Nearly ten years ago, the National Society of Professional Engineers established a day to raise awareness of the contributions of professional engineers and to celebrate their commitment to protecting public health, safety, and welfare.
As one of America’s longest-operating design and construction firms, we proudly recognize the licensed professional engineers at HR Green. Below, you can hear stories about their careers, gain insights from their advice, and learn what being a professional engineer means to them.
Meet Professional Engineers at HR Green
Tony Babcock, PE – Regional Manager | Construction
What is the most fulfilling aspect of your career as a professional engineer?
I enjoy seeing things get built, but it’s the process along the way with all the hurdles and obstacles that we have to overcome. Seeing the project getting built is one of the biggest and most gratifying things that I have experienced in my career.
What does being a professional engineer mean to you personally?
There is a lot of responsibility that comes with being an engineer in the construction field. There are a lot of safeguards in the industry to help us, but there’s a lot of responsibility we have to the public, especially in my part of the world—the traveling public.
Ayobamidele Bello, PE – Regional Manager | Water + Wastewater
How did your interest in civil engineering begin?
I grew up in Nigeria, West Africa. My dad was a civil engineer and surveyor when I was little. So from that early age, I’ve always wanted to be an engineer. In high school, you start getting prepped for what career you want when you graduate. At that point, I was leaning towards chemical engineering. I graduated in chemical engineering, but when I transferred to the U.S. to finish my undergraduate education, I decided to pick up environmental engineering as a second major. Just after graduation, my first job was in New Orleans to help rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. From then I gravitated towards the engineering civil side. I enjoy knowing that at least what I do on a daily basis helps the community. It’s basically a fundamental expectation, at least in our world, to have clean water.
What advice do you have for other engineering professionals?
I was fortunate enough that my college professors were all previously employed in the private sector and stressed the importance of trying to get a PE license. It was also a requirement for graduation in my program to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, a primary step in achieving a PE license. So at least from that standpoint, I know not all engineering students have that luxury.
My advice is to take the FE exam as soon as possible once finishing your education. Most of the knowledge base of the test has to do with what you learn in school. So the quicker you can take it and pass the exam, the faster you can go towards at least trying to take the professional engineering exam.
Kevin Berry, PE – Area Manager | Construction
What is the most fulfilling aspect of your career as a professional engineer?
Definitely watching problems get solved. Being on the construction end, we get to come in and help build it, design it, and at the end of each project there are improvements and new safety implementations. So, what we do truly makes a difference.
Did you always know you would be in the Construction business unit?
When I started, I thought I was going to be a dual licensed surveyor and design engineer, but that didn’t happen. I ended up in construction, and the pace of construction and watching improvements transform in a year’s time was the most interesting and rewarding thing to me, so I stuck it with it and I love it.
Andi Davis, PE – Project Engineer | Transportation
What fulfillment do you get from your career as a professional engineer?
It means a lot for me. I just love being in a career where I can have a positive impact on people in the community. And working on projects local to my area is so neat – it’s fulfilling to be able to design something and see it through and know that you’re having a positive impact on people. I have worked on projects that quite a few people that I know personally have to drive through every day and getting a few words of positive feedback from them is everything.
Is there a project that stands out to you since becoming a licensed professional engineer?
I would say one of my standout projects in my career was a roundabout project here in the St. Louis area. It was a design of two roundabouts and widening a third roundabout in one corridor. There was also a pedestrian component for pedestrians and cyclists. We had a tunnel that was going underneath the roundabout for a trail system that connected two sides of a trail system that were previously disjointed.
I was in the middle of this roundabout design project when I got my professional engineering license. I had some really great mentorship throughout, and I would just say that was one of the projects that I don’t think I’ll ever forget because I learned so much on that job. I was able to really demonstrate what I could do. It was really neat to be able to work on a local project—and even more rewarding to drive on something I helped design once it was completed.”.
Ken Huhn, PE – Senior Project Manager | Land Development
What is the most memorable project that comes to mind in your time as a professional engineer?
One of the first projects I got involved with was a large master planned community—Del Webb, Sun City Huntley. It was a massive project and many, many people in our company worked on it. I started on the project as a junior engineer, EIT and I worked on it primarily for the next 10 to 12 years of my career; by the time the project was completed, I was managing the entire project. To see a project evolve from the early stages until that last home was built was amazing. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than being an instrumental part of building a 5000-home community. It’s always been a cornerstone of my career and really guided my path moving forward.
What does being a professional engineer mean to you personally?
I feel a strong sense of pride being an engineer. I think just knowing I’m part of a larger community that has an important role in our world is rewarding. Fundamentally, that sense of pride to be part of the professional community is important to
Cami Liu, PE – Project Engineer | Transportation
What advice would you have for other professional engineers or those pursuing a career in professional engineering?
I would say don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everybody makes mistakes. You are not expected to make the project perfect the first time you try, and you learn from your mistakes—that’s how you grow. I think everybody has imposter syndrome, but I think it’s just a myth that we all have, so acknowledge it, and know that you are actually better than you think you are, and you are capable of solving so many problems. Don’t stop yourself from moving forward, believe in yourself, and be confident.
How has your perspective of the engineering industry evolved since you started your career?
I really love that the industry is appealing to more women because it used to be a male-dominated industry. Now, I see more young ladies interested in engineering, and I can see that our future is bright. When I think of representation of my peers in engineering, I think it means that I have a chance to tell my story and inspire others.
Sean Morton, PE – Project Engineer | Land Development
Is there a project that has been especially impactful or memorable to you throughout your time as a professional engineer?
The project I’m working on now is by far the most topographically interesting site I’ve ever dealt with. The location is very hilly, and we’re trying to design a subdivision that keeps the streets accessible—without literally moving mountains to make it happen. It’s a project I’ve been involved with since I first started at HR Green. I’ve worked on it from my early days as an EIT, through earning my PE license, and now as we navigate the different filings.
What advice would you have for other professional engineers, or those pursuing a career in professional engineering?
You don’t have to be perfect to be a professional engineer, you just need to know where to look to find things and understand how to keep growing.
Professional Engineer Careers at HR Green
HR Green’s mission is to build communities and improve lives. From internships to senior-level positions, HR Green offers career opportunities throughout our geographies. We look for professionals who are highly aligned to our goals and values while allowing individuals and groups autonomy to achieve their full potential.
We encourage, equip, challenge, and cultivate our employees to be leaders in our company and their communities. With HR Green you will have opportunities to grow and thrive in an environment that allows you to enjoy your work while building lasting relationships and a legacy of mutual success.
We understand the importance of being professionally licensed and the positive impact it can have on your career. If you are not licensed and you feel ready, our team is here to guide and assist you throughout the entire process. We applaud your achievements and are committed to helping you succeed in your career.
- Time Off with Pay – We provide you time off to study, focus, and take each professional registration exam.
- Expense-Reimbursement – We reimburse travel expenses, application/exam fees, study materials, and classes for initial professional licenses.
- Bonus – Once you attain your professional licensure or certification, you are eligible for a bonus in recognition of your hard work.
Whether you are already a licensed professional engineer or a recent graduate planning on working toward certification, you will find support through careers and professional development programs HR Green.
Engineering Career Opportunities
