industry and inspired by his vision for growth in the public sector transportation division. The meeting ultimately led Keegan to accept a job offer, and he hit the ground running on what would turn out to be an illustrious transportation career with WGI.

Flash forward two decades and several industry awards later, Keegan is now a member of our senior leadership team as part of our transportation division, serving as the VP, Transportation Operations Manager.

Despite the ongoing barrage of erroneous calls he's since received from people looking for transportation shipping logistics help, Keegan has found his home with WGI, describing his role as essentially being the manager of the project managers. Keegan also oversees the delivery of all project engineering design deliverables, which include resource loading, staffing, quality control, and monitoring financial metrics, and even finds himself dabbling in a few client services areas as well.

When not busy leading a division of transportation engineers or helping assist with new business development efforts, Keegan says he enjoys traveling the world with his wedding photographer wife, having recently visited such places as Tuscany, Switzerland, and Germany.

As you read this, Keegan and his wife will have just embarked on a vacation to Norway, Sweden, and Prague, finishing the trip in Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest with their extended families.

Be sure to check out the latest episode of WGI Unleashed now to learn what shenanigan almost got Keegan kicked out of college, his unorthodox connection to Kurt Cobain, and what his top three favorite condiments are.

On the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed podcast, we get to know Mark Topping, a Geospatial Technology Specialist III based out of our Huntsville, AL office. Mark, a member of the WGI Geospatial division, joined our team a little over a year ago as part of WGI's acquisition of The Atlantic Group, LLC.

In this unique episode, Mark gave us the privilege of being WGI Unleashed's first international guest, as we discovered that he resides in Canada for the majority of the year when not traveling for work.

Getting to know Mark throughout our conversation, he expressed what it was like to grow up in the second-largest country in the world, just outside of the dynamic metropolis of Toronto, and also shared some of the geographical and cultural likenesses and differences between living in Canada versus the United States. Referring to himself as your "stereotypical Canadian," he jokingly shared that he was born with hockey skates on and grew up participating in all of the winter sports that the country had to offer, such as hockey, skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.

We learned that Mark attended college in Ontario at the University of Guelph, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and History, and we also had the pleasure of hearing the hilarious tale of how he decided on the University of Guelph in the first place. Spoiler alert, it had nothing to do with academics.

Mark discovered remote sensing during his time in college. Upon graduating, Mark decided that he wished to pursue geographic applications of remote sensing technology with his father, who had been engaged in engineering work for a local lidar sensor manufacturer. In his time working as a Flight Operations Specialist and later as a Training and Delivery Manager for one of the industry's largest builders of lidar equipment, Mark established and solidified his passion for airborne surveying.

It was at this time in Mark's young career that he met and trained the folks at the Atlantic Group, a major geospatial service provider in the southeast. Mark and the Atlantic Group worked so well together that he found himself joining the team and, shortly thereafter, joining WGI through the firm's acquisition. And the rest, they say, is history.

As our conversation went on, we gained an overview of Mark's role and responsibilities in his position with us here at WGI and were also clued in on a few of the cool perks of his job, such as getting to travel to remote, untouched regions in areas like the Grand Canyon National Park, the Amazon Rain Forrest, and even Borneo!

And when he's not globetrotting to collect aerial lidar data, Mark can be found playing softball with his coed recreational team, visiting new places with his wife, and hanging out with his Sheltie dog Winston.

And if that's not enough... Since recording this episode of the WGI Unleashed podcast, Mark has also joined the new Dad's Club! So, as could be imagined, his spare time is now mostly spent changing diapers, making bottles, and snuggling with his adorable newborn daughter at every chance he gets.

What are you waiting for? Go give the latest episode of WGI Unleashed a listen now - you know you want to. This is your chance to get a peek behind the curtain as Mark reveals the unique way fate stepped in to help him meet his wife, shares about the rare oral condition he has to be extra cognizant of now that he has a baby, and so much more!

For our latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we got to chat with Ashley Orr, a Mobility Engineer in our Arlington, VA, office. Ashley is a part of our Mobility division, where she is focused on proposing creative-but-feasible solutions to improve mobility methods and promote growth while also preserving and enhancing the unique character of communities.

Ashley grew up in Southeastern Pennsylvania, deep in the heart of Amish country, where she enjoyed a slower, more peaceful pace of life. She reflects fondly on her time spent outdoors hiking and visiting national parks with her family.

We listened intently while she talked about her time at Penn State University, where we were shocked to learn that she had originally enrolled in the NROTC program with plans to join the Navy and major in Aerospace Engineering with the hope of fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. She discovered very quickly that while she enjoyed what she was learning, studying something more tangible that she could actually see people utilizing daily was far more important than going to space. This epiphany is what ultimately led her to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Ashley joined the WGI team in our Tallahassee office right after graduating from college but recently made the move northeast to help establish our new Arlington, Virginia office, where she just celebrated eight years of service with the company.

We found out that when she originally joined WGI, Ashley's focus was more on transportation engineering, where she learned that her interests lie more in how transportation networks connect communities and less about how the actual roadway is constructed. This revelation is how she found herself gravitating toward a focus on New Mobility + Connected Communities.

She joked with us as she called herself a "plangineer" and explained that most of her role consists of coordinating, advising on Traffic Impact Analysis, reviewing technical reports, and managing WGI's existing clients.

In addition to everything we learned about her professional life, we discovered Ashley is married to her high school sweetheart, whom she shares a three 1/2-year-old daughter with, as well as a very fat cat (her words, not ours) named John Pierre. She enjoys spending weekends with her family exploring their new quaint hometown of Alexandria, where her idea of a perfect lazy Saturday consists of lounging at a local coffee shop with a good book to read sprinkled with a side of people-watching.

She also spoke about her love for travel, having been to several unique destinations such as Algeria, Peru, Spain, Qatar, and Paris, France, where she had the rare opportunity to live abroad as a perpetual tourist for nine months and has since labeled herself a Francophile.

Listen now to find out what the most exotic food she's ever eaten is, what professional sports team she had the exclusive honor of naming, and what the heck shoofly pie is!

On the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jacob Gonzalez, WGI's VP of Client Solutions, based out of our Houston, TX, office. Jacob joined the WGI team over five years ago and has passionately dedicated his time to helping leverage WGI's multi-discipline platform in order to provide our partners and clients with integrated solutions and maximum value.

In our sit down, we had the opportunity to discuss many details surrounding Jacob's personal & professional life, such as what it was like growing up as a fourth-generation Texan and 1st generation "Houstonian," where he was born, raised and still resides with his family to this day. Jacob also explained how he was introduced to the AEC industry at a young age, spending his summers surveying in the sweltering Texas sun with his father and grandfather, who are both professional surveyors.

In this episode, we discovered how Jacob remained in Houston to attend college, initially starting his post-secondary education as a Psychology major at Sam Houston State University before quickly realizing that was not the path for him. After this revelation, Jacob promptly transferred to the University of Houston, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering.

Although Jacob initially started in the field of Restoration Engineering, where he stayed for many years, after being forced to face one of his greatest fears on a particular project, he decided it was time for a change and switched gears to a role in project management.

Jacob then elaborated on how & why he fell in love with project management, explaining his "the buck stops here" philosophy and letting us in on the reason he refers to himself as an integrator and an influencer, although it's not why you may think 😋.

Don't miss out on what Jacob's new position as the VP of Client Solutions entails, which he described as a mix of managing and building the business development team, responding to RFPs and RFQs, developing collateral items, putting together publication plans, and ultimately making sure we are consistently shining a light on our experts and the services that our firm offers.

On top of all of the other hats that he wears, we learned that Jacob is a devoted husband and full-time dad to four beautiful children. Inspired by the interests and passions of his children, Jacob is heavily involved in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as a Den Leader for his son's troop, and also finds himself spending many weekends at the soccer field with his youngest daughter, who plays competitively.

And if that's not enough, we also discussed Jacob's interest and enthusiasm for Formula 1 racing (which he shares with multiple WGI associates and former podcast guests), as well as all of the exotic places he has traveled to and the "down under" destination that he hopes to visit next.

Be sure to check out the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast featuring Jacob Gonzalez for a sneak peek into a few insider tips on how to leverage the platform, connect the dots, and identify the value proposition 😉!