Engineers Week is a chance to celebrate the work that keeps communities moving—often behind the scenes, always with purpose. Across DCCM, our engineers are solving everyday challenges with technical expertise, collaboration, and steady problem-solving.
This year, we’re honored to feature Mariah Rodriguez, EI, Andrew Sawyer, Stephanie Williams, PE, Tom Bartlett, PE, and George Hicks, PE—five DCCM engineers whose experience, perspective, and commitment to excellence reflect the strength of our team and the work we do across the country. Representing different stages of their careers, each brings a unique insight into the profession and the work that drives it forward.
Their Q&As below offer a closer look at the people behind the projects, the lessons that have shaped their paths, and the perspectives they bring to engineering every day.
Job title and location:
George: Supervising Civil Engineer – Fairfield, California
Stephanie: Senior Engineer – Atlanta, Georgia
Andrew: Engineer – Lakeland, Florida
Mariah: Staff Engineer – Fishers, Indiana
Tom: Project Manager – St. Augustine, Florida
How has your role evolved since you started?
Stephanie: I started with DCCM in July 2025 as the first-person doing Land Development out of our Atlanta/Sandy Springs office. We have recently hired another engineer to expand this team. I’m currently mentoring him to grow this division.
Andrew: My understanding of project timelines, as well as interactions with parties involved in projects, has significantly progressed. To this extent, I now do more client interface interactions such as RPR work, emailing utility companies, preparing permits, and coordinating technical work.
Mariah: Since starting at DCCM 3 years ago, I’ve gained more technical responsibilities and leadership roles within my department! I’ve gone from being a mere novice drafter to designing different project elements, completing design calculations, writing technical reports, and leading the utility coordination for a variety of projects.
What part of your work has the biggest impact on communities?
George: Being able to draw from and apply my 30 years experience serving as a City Engineer/Director of Public Works to help clients navigate successfully though those complicated and unusual situations they sometimes encounter.
Andrew: To me it is constantly being there for our clients, which for the most part are public. Cities like Bartow, Auburndale, Wauchula [Florida], and more are always a pleasure to serve.
Mariah: The part of my job that impacts our local communities the most would be during the design and planning portion of a project. This phase of a project is when we’ll decide what improvements are needed, what pedestrian facilities should be included, and what safety features to add. Well-designed roadway corridors increase driver and pedestrian safety, promote economic growth, and optimize travel!
Tom: Water resources & stormwater management impact the health and growth of the community
Who helped shape your engineering career, and how?
George: I was fortunate early in my career to have a seasoned City Engineer that believed in me and spent the time to teach me not only “what” we do in our profession, but more importantly “why” we do things and many practical stories and applications for each lesson. This training helped me to develop a series of values that allowed me to make sound decisions when there wasn’t necessarily a clear “right” answer.
Stephanie: Good managers. Over the years I’ve had several managers who have been phenomenal to work with and for. Loving who you work with is just as important as loving what you do.
Andrew: I think Andre Rives and Austin Hungate have really shaped my engineering career. Andre’s diligent work ethic, always putting his head down and grinding, sets a lingering example of how I should also be doing my work. Austin’s presence and how he holds himself to professional standards in the workplace is truly role-model like and is something I hope people see in me one day.
Mariah: My supervisors, peers, and involvement with professional organizations, like WTS, have all helped to shape my engineering career in some way. My supervisors have consistently provided thorough guidance on new tasks I undertake and ensure that I’m exposed to new topics within our field. My peers have helped to develop my professional identity and have molded how I interact with others in our field, how I attack new tasks or situations, and have each contributed to how I’ve developed my different workflows. My involvement in WTS has also exposed me to unique perspectives in our field and shown me what strong, capable women engineering leaders can look like.
Tom: Bill Murchie PE – Helped me in my former position with designing an industrial seawater system used for marine research in the Florida Keys.
What part of engineering excites you most right now?
Andrew: Always problem solving. I love the work and being challenged. When I get water/wastewater engineering tasks, I love to work them out as quickly as I can to approach the next tasks swiftly and efficiently.
Mariah: The part of engineering that excites me the most right now is developing solutions to ensure our infrastructure grows with our communities and best serves their individual needs. I am very intrigued by diverse roadway corridors that effectively implement public transit, accessible pedestrian facilities, greenspace, and vehicular travel lanes all in one!
Tom: Water resources and wastewater treatment – Where the water goes and how we deal with waste is the most exciting to me currently
What drew you to engineering in the first place?
Stephanie: My grandfather, dad, and brother were all civil engineers. I remember visiting job sites with my dad as a child on Saturday morning. As a high schooler, I excelled at math and scienced and decided to continue that passion in college.
Andrew: My skills in math and computers. I think I never went the more computer-like path in school because I enjoyed interacting with people too. I love making allies, and establishing relationships, before helping to solve their problems.
Mariah: Growing up, my dad worked as an architect and would often take me with him to city hall, client meetings, and job sites. I developed an appreciation for the work he did and an interest in math/science, but I never developed a love for structures or building design. Through my high school, I was able to participate in a 4-year engineering elective track and develop a better understanding of the different types of engineers out there. I knew I wanted to pursue Civil Engineering in college, but it wasn’t until my Summer Internship with DCCM that I decided to begin a career in Transportation Engineering. Three years later, I still love roadway design and am excited to continue building a career in this industry.
Tom: An interest in how our infrastructure works, and designing innovative systems to work with natural environments.
What’s your favorite part of seeing a project go from concept to reality?
Andrew: Honestly, it’s the euphoric relief of seeing it all come to fruition. I know that may be a bit basic, but seeing something to completion and basking in the relief is truly one of life’s pleasures.
Mariah: My favorite part of watching a project go from concept to reality is finally seeing the tiny details that I’ve been drawing on a monitor be blown up in real life. There is something extremely satisfying about having all of your hard work be a tangible fixture in the real world.
Tom: The client —the project vision starts with them.
What advice would you give to someone just entering engineering?
Stephanie: Get in front of many engineers and see what they do. Find what excites you. There are so many disciplines and career paths within civil engineering. While the last 10 years of my career has been predominantly residential land development, I spent years doing environmental engineering (groundwater monitoring and landfill design/closures).
Andrew: Go somewhere that will challenge you and give you work that you know will help you grow. A place that can provide a space with lots of other really awesome coworkers that can help you learn and grow is a big plus, too.
Mariah: My advice would be to get involved in professional organizations early and soak up any advice thrown your way! Professional orgs are a great way to meet other engineers in your field and build a network of mentors/peers outside of your company to guide you. Attend the networking events, listen to the lectures, and volunteer your time when you’re able!
Tom: Slow is smooth and smooth is fast (in other words, take your time!)
What are you still curious to learn as an engineer?
Stephanie: As an engineer, learning is never complete. Since starting with DCCM, I have been exposed to types of projects unfamiliar to me. I’m learning more about commercial and public sector work.
Andrew: I think learning more about how to establish client relationships. I think business development is something I would love to delve deeper into as my career develops.
Mariah: One of the things I’m still curious to learn as an engineer is project management. I haven’t had any experience yet in running a project or leading a team, but I know it’s an essential skill for Professional Engineers to have.
Looking Ahead
Engineers Week is a reminder that behind every project is a team of professionals using their expertise to solve problems, support communities, and create lasting impact. We’re grateful to the engineers who shared their perspectives in this series and proud of the talent across DCCM that helps move this work forward every day.
To learn more about DCCM’s services, markets, and the teams behind the work, explore our website. If you’re interested in building your career with us, visit our Careers page to view current opportunities and learn more about life at DCCM.
