civil engineer

Gei-Consultants

I joined GEI last year after leaving a large organization where I was frustrated with the bureaucracy, unrealistic workload and negative work environment. GEI has been a breath of fresh air. GEI has an engaging work environment and provides a framework for you to work under, but allows you to work autonomously and trusts that you will get your job done. 

The people and culture at GEI are nothing short of amazing. I enjoy working with the impressive team of professional, compassionate and dedicated colleagues at this company. They inspire me to work hard because I feel like I'm truly making a difference. As an employee at GEI, you can feel the difference of working for an employee owned company. You can feel the influence the employees have from the Board of Directors (who are all employees, except for one outside director who is a non-voting member) on down by how the company is managed and run. It's a wonderful structure and one of the key ingredients to GEI's success. GEI continues to grow and achieve success, both with its people and financially, because of its unique structure & culture.

As a newer employee, leader and professional woman, I have found GEI and its leadership open and willing to listen with a genuine interest in ensuring the company grows in a healthy manner while maintaining the positive culture. I couldn't be happier that I joined GEI. It's truly a great place to work!

GEI is a terrific technical company very focused on client need, client value, and technical expertise. It has a good culture, supportive management, and there are good opportunities for advancement (for those who show such interest). There are few companies in geotechnical and environmental engineering, water resources, and/or ecological science that provide better value to the client than GEI, proven through its unique primary research-based client surveying of key clients and its enviable record of client retention and extremely strong and sustained company growth. It offers fantastic stock ownership opportunities in this very broadly held private stock company. If you are a top flight civil engineer, or related scientist, and you would prefer the excitement, potential and are willing to put in the extra hours required to be a great consulting engineer or scientist for your clients, GEI should be a top choice. Also, the locations of its 35+ offices are all outstanding - great cities, really nice offices, and they support movement between them for those who seek to explore and find new adventures. Benefits are just about tops in the industry. Overall company performance is well in the top quartile of AEC firms overall. It's a top player in its core competencies. The big AE firms come to GEI for its expertise to strengthen their own teams.

This is the rare engineering consulting firm that has struck the balance between serving its clients well and keeping its employees happy. At GEI, I have had the opportunity to work alongside some of the leading practitioners in the water management industry. We work in close concert with clients planning and implementing major system changes. 

The work environment is collegial though the seller-doer culture can impose significant pressure on senior staff, particularly as you approach the end of major projects. The compensation is well above the industry average, particularly as you progress to senior levels. There is little office politics, and your advancement to senior levels depends solely on the quality of your work and your ability to win new work. Overall, there is no other engineering firms I would rather work for.

I was in charge of the Boulder office/branch of this Engineering firm. I worked with vendors and clients providing excellent customer service. Helped draft letters and proposals, created the filing system used within the office based on corporate requirements. Aided one of the Vice Presidents of the company with travel arragements, correspondence, and office management. I really enjoyed working with my co-workers who were young engineers just starting out in their career. Part of my work was to acclimate them to working in an office environment, using assistants, and learning how to communicate with eachother. Hardest part of the job was being laid off when the office closed.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Knowledgeable co-workers that are always willing to lend a hand or share their experience

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part of the job for me  is that there was no defined path to promotion.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is very collaborative 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I worked in the field 100% of the time so a typical day for me was much different than the rest of the office.  While they typically worked 8-5 I usually worked 6-6.  I had a lot of autonomy, which I enjoyed and appreciated

Very little support and team approach to projects. You essentially had to consult on your own with very little support from management. Top people had elitist attitudes, rather than client and support staff oriented concerns. Historical people built the 'bookman-edmondston' consulting firm in Cali. Newer people and the GEI 'geotechnical people' overshadowed the 'b-e' division, and in my mind, made it go downhill. Most upper people gave the impression that each worker should be glad they had a job with them. Never saw a budget; they were always 'out of money'.

My time at GEI helped me truly discover my passion for the environment and consulting. The amount of training, combined with field work and co-worker help, propelled me to take a deeper look at what I wanted to do with my career. I found myself enjoying sampling different contaminated media, driving to different sites, and talking with co-workers about their experiences. I quickly became proficient with my given tasks, and soon was so respected that I was given my own tasks, even as a co-op. Without my experiences at GEI, I would have never chose to pursue a career in environmental consulting.

A great company for a self-motivated person born to be a consultant - in other words, if you combine technical ability, problem solving desire, an ability and desire to talk with clients, and atttention to detail, you will excel at GEI.  If you need detailed guidance or expect to be told what to do at every turn, then GEI and perhaps consulting isn't for you.

The company sought me out for a Resident Construction Manager contract position with Dallas Area Rapid Transit. The work was challenging yet very rewarding personally and for my career. However, near the end of the contract, after meetings with corporate management, it was evident to me they had no other position for me in the DFW metro area and I am not willing to relocate. Therefore, I accepted a position with another company.

A typical work day would include organization of RFP's and proposals, gathering data from previous projects and showcasing the best fit opportunities for the firm. I learned how to organize diverse projects. Effective management, clear goals and great training. Co-workers were very helpful and highly effective at their roles. Hardest part of the job was data entry for a new companywide database. The most enjoyable part of the job was learning about different construction projects throughout various parts of the country.

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