Careers in Consulting Panel
The panel will individually present their career pathways with a few examples of consulting projects they have worked on or led. They will also talk to some jobs they didn’t take, a pivot, or something they wish they had known earlier in their career. Finally, they may present one thing they aren’t as excited about in their job.
Then in the group will talk as a panel, answering questions such as:
What are the most important skillsets that new grads can bring to the table and how would they demonstrate that in materials / interview etc.?
What does the first two years actually look like? What will a new grad be trusted with, and when does that change?
MS vs. PhD vs. BS: how does that affect where someone enters and how fast they move?
What’s the role of the PE, and how do people navigate it if their degree isn’t a traditional civil/environmental track?
Do you need to be a modeler? What’s the range of technical-to-people balance across roles at your firm?
How much writing do you do in your job, and what kind?
Where do you see changes in the workforce due to AI and which components do you see as being resilient to that change?
Erin Cox is a Water Resources Expert, an Environmental Engineer, and currently serves as the Northwest Water Resources Strategic Growth Leader and Idaho Client Account Manager at Jacobs. Erin has a B.S. in Biology, a M.S in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, and she is a PhD candidate in Biological Design. Her areas of expertise include water quality, water resources, reuse, stormwater, and engineering with nature. Erin’s professional career started in Newport Beach, CA working on complex water challenges at McGuire Environmental Consultants and then she worked as a Project Manager and in Business Development at CH2M HILL/Jacobs throughout the country for over 13 years. After a 10-year hiatus as an author and professor teaching environmental and water-related courses in Oregon Tech’s Civil Engineering program, she rejoined the consulting world in 2021. Her passion is protecting, improving, and sustaining water resources for future generations! She loves spending time reading, traveling, biking, hiking, and exploring with her three kids.
Michael Fuss is a professional engineer and certified design build professional with more than 38 years of experience in municipal utilities, leadership, and consulting. At Stantec, Michael supports alternate delivery and business development efforts across the water sector, helping clients successfully achieve strategic goals. He has been with Stantec for 8 years where with every community we redefine what’s possible.
Brandon Hobbs, PE, BC.WRE, CFM is a Senior Water Resources Engineer with HDR in Boise, Idaho, and has spent more than 20 years building a career at the intersection of engineering, public service, leadership, and emergency management. His experience spans water resources planning, river hydraulics, basin hydrology, flood risk management, floodplain management, and disaster preparedness and response. He currently leads complex water resources projects throughout the western United States while mentoring younger engineers and helping clients navigate challenging technical and policy issues. Brandon earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Washington State University and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Iowa. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, a Board-Certified Water Resources Engineer, and a Certified Floodplain Manager.