GeoHeroes - Teresa Peterson

GeoHeroes - Teresa Peterson About This Episode In this episode Guy Marcozzi interviews Teresa Peterson, a vice president at Gannett Fleming TranSystems and incoming president of GBA. The conversation traces Peterson's career path, highlighting her academic journey at the University of Pennsylvania, her early interests in environmental engineering, and her subsequent career progression into project management within various engineering sectors. Peterson emphasizes the importance of soft skills, systems thinking, and continuous learning in her success. She also discusses the evolving role of engineers in a world facing climate change and technological advancements, advocating for increased collaboration and communication between professionals and the public. Finally, she encourages listeners to actively shape their careers and seek opportunities for growth and development. Series Summary In this podcast series Guy Marcozzi will interview past, present, and future leaders in the geoprofessional industry to explore their personal and career journeys. The goal is to understand what motivates these individuals and what insights they have for the future of the profession. The podcast will examine the skills and qualities that have contributed to their success, as well as their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. About Our Guest Teresa Peterson, P.E., LEED AP, ENV SP - Teresa L. Peterson, P.E., LEED AP O&M, ENV SP is a Vice President with Gannett Fleming TranSystems in their Power Group. She also serves as their Corporate Sustainability Officer leading the company on their sustainability journey. She has over 24 years in the industry and is still in love with her chosen profession. She considers herself fortunate to have worked on projects across all facets of the built environment including transportation, rail, water, wastewater, buildings, and now the power and energy sectors. Teresa is also the President-Elect of GBA where she plans to use her diverse background to help spread the message and value of geoprofessionals. In her spare time you can usually find her holed up in a coffee shop with a good book. Our Host Guy Marcozzi – Guy Marcozzi is the current GBA president and an experienced CEO, President and Board Member with a demonstrated history of working in the engineering, science and data technology industries and in leadership for various boards of ESOP, non-profit, professional and business organizations. Discussion Topics: Early Life and Education Early Life and Interests (0:32 - 1:02) Impact of Geography (1:02 - 1:52) Reading Habits (1:52 - 2:53) Ivy League Experience (2:53 - 3:51) Choosing Engineering Path to Engineering (3:51 - 6:40) Artificial Neural Networks (6:40 - 7:44) Career Path Early Jobs and Work Ethic (7:44 - 9:30) From EIT to Project Management (9:30 - 13:12) Cross-Training and GBA Involvement (13:12 - 15:53) Systems Thinking and the Future of Engineering Systems Thinking and Critical Thinking (15:53 - 18:54) Expanding the Definition of "Geoprofessional" (18:54 - 22:11) The Role of Engineers in Society (22:11 - 23:50) Climate Change and Non-Stationarity (23:50 - 27:27) Disruptive Technologies (27:27 - 30:21) The Future of Engineering (30:21 - 32:19) Reflections and Advice Biggest Impact and Advice (33:44 - 37:42) Closing Remarks (37:42 - 38:11) [BOOK] The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett [BOOK] A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles [BOOK] Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg Calls-to-action: Visit the GBA Website at https://www.geoprofessional.org for other training resources and reference materials and/or to become a member. Visit https://www.gbapodcast.com for future Podcast Episodes Contact us at [email protected] with any podcast-related questions or comments Subscribe Subscribe to the GBA Podcast https://www.gbapodcast.com/subscribe This episode was produced by the following GBA Members: Ryan White, PE, GE – Principal Geotechnical Engineer/PBS Engineering and Environmental LLC