Dave Kanger, a civil engineer and associate at Modjeski and Masters, Inc., gave a presentation about his career and the field of civil engineering. He discussed the history of his company, which was founded in 1893 and became renowned for designing long-span bridges. Kanger then provided brief biographical details and explained the process for becoming a licensed engineer through obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering and passing the state licensing exam. He highlighted some recent bridge projects his company worked on and shared data showing civil engineering offers job stability, opportunities to work on important infrastructure, and above-average salaries. Kanger concluded by emphasizing the need for more engineers and encouraging students to consider the profession.

1. Career Day
Albert Cammon Middle School
May 16, 2012
Dave Kanger, P.E.
Associate
Modjeski and Masters, Inc.

2. A Brief History
• August 1893: Ralph Modjeski opened his civil
engineering practice in Chicago, Illinois.
– Considered a career as a pianist
before entering engineering
– First bridge was over Mississippi
River at Rock Island, Illinois
– Designed many bridges down
the Mississippi River.
– Retired from active practice in
1937 and died three years later
at age of 79.

3. A Brief History
• Ralph Modjeski and my company, Modjeski and Masters,
became well-known as designer of long-span bridges:
– Rock Island Railroad/Hwy Bridge (Rock Island, IL) 1896
– McKinley Railroad/Hwy Bridge (St. Louis) 1910
– Harahan Railroad/Hwy Bridge (Memphis) 1916
– Huey P. Long Railroad/Hwy Bridge (New Orleans) 1936
– Memphis Highway Bridge 1950
– Greater New Orleans Bridge (No. 1) 1958
– I-10 Highway Bridge (Baton Rouge) 1968
– I-310 Highway Bridge (Luling) 1982
– Greater New Orleans Bridge (No. 2) 1984
– Huey P. Long Bridge Widening (New Orleans) Now

4. A Brief History About Me
• Dave Kanger:
– From Downers Grove, Illinois
– Graduated from Tulane University with Bachelor’s of Science
Degree in Civil Engineering in 1995
• Received Masters of Science Degree in 1996
– Worked at Modjeski and Masters ever since

5. How Did I Become an Engineer?
• Is your goal to become an engineer in the United States?
• To become an engineer in any industry, the first thing you must do is
earn your Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) degree and
become licensed. (* Some specialties need not be licensed)
• Degrees are generally a four-year program. The Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits
engineering degree programs required to enter the workforce.
• Degree programs provide you with the math and technical skills you
will need for design.
– Regardless of industry, engineering is heavily dependent on math and science.
• Licensure is performed by each state. In Louisiana, this is the
Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
(LAPELS): www.lapels.com

6. Why Civil Engineering?
“Civil engineers make civilization possible.”
http://www.asce.org/People-and-
Projects/Projects/Projects/

7. Why Civil Engineering?
“Do you like to work with dirt?”
“Or under the surface?
Huey P. Long Bridge Widening

8. Why Civil Engineering?
“Do you understand
how things go together...
...In complex ways?”
Huey P. Long Bridge Widening

9. Why Civil Engineering?
“We work with
steel...”
Huey P. Long Bridge Widening

10. Why Civil Engineering?
“...Concrete...”
“...and even both together.”
Huey P. Long Bridge Widening

11. Why Civil Engineering?
“...We deal with people.”
“...but also have
homework to do.”

12. A Couple of Recent Projects
Galveston Causeway
(photo courtesy of Cianbro &
Modjeski & Masters)

13. A Couple of Recent Projects
Move Bridge from Houma, LA to Freeport, TX

14. American Society of Civil Engineers’
“New Faces of Engineering,” 2011-2012
“Each year, ASCE names10 New Faces of Civil Engineering, some of whom
are also submitted to the New Faces of Engineering program run by the
Engineers Week Foundation. This inclusive national program includes
representatives from the civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, industrial
and manufacturing engineering professions. Selected New Faces profiles are
featured in a USA Today ad during Engineers Week and other media...”
http://www.asce.org/Diversity/Diversity-Programs/New-Faces/2012-New-Faces-of-Civil-Engineering/

15. So What’s the Bottom Line?
Stability: When things are good, people build. When times are tough, the
public looks to “shovel ready” and other large-scale public works projects. We
saw this with the federal government’s “Stimulus Plan.”
Job Security: The interstate highway system began construction in 1956.
Much of our nation’s infrastructure is approaching it’s original design life.
There is a need to extend what we have, and build or rebuild new.
ASCE’s 2012 Infrastucture Report Card received a “D” average! There is a
need and it’s growing. (www.infrastructurereportcard.org/ )
Personal Satisfaction: If you want to help build great things that everyone
sees, helps entire communities, cities, regions, states, or even countries, then
this is your profession.
Income. . .

16. So What’s the Bottom Line?
Income. . .
First a quick word about the typical measurements you might find.
Median: The numerical value separating the higher half of a sample from the
lower half. The middle number in a sorted list. Ex:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5: The median is “3.”
2, 4, 5, 7, 9: The median is “5.”
2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 100: The median is “3.”
Average: Also known as “arithmetic mean,” this is the middle value of a
data set. Does not necessarily need to exist within the sample. Ex:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5: The average is (1+2+3+4+5)/5 = “3.”
2, 4, 5, 7, 9: The average is (2+4+5+7+9)/5 = “5.4.”
2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 100: The average is (2+2+2+3+4+5+100)/7 = “16.9.”

17. So What’s REALLY the Bottom Line?
Income (www.mtu.edu, payscale.com, www.census.gov, and www.online.wsj.com):
“Year after year, engineering tops the list of (undergraduate) majors with the
highest starting salary!”
Starting, Profession, Avg. Top 10% Unemployment,
Median Median in Profession (2010)
Civil: $53,100 $77,990 $119,620 3.9%
Mechanical: $58,400 $79,320 $119,950 4.2%
Chemical: $64,500 $92,390 $146,650 2.2%
Electrical: $61,300 $85,920 $131,660 5.4%
Biomedical: $53,800 $84,670 $134,150 not tracked
Individual College Grads $43,143 (2003 census)
N’tl Household Income $45,018 (2003 census)
N’tl Unemployment 9.6% (2010)
The bottom line is really this:
“Our profession is the story of hard work being rewarded.”

18. We need more engineers...
You can be next.
Any Questions?