DiscoverE is the backbone organization behind National Engineers Week and several other engineering related programs. Its mission is to get students excited about careers in engineering. To celebrate Engineers Week, February 16-22, 2025, we decided to sit down with five employees from our engineering team and ask them about their profession, the future of engineering, and what advice they have for students. This post features civil engineer in training Caleb Strandlie from our Bemidji office.
What’s the most unusual or interesting thing you’ve encountered during a project?
A frying pan in the bottom of a lift station. The city has no idea how it got there and have yet to remove it.
If you could have a superpower that would help you be a better engineer what would it be?
The ability to work on two things simultaneously.
What advice do you have for students considering a career in engineering?
Get an internship as soon as you can. Any experience in the field is very valuable towards your education.
What are your predictions for the future of engineering?
I anticipate that AI will have a large impact on the industry. I believe it will improve efficiency and minimize mistakes in areas like plan development.
How does your work as an engineer impact your community?
Planning large infrastructure improvement projects has shown me how important funding is to our communities. I enjoy working with cities to help them work towards their future goals.
If I were to have lunch with you what would you order?
A burger and fries!
