ASCE Plot Points Podcast

Episode 184: Meet Ollie the Civil Engineer

After more than a decade of experience building teams that build airplanes, Lisa Schleuter has added a new job title to her resume: children’s book author.Schleuter has published a new book called Ollie the Civil Engineer aimed at entertaining and inspiring young children.In episode 184 of ASCE Plot Points, Schleuter talks about Ollie, her career in civil engineering, and how she came to find herself as a newly minted author.

Episode 183: Better understanding the AI impact on the AEC industry

AI takes up a lot of oxygen in the room right now.But when it comes to specific impacts, do we have a strong industry-wide understanding? Does anyone know?Mark Coates, vice president of the Infrastructure Policy Advancement team at Bentley Systems, set about finding out.His group helped lead a global study to better understand the topic, looking at AI in three main areas: readiness, risk, and returns.In episode 183 of ASCE Plot Points, Coates discusses the survey and what the results suggest about the future of the industry.

Episode 182: Civil engineering as giving thanks

This Thanksgiving week we’re reminded of the deep connection between civil engineering and community service.Which of course means the civil engineers who have made that kind of generosity a way of life.Aleesha Toteja is one such civil engineer.A project manager for Halff in Austin, Texas, Toteja devotes countless hours to help a variety of causes both through her employer’s outreach programs, the ASCE Austin Branch, and her day-to-day public works projects.In episode 182 of ASCE Plot Points, Toteja talks about her her generous spirit and why maybe it’s a characteristic that a lot of civil engineers share.
And next week on #GivingTuesday, when you donate to the ASCE Foundation, your generosity will go twice as far. Every gift to the ASCE Foundation made on Dec. 2 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 by ASCE leadership. Learn more at ASCEFoundation.org.

Episode 181: Jerry Cavaluzzi and Dan Harpstead on managing risk

Infrastructure is risky business.The money is big. The stakes are high.And it’s not something that always gets talked about, but issues of risk mitigation can be some of the most important aspects of a civil engineer’s career – learning how to navigate potential pitfalls and start the right conversations at the right time.Part of that skillset starts with having the proper risk mitigation tools at your disposal.Jerry Cavaluzzi and Dan Harpstead, members of the ASCE Committee on Claims Reduction Management, recently wrote an article for Civil Engineering Source about project management tools that you can use to help mitigate risk.In episode 181 of ASCE Plot Points, Cavaluzzi and Harpstead bring that article to life in podcast form, discussing risk mitigation tools and why they’re essential to making any infrastructure project work.

Episode 180: Anna Lisonbee, on why leadership doesn’t have to wait

Anna Lisonbee is a water resources professional engineer in training for Hansen, Allen, and Luce in Sandy, Utah.And while she is admittedly still early in her career, Lisonbee is not simply passing time waiting until she’s much older so she can assert herself as a leader.She’s doing so right now – at work, among staff, on projects, and with ASCE.Lisonbee is the president-elect of the Utah Section and has become a front-facing leader among younger members in the entire organization.In episode 180 of ASCE Plot Points, Lisonbee talks about her perspective on leadership, how standing front-and-center wasn’t necessarily part of her original career vision, and why she’s come to see passivity when it comes to leadership as not an option for her.

Episode 179: Akhtar Zaman, on finding a civil engineering home

There are a lot of ways to get your message out to the masses in 2025.Social media, videos, podcasts.But not everyone can say they’ve shared their love for community and civil engineering with a mural.Akhtar Zaman did exactly that.Born and raised in Bangladesh, Zaman found a home in northwest Indiana. He’s a principal engineer for Advanced Engineering Services in Hammond, Indiana – just outside Chicago. And when the company moved into a new building with a parking lot that bordered a blank wall, Zaman had an idea.In episode 179 of ASCE Plot Points, Zaman talks about his community, his profession, and how he brought this mural to life.

Episode 178: Rod Jones, on generous leadership

Rod Jones is a project manager for Holder Construction in Ashburn, Virginia.
But even as he is progressing in his own career – ENR named him a Top 20 Under 40 in 2024 – he’s acutely aware of attracting more people to the profession and helping others follow his path.
He’s an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Morgan State University, and his online “Rod the Builder” lifestyle brand – through YouTube and social media – inspires young professionals and students to find their passion in the STEM fields too.
In episode 178 of ASCE Plot Points, Jones talks about how he found his way into construction management and why it’s so important to him to share that story with others.

Episode 177: Isamar Escobar, on the perks of NOT being a wallflower

Isamar Escobar joined ASCE as a student several years ago. And since then, she not been a member in name only. She’s ranked among the most active of active ASCE members, planning this event, chairing that committee. So much so that even as a younger member she joined the ASCE Board of Direction as an at-large director.With ASCE Election season nearly here (voting opens May 1), Escobar talked on the ASCE Plot Points podcast about all her community engagement, how it’s helped her, and why your engagement as an ASCE member and participating in the ASCE Election go hand in hand.

Episode 176: Duncan Griffin, on integrated sustainable design

With the AI revolution upon us, it’s easy to see technology and human beings on opposite sides of a spectrum.But for Duncan Griffin, director of sustainability for HDR’s Health Design Practice, technological developments only enhance the possibilities for human healing and comfort.In episode 176 of ASCE Plot Points, Griffin talks integrated sustainable design and why a holistic approach to potential outcomes is essential to infrastructure.
 

Episode 175: Rossana D’Antonio, on what we need to know about the aviation industry

ASCE members know Rossana D’Antonio as a member of the Society’s Board of Direction.She is the executive director for NV5, a global consulting firm. Prior to that, she was the deputy director of the Los Angeles Department of Public Works.And she's been very active throughout ASCE - especially in sustainability and advocacy efforts.But what you might not know is the tragedy that struck her family nearly two decades ago when her brother - a professional pilot - died in a plane crash.D'Antonio found purpose in her grief. She spent years investigating the crash, learning about the aviation industry, and working to ensure similar accidents never happen again.And now she's telling her story in a book. "26 Seconds: Grief and Blame in the Aftermath of Losing My Brother in a Plane Crash" publishes on May 12 and is available for pre-order today through Simon & Schuster.In episode 175 of ASCE Plot Points, D'Antonio talks about brother, the book, and what we need to know about aviation safety.