In recognition of National Engineers Week, DE has posed questions to our engineering staff about their profession and the impact, lessons learned, and personal fulfillment it entails. Today's Q&A is from Tom Hickey, P.E. who is the President of DE. 

Tom oversees all operations in our Kenner and Waveland offices and is responsible for contract negotiations, plan and specification production oversight, client management relationships, tracking/maintaining project budgets and schedules, and quality control. He has served as project manager and senior design engineer for numerous public works and public utility projects.  

Q: After 35 years in the engineering profession, what advice would you give yourself in the early years of your career?

A: I would give my younger self three pieces of advice:

1. Although our profession can be somewhat cyclical, with the country’s aging infrastructure problems there will always be a need to expand and improve our public assets. Stay with the civil engineering profession as a lifelong commitment.

2. Making a wrong decision is better than an inability to make any decision at all. If mistakes are made admit them, learn from them, and move on.

3. If you work hard and do good things, good things will come.