Turning Plans into Places: A CEI Podcast
Turning Plans into Places is a podcast by CEI Engineering Associates, where we explore the people, projects, and perspectives shaping the future of civil engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, and site development across the United States.
In each episode, we dive into the real-world challenges and creative solutions behind the work we do, whether it's retail, fueling and convenience store development, outdoor recreation, municipal transportation, or sports facility engineering. Our expert guests break down the details, share industry insights, and highlight how CEI's integrated approach delivers smarter, more resilient places.
But this podcast is more than just technical talk. We also shine a spotlight on CEI's company culture—the people behind the plans. From entry-level stories to leadership journeys, remote work experiences to mentorship moments, we'll explore what makes CEI a dynamic, connected team that values innovation, collaboration, and community.
Whether you're a client, industry partner, future employee, or just curious about the infrastructure that supports everyday life, this podcast is your invitation to go behind the scenes with CEI.
Subscribe and follow as we turn plans into places, one conversation at a time.
Episodes
7 episodes
Ep. 7 - Fields That Last: Engineering Beyond the Turf
Great facilities don’t start with green fibers; they start with a base that never blinks. We sit down with Jeff Bresee and John Valastro to unpack how sports engineering transforms fields from maintenance headaches into safe, durable, multi-spo...
Ep. 6 – Connecting Cities, One Trail at a Time
What if a trail wasn’t just a trail, but the backbone of a region’s daily life? We share the inside story of the Razorback Greenway, how a community sketch along creeks became a 40-mile corridor that connects neighborhoods to schools, jobs, par...
Ep. 5 - Visibility, Access, Zoning: The Site Trio
Want to know why a “perfect” parcel can still be a bad site? We dig into the real-world checklist that makes fueling and convenience projects work: traffic that actually converts, access that moves cars and trucks safely, zoning that survives p...
Ep. 4 - Intern to Insider
Finding your professional path isn't always straightforward, something Tristan Smith discovered firsthand during his remarkable three-year internship journey with CEI Engineering Associates. What began as a mechanical engineering dream inspired...
Ep. 3 - Trained, Tested, Trusted
What does it really take to grow from an entry-level position to leadership? In this candid conversation with Nick Degan, CAD Manager at CEI Engineering, we uncover the surprisingly human elements that fuel professional development in the desig...
Ep. 2 - A Career Reinvented at CEI
Career paths rarely follow a straight line. Kevin Hall's journey from aircraft mechanic to Director of Technical Services at CEI Engineering demonstrates how unexpected detours can lead to remarkable professional growth when paired with curiosi...
Ep. 1 - The Key to Project Success
Successful fueling and convenience store development hinges on masterful pre-development planning. The foundation of your project's success isn't just about selecting prime real estate—it's about understanding the complex dance of regulations, ...