LVI Associates

Jennifer Keegan, Director of Building & Science in Roofing & Waterproofing for GAF joined LVI’s Sarah Lazar to discuss how to break the glass ceiling in this male dominated industry as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.  Progression and opportunities to learn ​ Wherever there is an opportunity to learn and problem-solve on the job, Jennifer accepted and took on, continuing to step our of her comfort zone and recommends to ask lots of questions throughout your career.  ​ When asked how Jennifer progressed in her career, one point to note is that she attended and shadowed in meetings, which eventually lead to her first leadership role at ASTM.  ​ Jennifer managers a team of experienced enclosure consultants, architects and engineers. She translates all of their experience to support the design community. The science behind how building enclosures perform well is crucial as it helps to understand the problems, and influences building design to ensure it...

  Vicente Montes-Amoros, PE, LEED AP, BD+C, Structural & Façade Engineer at Curtain Wall Design & Consulting joined Sarah to discuss the future of façade engineering, how a building can create a ‘death ray’, and how the industry can be more sustainable. Watch the video or read our short summary on the interview. Considerations & differentiations When deciding a façade system, there are four main aspects you must take into consideration - Structural Thermal Air performance Water Performance It’s also important to also consider different approaches to façade engineering across varying locations. Some suppliers and manufacturers are preferred in certain markets, and it takes time to work through who and what is the preference, for example Virginia and New York are in close proximity to one another, but they use contrasting products & manufacturers, so state-to-state can also be quite different. What is a death ray? A death ray is an example of when a façade d...

  ​Infrastructure and engineering companies often work on large projects which require high quality talent when it comes to leadership, project management and insights from specialized experience across different fields of engineering. This means often looking beyond the local talent pool to locate brilliant talent. Job offers which require relocations will often come with an agreed relocation assistance package, which can provide financial assistance to new employees. However, truly competitive relocation programs need to consider elements such as spousal assistance, practical support on finding a new home, and even providing advice which can help the new employee find new schools and care homes for their relatives. Relocating for a new job is an incredibly stressful time, but providing excellent support will not only help significantly strengthen your employee brand, but will also help you retain top talent, providing long-term value after making an initial investment.

Critically improving transportation conditions Making recent headline news around the world, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides unprecedented federal funding for infrastructure projects across the US. The bi-partisan bill, which has been years in the making, will deliver  $1.2 trillion in federal spending  over the next five years across a variety of infrastructure projects from renewable energy to electric vehicle manufacturing. Along with these sustainable projects, a main focus of the infrastructure funding will be  $110 billion  towards transportation projects including road and bridge improvements, and  $11 billion  for transportation safety projects. With 1 in 5 miles of highways and major roads, and 45,000 bridges across the US in poor condition, this funding will support critical projects to improve the condition, safety, and environmental sustainability of America’s transportation network. Opportunities in Transportation Eng...

  ​Quitting your role within the infrastructure and engineering sector can be a challenge. On one hand, you may wish to provide constructive feedback on why you have decided to leave your role. One the other, you don’t want to risk offending your bosses and end up with a negative job reference. It is also important to maintain a strong network within the sector, and you need to tread carefully when transitioning between roles to help maintain your professional reputation and ensure support from your colleagues if you end up working with them in the future. This resource will guide you on how to resign from your role in a way that avoids burning bridges, from handing in your notice through what to do on your final day to leave a positive final impression.

  There is overwhelming evidence that companies with diverse workforces perform better on every possible metric, with  diversity positively impacting  every level of a business, from the cleaning staff to the board of directors.  Bringing in as many perspectives, working styles and experience as possible to a workplace leads to integration, success and growth to those businesses who dedicate effort into attracting a diverse talent pool.  The first step to make when aiming to achieve a balanced workforce is to ensure job advertisements avoid signs of unconscious bias. This helps present you as a welcoming and forward-thinking employer. You will also discover that your job positions attract a rich wealth of resumes after eliminating bias in your job descriptions.  Biased job descriptions can discourage capable and talented candidates from applying for a role they are perfect for, and problems can be found both within the language and content of your job descr...

  LVI Associates is honored to partner with  ACEC  again this year ahead of their  2021 Fall Conference .   The conference, taking place in  Marco Island, FL , will bring together engineering leaders and professionals from top firms across the US for three days of networking, thought leadership, and education. Our team is thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with clients in-person at this year's event, happening  October 27-30th . Highlighting our continued partnership, LVI Associates Senior Vice President  George Place   comments, “ It has been great partnering with ACEC, from working together on webinars during the pandemic to now attending the in-person conference in Florida. We are looking forward to meeting with all of our clients and candidates in person and making new connections to provide our unique industry insights and services within the civil, transportation and environmental engineering space." For more information on the...