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DO WE ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS RESPECT OURSELVES
AND OUR PROFESSION?
Article by Brad Dybel, in the October, 2007 newsletter of the Orange County Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
I would imagine that most, if not all, of us would say without hesitation, “Yes, absolutely I respect myself and my engineering profession.” But, do our behaviors demonstrate it?
Do we?
- Make our accomplishments known to clients, colleagues, and even the media? Or, do we fear being perceived as braggarts?
- Let people know that we are proud civil engineering consultants? Or, do we assume that no one cares?
- Say that we “provide services” or even “perform commissions?” Or, do we say that we “do jobs,” or something equally disrespectful?
- Have clients who value our expertise? Or, do we have “customers” who look for the lowest bid?
- Respond to every boilerplate RFP from customers, in the slim chance of beating out our “low- price, questionable quality” competitors?
- Let customers dictate the scope of our work? Or, do we demonstrate and actually talk to clients about the value of our service?
- Take offense and object when customers ask, beg, or try to intimidate us to work for free?
- Educate ourselves and talk to others about the history of our profession? Or, do we put it off until we “get around to it?”
- Participate in Continuing Education and Professional Development activities, and volunteer in Professional Societies, and civic groups? Or, do we let our worries about our utilization rate dominate our decision-making?
- Write in a clear, concise, robust way? Or, do we rationalize poor writing by thinking that “it doesn’t really matter” or “no one will read it anyway?”
- Use the PE designation after our names everywhere possible, a la MD’s, CPAs, ESQ’s, etc.? Or, are we afraid of what some people might think?
- Do anything to help enforce and uphold the standards of our practice? Or, do we always look the other way?
I would bet that no one can honestly claim to do all of these things perfectly all the time. I sure can’t. But one thing that I’m going to do about it, though, is make a public pledge to myself to practice respect to the standards and the dignity of my profession…I hope that many fellow engineering consultants will join me.
-o- END -o-
Author of articles in the monthly newsletters of the ASCE Orange County Branch; October, 2007; December, 2007; March, 2008; September, 2008; October, 2008.
and ASCE Los Angeles Section. March, 2008; April, 2008; September, 2013; January,2014; February, 2014.
SAME
Organized and was master of ceremonies at Engineering Day at Whittier Museum.
Outreach to Grace Hopper STEM Academy. See https://ampersand.gseis.ucla.edu/ucla-engineering-alumnus-broadens-ambition-for-middle-schoolers-in-the-sciences/.
Lecture to ASCE Student Chapter at Sacramento State University.
Made a presentation at the ASCE Civil Engineering Club at Burroughs High School.
Taught Environmental Science at Boy Scouts STEM Merit Badge Day.
Organized and led field trip for Boy Scouts on a tour of an active Cement Plant.
Co-led field trip for STEM students from RSM Intermediate School and Serrano Intermediate School to National Hot Rod Association STEM Day.
Led Boy Scouts on backpack trip to “Bridge to Nowhere” on the San Gabriel River.
Attended ASCE UCLA End-of Year Banquet with Jay Higgins.
Volunteer judge at ASCE UCLA Seismic Outreach.
Attended ASCE Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition.
Publication of Technical Papers
Brad has authored, co-authored, and/or presented technical papers at annual meetings of the Geological Society of America since 1988.
Author – “Application of the Concept of Real Time Post-Hazard Geologic Risk to Forensic Geologic Investigations,” Geological Society of America Cordilleran Section Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2016.
Author – “ TITLE OF REPORT ” Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2015.
Author – “TITLE OF REPORT ” Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2015.
Co-Author – “Petrologic Character of the Willows Plutonic Complex” Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 1992.
Co-Author – “Whole Rock Geochemistry of the Willows Plutonic Complex, Santa Cruz Island, California,” Southern California Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 1990.
Co-Author – “Newly Recognized Paleozoic Eugeoclinal Strata in the Southern Sierra Nevada, California” Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 1988.
BE DYBEL KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED. AND BE DYBEL DELIVERS.
Reports that are complete, well-written, and on-time, with no need for editing by you or your staff. Pro-active and effective communication at the start, end, and also throughout the day.
Why does BE DYBEL understand the importance of these items? Because BE DYBEL relied on all of those things during his decades of experience as a project engineer. And now, BE DYBEL can provide this service to YOU.
He has decades of experience participation in forensic investigations, having personally inspected many hundreds of residences, including over 1,000 in the Las Vegas, Nevada area alone.
Mr. Dybel has over 30 years of experience in various assignments in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, and engineering geology in California and Nevada. His practice has included geologic and geotechnical engineering peer review for municipalities; forensic investigations; preliminary geologic and geotechnical engineering investigations for buildings, commercial/industrial development, highways, repair of slope failures; and observation and inspection of grading operations, and construction of deep foundations, sewer lift stations, and methane vapor barriers/liners.
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTION OF WATER AND WASTEWATER FACILITIES
Mr. Dybel performed continuous, full-time inspection of the following projects in 2023 through 2025: 1) rehabilitation of Sewer Lift Station S-25 in the City of Long Beach, California; 2) rehabilitation of the Dove Canyon Sewer Lift Station in the Trabuco Canyon (California) Water District; 3) Acacia Parkway Sewer Main Replacement (1,600 linear feet) in the City of Garden Grove, California. 4) Sewer Main Replacement Project No. 4 (2,000+ linear feet) in the City of Garden Grove, CA; and 5) Stearns Street Large Valve Replacement (13 valves), in the City of Long Beach, California.The rehabilitations of the pump stations consisted of 1) construction of a temporary bypass well; construction and continuous operation of a bypass sewer pumping system; 2) demolition and replacement of multiple pumps and all suction and discharge piping, all controls, and the backup diesel generator; 3) construction of a temporary communication PLC system with the City’s SCADA system; and 4) demolition and re-construction of the liner in the wet well. The valve replacement project included hot-tapping, line-stopping, and disinfection of pipes at three street intersections. Duties included observation and photo-documentation of construction activities; preparation of daily reports of construction; explanation of progress of construction at bi-weekly progress meetings of designers, contractors, and construction managers; and 5) intermittent personal communication with various involved parties for coordination of construction activities.
REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION
CALIFORNIA – Civil Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Certified Engineering Geologist, Licensed Contractor
NEVADA, ARIZONA, COLORADO, TEXAS – Civil Engineer
CITY OF LOS ANGELES DBS – Methane Inspector
EDUCATION
M.S. Civil Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
B.S. with Honors, Geology, California State University, Northridge
AWARDS
National STEM Champion, Society of American Military Engineers, 2021.
seis.ucla.edu/news/UCLA-engineering-alumnus-broadens-ambitions-of-middle-schoolers-in-the-sciences/
https://photos.app.goo.gl/q7tP6E1tVvbsjrqp9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CdAFcEMy7tfmPJZx6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4Z9UMPD74L3xTcxf6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bDt3BBHYUt5Qeteq5
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YfNoMsz4B5AWxHSq8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5K9WsY7PcQAaQ8ay7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/V22Y39hjEwuvtS3DA 4/27/2018. Brad observing students at Castille Elementary School, as they build structures with spaghetti and marshmallows, on a STEM outreach event with the Orange County Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GgyfCcqnAn6xUre18 3/18/2017 Firestone Scout Reservation, CA. Environmental Science Merit Badge workshop. Brad explaining to Boy Scouts how SoFi Stadium is designed with special consideration for its proximity to Los Angeles International Airport, as part of the Environmental Science Merit Badge workshop.
Outstanding Civil Engineer in Community Service, ASCE Region 9 (State of California), 2018.
Outstanding Section Officer, ASCE Region 9 (State of California), 2013.
Outstanding STEM Service Award, Orange County Engineering Council, 2020.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13T0D2JfjyZUO__wDS5YbPfxIOSYPrbg3L-RoLoP97vs/edit?usp=sharing
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
JIG Consultants, Inc. Construction Engineer/Inspector 2023 – present
Tetra Tech, Inc. Senior Geologist / Engineer 2023 – 2024
GeoKinetics, Inc. Senior Geologist / Engineer 2019 – 2024
Stoney Miller Consultants, Inc. Senior Geologist / Engineer 2018 – 2019
Laguna Geosciences, Inc. Senior Geologist / Engineer 2003 – 2018
Taylor-Hunter Associates, Inc. Project Geologist / Engineer 2001 – 2003
Bing Yen and Associates, Inc. Staff Geologist / Engineer 1993 – 2001.
Bradley Dybel, M.Sc., GE, CEG will serve as the primary Geotechnical Engineering and Geology Reviewer, the overall Program Manager and the primary point of contact for the City. Mr. Dybel has extensive experience in various geotechnical engineering and engineering geologic assignments in southern California, including over 25 years of experience in providing geotechnical services to such municipalities as Irvine, Anaheim, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Laguna Beach, Chino Hills, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Monterey Park, Moorpark, Walnut, Pomona, San Dimas, and West Hollywood. He has reviewed many hundreds of geotechnical reports for grading and construction projects, ranging in scope from single lots to large subdivisions, in the investigation through as-built phases. As the point of contact to the City of Palos Verdes Estates, he performed field reviews, which include visual evaluation of properties, review of the City’s archive records, and submission of written memoranda. He worked with City building officials in the interpretation of building code regulations, and the establishment of policies regarding foundation design in expansive soils. In eight years of service to the City of PVE, Mr. Dybel served in some capacity for PVE on projects at approximately 10 percent of all the homes in that City. Most recently, Mr. Dybel served as an on-call plan check geologist and engineer for the Cities of Anaheim and Irvine. Mr. Dybel was also project engineer and/or geologist for the geotechnical investigations for the remedial repairs for Ryan Park in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, the realignment of Los Angeles Avenue East in the City of Moorpark, and the rehabilitation of the lake at Heritage Park in the City of Irvine. Municipal clients appreciate that Mr. Dybel, being licensed as both a geotechnical engineer and engineering geologist, often performs both geology and geotechnical engineering plan check services simultaneously, whenever practical, in his effort to reduce costs and provide value engineering.