Here at Kleingers, we love to talk about engineering.

“It sounds a little corny, but I do believe I was born to be a civil engineer,” our Vice President of Operations Steve Korte recently said.

But while many of our engineers learned their passion from their dads or someone influential in their lives, we know not every kid has that opportunity—which is why our second passion is sharing our zeal for the profession.

As Engineering Week comes to a close, we are celebrating sharing engineering with the next generation.

“So many children today have no idea what we do, what an engineer looks like, what it takes to be an engineer.  They have no idea that to build anything, you need an engineer.  The sidewalk they walk on, the school they sit in, the roads they bike on, that’s all because of an engineer,” Director of Engineering Tim Casto said. “I hope maybe, just maybe, there is that one kid out in the room that sees these props, looks at our plans, and thinks maybe I could do that.”

For the past three years, Jim Kleingers and Ameen Bakare have participated in a program through the Dayton Chamber Minority Business Partnership to introduce engineering design, architecture, and construction to students at Thurgood Marshall High School.

According to Ameen, the program helps kids understand how each of the individual professions works together to build new construction. As part of the program, kids are broken into teams and take on the role of surveyor, architect, landscape architect, or program manager. The kids work together on a deadline to figure out the information needed from a survey, building placement, how to arrange a site, and how to coordinate a project.

Although the program is brief, Ameen said he hopes it gives kids a chance to think about engineering as a future profession and put a face to the profession.

“A lot of the kids that are part of Thurgood Marshall… they don’t really see a lot of engineers and whether it is because I am a little younger or a man of color, it is good to see another face they can relate to,” Ameen said.

The transportation group at Kleingers is working to create a similar program with Safe Routes to Schools and Steve recently began speaking at his former junior high school, which is now a middle school, through the Cincinnati Engineering Enhanced Mathematics and Science Partnership at the University of Cincinnati.

“It is a little selfish, but it is hard finding civil engineers,” Steve said. “But really I’m trying to help younger kids learn about a potential career. I hope they will take classes and pursue engineering in general.”

Steve said as part of the program he helped kids layout an island, which included making decisions about where everything should go. They also talked in class about what is important in a roundabout.

Additionally, Jim and Tim have facilitated the Webelos Cub Scout activity to several Cub Scout Packs in Butler County, introducing Webelos to engineering. Among other activities, kids learn about the types of bridges and draw examples of them, work with ropes and pulleys, learn about surveying and measuring a property line, and visiting a construction site.

Tim said he particularly enjoys showing kids props—including pavement cores—and he is currently looking for ways to tie in Minecraft into educational programs.

“Most kids today have played with the program and they are in essence creating a model of a “site”, something we do as engineers.  In the game, they create houses, roads, trails, tunnels, waterways, beaches—stuff that engineers do every day. You can show a surface model in AutoCAD to a kid and they don’t get it, but if you relate those lines to the building blocks to Minecraft, that’s an “aha” moment for them,” Tim said.

Dolls aren’t for every girl.

When people ask Sarah, one of our transportation engineers, about girls in engineering, she always thinks of a picture from her childhood where she is holding a toy truck.

Sarah knew from a young age what her passions were, but according to Discover Engineering, studies show that the average girl doesn’t know what engineering is, thinks engineers need to be exceptional at math and science and believes engineering is difficult and challenging.

At The Kleingers Group, we recognize that women bring another perspective to engineering and can help change the world with their creative ideas.

In recognition of Girl Day during Engineering Week, The Kleingers Group talked to some of our female engineers about some of the traits that make a good engineer and why the career can be rewarding.

Can you think of scenarios at work where your curiosity has helped you excel?

Asking good questions has helped me learn the most about engineering (technical aspects) as well as the client relations aspects.  It’s always better to ask questions and learn rather than to assume or sit and stew about something on your own. – Jennifer

When I design roads and sidewalks I try to imagine myself using them.  Where is it best to cross the street?  Where will I want to see signs to help me navigate the streets while I’m driving?  If there is a hill or curve in the road, will I have enough time to stop if something is on the other side? – Sarah

As a new engineer, there is so much I still have to learn.  I get to work with and learn so many things from engineers who are true experts in their field with a deep understanding of the problems I’m faced with.  The world of engineering is filled with so many different challenges though, that even the seasoned engineers see new issues all the time.  While I learn new things and start to master the basics, these seasoned professionals are also constantly expanding their knowledge base.  It makes me excited to work in a field that is always evolving and changing! – Katrina

How do you use creativity every day?

There is a ton of room for creativity and problem solving in my work every day.  I get to look at problems with an endless number of solutions and find the best possible way to solve them.  Sometimes the best solution is a tried and true method, but more often, a creative solution turns out to be the most effective way to tackle the issue. – Katrina

Projects are like puzzles and no two are alike.  Each project contains the same major pieces, but they each fit together differently.  Sometimes getting the puzzle pieces to fit together requires us to be creative and think outside of the box to find the solution.  – Megan

Engineering is all about solving problems—technical or other. I use creativity daily in setting project priorities and dealing with the multiple personalities involved in a design, from clients to internal staff to reviewing agencies.  – Jennifer

How do you use teamwork inside and outside of the firm?

Teamwork is woven throughout everything I do daily.  A project involves many, many people from the client to the design professional to the review agency.  We are one team working toward a common goal.  An atmosphere of collaboration is imperative to developing a quality product.  We use other team members to help create the deliverable and also check each others work. – Jennifer

When designing roads, I have to think about what’s under them, not just what I can see.  I need the help of people at the utility companies to make sure I don’t interfere with their pipes running underground, or to figure out the best place to relocate their pipes, if necessary. – Sarah

Every day I work with members of my team in the office to produce drawings as efficiently as possible.  Every member of my team has different strengths: some are best at organization, some are best at teaching, and some are best at designing.  By working together with a shared sense of purpose, we develop our individual skills by learning from each other to ensure the quality of the final product is the best it can be. Site design is only one piece of the larger puzzle of overall site development.  As a site engineer, I work with many other people—including architects, engineers, and developers—outside the firm to accomplish the overall goal of building something great.  While designing the site, I have to keep in mind the implications my design has on the other team members and their pieces of the puzzle.  Every member of the team works together to make sure all of our designs coordinate and we deliver a product our clients are excited about. – Katrina

In what ways do you solve problems in your field of work?

Being able to be organized and effectively assess priorities is a daily problem solving exercise for me.  One phone call can change the entire plan for the day and you need to manage that issue while not adversely impacting others. – Jennifer

We solve problems each and every day whether we realize it or not.  Today we may solve the problem of balancing earthwork on a site, tomorrow it may be fixing a drainage issue. – Megan

In your everyday work, how do you help others?

Engineering by definition helps others as we are service providers.  We create the built environment for the public to enjoy.  We protect public safety.  We assist clients in financial gains. – Jennifer

I help others by creating safer driving conditions and safer places to walk and ride bikes. – Sarah

Happy Engineer’s Week! This week we celebrate engineers and what they mean to the community. Here at Kleingers, we pride ourselves on helping to build better communities and we believe our engineers play a big part in that. This week is also about increasing the public dialogue about the need for engineers. With that in mind, we asked our team a few questions. The responses range from serious to sarcastic, but all of our engineers are clearly passionate about their work! Below are some of our favorite:

Who inspired you to be a civil engineer?

My high school math teacher who told me that since I was good at math and science, I should be an engineer. I wasn’t even sure what that meant! – Jennifer

I don’t know if there is specifically one individual who wholly inspired me, but I grew up in a new subdivision and I often had the chance to see civil engineering in action. What kid doesn’t like watching bulldozers, concrete trucks and pavers doing their thing? My dad was a surveyor in his “first career” so that definitely had an impact on my career choice as well.  – Steve

Oooh that’s a toughy. Inspiration comes in many forms…I guess if I had to pick just one person it would be Justin Bieber, but it’s really neck and neck with Miley Cyrus….no Bieber….definitely Bieber – Greg

Legos of course! I love building stuff! – Michael

Why does the world need engineers?

Engineers provide practical, cost effective solutions to complicated problems. – Michael

To enable it to function. – Mike

To keep some black and white in the world and help everyone avoid all of those pretty, bright colors. – Steve

Engineers are imperative to designing our built environment.  Without engineers, we would have an empty world with no roads, buildings, utilities, etc. – Jennifer

Almost everything we use, wear and eat has been enhanced at some level by an engineer.  Engineers have an ability to analyze a problem and offer/design solutions. – Nick

What do you love most about being an engineer?

The process of understanding a client/owner’s goals and dreams, and helping it become a reality….seeing  a project grow from infancy to the final product and watching people enjoy and use the space in the end.  – Steve

I love finding efficient solutions to problems that’s backed up by math! – Michael

Being creative. – Mike

The opportunity to solve problems and make a difference. – Nick

The celebrity status, I know a lot of engineers get tired of it, you know with all the gossip and such but I actually welcome the busy schedule, well with all the interviews, and late show appearances, the amazing money and exotic locations I get to travel too…it’s really hard to complain. – Greg

I love that you can see your finished product being constructed.  I like the interaction with people (both internal team members and clients) and helping them bring their projects to fruition. – Jennifer

What contributions do engineers make to society?

Engineers designed the infrastructure that makes everyday life possible.  From water supplies, to sewage systems, roadways, the electrical power grid, and more – none of those modern conveniences would be possible without many engineers. – Michael

They provide practical solutions to everyday problems. – Mike

Too many to list….but a lot of it we all take for granted. Transportation, water and sewer are big ones off the top of my head. Have you ever heard the saying that “engineers save more lives than doctors”? Engineers do so with their proactive planning.  – Steve

Well I think it’s safe to say that nobody really knows. personally I don’t even know why we need civil engineers….I think generally as a people we have all become pretty civil to one another. – Greg

We assist in shaping the world as we see it including advances in sustainability and responsible development. – Jennifer

Civil engineers use their professional knowledge and skills to aid in the advancement and betterment of human welfare. – Nick

What is it like to work with a civil engineer?

It is refreshing to interview civil engineers and hear the repeated stories about their passion for the profession, their pride in driving by built projects and pointing them out to their families…to be a part of building communities. Engineers are passionate about what they do! – Nancy

The Kleingers Group is proud to be both a sponsor and to help plan the 2016 Safe Routes to School National Conference.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the National Center for Safe Routes to School recently announced that the 2016 conference will be held April 5 to 7 in Columbus, Ohio.

Since 2012, The Kleingers Group has served as one of just a few Safe Routes to School Statewide Consultants to the Ohio Department of Transportation and has worked on more than 4 dozen Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects throughout the state.

The Kleingers Group is a leader in creating both school travel plans and infrastructure design, creating safe and convenient opportunities for children to walk or bicycle to school.

According to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, the conference will bring together program representatives, state departments of transportation, planners, elected officials and community members to provide an opportunity for individuals, agencies and organization involved with Safe Routes to School to network, engage in educational opportunities, become inspired, and form partnerships.

The Kleingers Group is proud to sponsor the partnership’s goal of creating safer and more walkable communities and to share its traffic safety expertise.

More information about the conference is available at www.saferoutesconference.org.