Professional Interview

of

Curt G. Campbell, P.E., CFM, LEED AP ND

Engineering Manager
Andrew Dyar
POE Block 3
Date of Interview: 10/26/2015
Date of Submission: 10/29/2015

1. General Information
a. Curt G. Campbell
b. Undergraduate in Civil Engineering Masters in
Environmental Engineering
c. Westward Environmental, Inc.
d. ccampbell@westwardenv.com, 561.568.5849
e. I found Mr. Campbell through my mom who has previously
worked with him

2. Professional Interview
a. Please describe the field of engineering, in general.

Environmental engineering is a lot about engineering compliance.

Meaning their trying to figure out solutions for clients to be in compliance with
rules and regulations. The design solutions are about water quality. For example,
surface water and groundwater quality; the treatment systems to be able to
maintain water quality for different sites or facilities. Even if were on a much
bigger/macro scale; sometimes were doing water quality for regions or areas.
b. What is your current job title?
Engineering Manager
c. Please describe your particular job and duties.
Basically I can boil it down to two basic scenarios. If I have a client that's
looking to construct a new facility, and they engage us to help them do the site
development design to sort of preemptively keep their water quality in
compliance. So if theyre putting in new impervious surfaces or doing some sort
of on site industrial process that generates a wastewater, well help devise their
treatment systems; which sometimes are big cloths, sometimes they have more
mechanical components to them, but a lot of times settling on the clarifiers. And
then the other scenario is: if I have a client who already has an existing facility
and something either goes wrong, or its a historical facility that doesnt quite
meet todays standards and they want to improve it, or they get in trouble
because their water quality doesnt meet current standards. So they will
approach us and we will help them find solutions to retrofit their needs for
quality.
d. What is your average work schedule?
I guess on an average week, the office is open 8 to 5 every day, kind of
like a normal business; I probably work somewhere between 50-60 hours per the
week. Its a lot nicer than it used to be, but some of that time is spent on, with
having so much technology, connecting to the office remotely. So you can be at
home sitting on couch watching TV while youre still working. Its not like youre
sitting at a desk 60 hours a week typing. There is some travel; Id say probably
about 10% time of traveling or visiting sites or going to visit with different
agencies, which is what Im doing today.

e. Starting with high school, describe your educational

background chronologically.
So, after high school, I went to Texas Tech and I was going to be a music
major. So my first year was in music. After a while, I decided that wasnt really
what I wanted to do anymore, so I switched to architecture, but after about one
semester of architecture, I decided the math was too easy, so I added civil
engineering. At Texas Tech they had a dual degree program, so did architecture
and civil engineering. So I added on civil engineering; I didnt say this earlier
because I dont practice architecture, but I do actually have a bachelors degree
in architecture as well. So two undergrads, two masters degrees. So I did that
program at Texas Tech and did architecture and civil engineering and thats why
my civil engineering was my premier focus, because that's what I always thought
I was going to do. Then I graduated, I went out into the workplace, I got a job in
transportation engineering, and I did that for about a year, and then I got an
opportunity to move to a smaller company, where I got to do pretty much what I
do today; which is sort of site development, environmental engineering, for heavy
industry deals. And then, probably five years ago, I started doing my second
masters degree. I did that one online while working with an online program from
the University of Florida. I would do that on evenings or on weekend since I was
busy with work.
f. If you had it to do over, related to your career or
education, would you do anything differently?
You know I dont know, I always say if I were to do it over again I would
go be a mechanical engineer. But at this point in my life, I dont really think I
would do that much differently. My career has kind of taken me If you would
have asked me when I graduated college if I thought I would be doing what Im
doing now today, I would have never even I would have told you no, because
that was not really what I wanted to do. So I guess I ended up where Im
supposed to be.
g. What advice would you give to me as someone
interested in pursuing a career path similar to yours?

Generally Id say, whatever engineering field you ended up on whether it

was: civil, or mechanical, or whatever, is just to be open to the opportunities in
the field, and not necessarily; hey I want to be an electrical engineer, and I want
to do nothing but sound engineering, and thats all I ever want to do. And dont
pass opportunities within that field of engineering. Its a good opportunity but I
dont really want to do that. Id say, you know, take those chances and be open
to those opportunities. At least for me, Ive been very successful in you know,
taking opportunities to where if i stuck to being a structural engineer, I probably
wouldnt be as successful as I am now. Kind of let your career go a little bit.
h. In High School, did you focus on anything specific in
High School? As far as choosing your classes or electives.
Nope. Not at all. You know when I started school I was a music major. So
I really. You know I was sort of thinking architecture when I applied to colleges;
some of them I applied to the architecture school. So that was something that I
was kind of thinking I was wanting to do. So I really didnt have any high school
classes that really would have prepared me or helped me for that. I didnt really
do anything that wouldve geared towards structural engineering.
My last little piece of advice for you or anyone, even if you dont choose
engineering, is through high school and college, take the highest math that you
can. Because if you ever want to change your degree, it hurts so much to go
back and redo all those math classes later. I have so many friends that switched
into engineering after a couple years of college, or even went back to school I
have a guy I work with now; he went back to try to become a geologist, and hes
gotta retake all that calculus. Even if youre not sure what you want to do, you
should take as high a math class as you can. That would be my main little piece
of advice.

3. Personal Reflection
a. What surprised you the most about the interview?

What surprised me most about the interview was how easy it was to talk to
him. It was much less stressful than I imagined.
b. What was the most important piece of information that
you learned from the interview?
The take the highest level math, no matter what major youre taking.
c. How has this interview influenced your feelings about
your future career?
It has changed my opinion on how I will plan my courses. Since I will likely
not stay on the exact same major, it will likely benefit me to plan accordingly.
d. How has this interview changed or confirmed your plans
regarding your future career?
It has not affected my current choice of becoming a doctor, but it was nice
to know what one side of the spectrum is like.
e. What is the next step for you to pursue you plans? Who
do you need to talk to? What information do you need?
My next step is to find time in my schedule to work in classes related to
my field of study. I need to talk to my counselor about what options are
available to me.