EOP Logo

Equal Opportunity Publications
EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY
Equal Opportunity Cover
WOMAN
ENGINEER
Woman Engineer Cover
MINORITY
ENGINEER
Minority Engineer Cover
CAREERS &
the disABLED
CAREERS & the disABLED Cover
WORKFORCE
DIVERSITY
Workforce Diversity Cover
HISPANIC
CAREER WORLD
Hispanic Career World Cover
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CAREER WORLD
African-American Career World Cover



Minority Engineer Magazine, launched in 1979, is a career- guidance and recruitment magazine offered at no charge to qualified engineering or computer-science students and professionals who are African-American, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American. Minority Engineer presents career strategies for readers to assimilate into a diversified job marketplace.

This magazine reaches minority engineers nationwide at their home addresses, colleges and universities, and chapters of student and professional organizations.

If you are an engineering student or professional who is a member of a minority group, Minority Engineer is available to you FREE!


Minority Engineer

» Featured Articles
» Subscription Information
» Reader Survey
» Companies Actively Recruiting

 Rebuilding America

Amanda N. Wegner
 
WITH PLENTY OF WORK TO BE DONE, THE DEMAND FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING IS GROWING,
 
As the nation’s infrastructure continues to age and reach its maximum capacity, civil and structural engineers will be needed to manage projects.
 
This includes everything from rebuilding bridges to upgrading wafer systems and dams.
 
In tact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that employment tor this engineering specialty will grow 20 percent by 2022 — indicating that this sector will expand much taster than the average tor other engineering occupations.
 
Highlighted in this article are tour engineers working on everything from a “mega” highway project to piloting a new way to reuse wafer in arid communities.
 
They share what it’s like to work in this growing field and how to accelerate your own career within it.
 
GEORGE WHITE, BLACK & VEATCH
 
There’s power in what George White does. As a civil engineer in Black & Veatch’s energy business, White designs and analyzes overhead transmission lines, the high-voltage power lines that route between power plants and substations. For — instance, right now, he is reconfiguring an electric substation.
 
“There are four transmission lines that come into the substation from the north, south, west and east. It is my job to design the temporary reroute of these lines so that power can bypass the substation during the reconfiguration construction,” says White. “It is essential that people in the community can still get power while the substation construction is being done. I am ensuring that this happens.”
 
What drew White to engineering was a knack for technical things.
 
“I was always naturally good at math and very interested in science. I was certainly drawn to the vastness that engineering allowed. As an engineer opportunities are endless. There are countless different types of projects that you can work on. You can decide if you want to work outdoors on the construction site or in an office setting,” says White. “Most of all I wanted to get into a career that really matters. The decisions that are made by engineers are very serious and impactful.”
 
White came to Black & Veatch through an internship during his final semester in college. While he completed four internships with other companies, he liked Black & Veatch the most, and he has now been here for almost three years.
 
“The best thing about my company is the opportunity that is available here,” says White.
 
“There are so many different types of projects and departments. Generally, you can try new things to really find what you like to work on,” he adds.
 
He’s also confident in the company’s leadership, which offers employees opportunities to help improve the company, such as Black & Veatch’s Business Excellence Group.
 
While hard work is one part of being a successful engineer, “networking and maintaining integrity are both paramount,” says White. “Do what you say you’re going to do. [And while I’m] not always extremely excited about going to networking functions, when it is over, I am always happy that I went.”
 
On a similar note, while in school, White recommends getting involved in student design teams and engineering clubs.
 
“I am a big proponent of the National Society of Black En gineers. The personal growth that I experienced by having a leadership role in my college NSBE chapter was huge. The networking opportunities through NSBE are tremendous, as well. Push yourself to be uncomfortable because that is when you will grow.”
» Feedback for the Editor
» Request Article Copy

All Content ©1996- EOP, Inc. Website by: Webscope