What if a trail wasn’t just a trail, but the backbone of a region’s daily life? We share the inside story of the Razorback Greenway, how a community sketch along creeks became a 40-mile corridor that connects neighborhoods to schools, jobs, parks, and local businesses across Northwest Arkansas. We start with the spark: Fayetteville’s early FAT Plan, a homegrown construction crew, and design lessons learned the hard way, wood decks swapped for concrete, weathering steel that lasts, and widths...
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What if a trail wasn’t just a trail, but the backbone of a region’s daily life? We share the inside story of the Razorback Greenway, how a community sketch along creeks became a 40-mile corridor that connects neighborhoods to schools, jobs, parks, and local businesses across Northwest Arkansas. We start with the spark: Fayetteville’s early FAT Plan, a homegrown construction crew, and design lessons learned the hard way, wood decks swapped for concrete, weathering steel that lasts, and widths...
What if a trail wasn’t just a trail, but the backbone of a region’s daily life? We share the inside story of the Razorback Greenway, how a community sketch along creeks became a 40-mile corridor that connects neighborhoods to schools, jobs, parks, and local businesses across Northwest Arkansas. We start with the spark: Fayetteville’s early FAT Plan, a homegrown construction crew, and design lessons learned the hard way, wood decks swapped for concrete, weathering steel that lasts, and widths...
Want to know why a “perfect” parcel can still be a bad site? We dig into the real-world checklist that makes fueling and convenience projects work: traffic that actually converts, access that moves cars and trucks safely, zoning that survives politics, utilities that show up on time, and visibility that pulls travelers off the highway. With national fueling expert Alex Fuller and sector leader Jim Tredwell, we share the tools, tactics, and cautionary tales that separate winners from write-off...
Finding your professional path isn't always straightforward, something Tristan Smith discovered firsthand during his remarkable three-year internship journey with CEI Engineering Associates. What began as a mechanical engineering dream inspired by Iron Man and Legos transformed into a passionate pursuit of civil engineering through hands-on experience that classroom learning could never provide. The conversation reveals how Tristan's early survey team experiences, machete in hand, clearing p...
What does it really take to grow from an entry-level position to leadership? In this candid conversation with Nick Degan, CAD Manager at CEI Engineering, we uncover the surprisingly human elements that fuel professional development in the design and engineering world. Nick's story begins with a leap of faith – transitioning from mechanical engineering to civil design without prior experience. "I came in knowing nothing about civil engineering," he admits, reflecting on his 14-year journey th...
Career paths rarely follow a straight line. Kevin Hall's journey from aircraft mechanic to Director of Technical Services at CEI Engineering demonstrates how unexpected detours can lead to remarkable professional growth when paired with curiosity and determination. After being laid off from his job at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Kevin faced a critical decision. Rather than relocating, he chose to stay in an area he had grown to love. Through an unconventional connection at the u...
Successful fueling and convenience store development hinges on masterful pre-development planning. The foundation of your project's success isn't just about selecting prime real estate—it's about understanding the complex dance of regulations, community concerns, and technical requirements before breaking ground. Our expert panel from CEI unpacks the critical elements that can make or break your next convenience store project. Jim Tredwell shares wisdom gained from 30+ years overseeing proje...
What if a trail wasn’t just a trail, but the backbone of a region’s daily life? We share the inside story of the Razorback Greenway, how a community sketch along creeks became a 40-mile corridor that connects neighborhoods to schools, jobs, parks, and local businesses across Northwest Arkansas. We start with the spark: Fayetteville’s early FAT Plan, a homegrown construction crew, and design lessons learned the hard way, wood decks swapped for concrete, weathering steel that lasts, and widths...
