October is Employee Ownership Month, and we’re proud to celebrate JMT’s 26 years as a 100% employee-owned firm! In our latest episode, we’re featuring two of JMT’s ESOP Committee employee representatives, Sarah Gyorfi, PE, Mechanical Engineer & Project Manager, and Andrew (Andy) Groft, Project Accountant Supervisor, both based in Hunt Valley, MD. We discuss all things employee ownership, including their roles on the ESOP Committee and the importance of educating and engaging e...

In this episode, we’re excited to sit down with Jennifer (Jenni) Slacum, PWS, QP, Senior Environmental Scientist in our Hunt Valley, MD office. Jenni shares her inspiring journey into the world of natural resources, sparked by childhood adventures in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands and her early work at the Penn State Cooperative Wetland Center. A lifelong love for the outdoors, from camping and canoeing to gardening and hiking, has shaped Jenni’s approach to environmental science...

Today, we’re celebrating the incredible contributions of engineers by spotlighting one of our own — Marie Peedin, PE, Water/Wastewater Section Head based in New Bern, NC. In our latest episode, Marie shares insights from her engineering journey — from what first inspired her to pursue the field, to the rewarding municipal projects she’s helped bring to life in her own hometown. Marie’s passion for engineering doesn’t stop at work. Her technical expertise has also driven personal v...

In this episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we’re spotlighting Christian Barrera, a civil engineering intern in our Washington, DC, office, in recognition of National Intern Day. Christian shares his experience in JMT’s rotational internship program, where he’s gaining hands-on exposure across departments like traffic, roadway, project delivery, construction management, and water resources. Hear his story and advice for future interns and stick around until the end for a message from our R...

In this episode, we sit down with Douglas Mangum, MA, RPA, a Senior Archaeologist from our Houston, TX office. Douglas shares how his passion for archaeology was sparked at a young age—by reading his mother’s anthropology textbook—and how that early interest set him on a unique and sometimes challenging career path. He also dives into his decade-long work at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, where his research helped rewrite parts of a historic battle, leaving a la...

In honor of Women in Engineering Day, we sat down with Haley Boyd, a talented Water/Wastewater Design Engineer, for a special episode of the Meet JMT podcast. Haley shares how her passion for environmental protection and public health inspired her to pursue a career in water engineering. She speaks about her work on a Charles County CCTV project, where she reviewed extensive sewer inspection footage, developed a detailed tracking spreadsheet to monitor key metrics and flag duplicates, a...

In this episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we sat down with James Dodson, PE, PLS, CPM, a Senior Associate and Surveyor based in our Raleigh, NC office. James shares his journey from 27 years at NCDOT to his current role at JMT, reflecting on how his work has shaped and streamlined workflows across the AEC industry. He also takes us back to his early days at NC State, offering insights into a career built on experience, adaptability, and innovation. And here’s a fun twist: James is...

In our latest episode of the Meet JMT Podcast, we sat down with Michael Holden, PE, RSP1, Project Manager and Office Leader at our Spartanburg, SC, office. Michael shares insights into his role managing diverse civil engineering projects and building strong client relationships. His journey into civil engineering was sparked by a passion for math and the outdoors—ultimately leading to a rewarding career shaping community infrastructure. Beyond his professional work, Michael has been deeply in...

In our latest Meet JMT podcast episode, we sit down with Kurt Goddard, our newly appointed Rail and Transit Practice Leader based in Hunt Valley, MD. With a deep-rooted background in telecommunications, Kurt has played key roles in transformative infrastructure projects — from installing Vermont’s first cellular phone system to contributing to massive undertakings like Boston’s Big Dig and NYC’s East Side Access. Kurt shares how the profession found him — not the other way around — and dives ...

In our latest episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jon Conner, PLA, LEED AP — Landscape Architect and Discipline Lead for our Landscape Architecture group — as part of our ongoing celebration of World Landscape Architecture Month. Jon shares his journey into Landscape Architecture, beginning with a foundation in architecture and ultimately shifting focus due to a deep passion for designing outdoor spaces and understanding the intricate relationship between...

In this episode of the Meet JMT Podcast, we had the privilege of sitting down with Mark Shrift, RLA, ASLA a talented landscape architect based in Harrisburg, PA. With over 35 years of experience, Mark reflects on some of the most impactful projects of his career, including the National Civil War Museum and various sports facilities for the City of Harrisburg. He shares the personal significance of these projects, especially how they have positively impacted his family and community. Out...

In celebration of Women's History Month, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Tara Alexander, Water Resources Section Head at our Round Rock, Texas office, on the latest episode of the Meet JMT podcast! In this episode, Tara shares her inspiring and unconventional journey into engineering. She initially started in business but discovered her true passion for engineering while working alongside engineers at a mining company. Tara also discusses her rewarding career as a drainage engineer f...

In this episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we sit down with John Ogunleye, a Project Controls Specialist based in our Hunt Valley, MD office. John shares his passions for building and infrastructure, problem-solving, and leadership, which has shaped his career in construction management. He talks about his drive to tackle challenges, lead teams to success, and make meaningful contributions to society. Inspired by his dad, John was encouraged early on to pursue a career in the built environment....

In the latest episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we sit down with Rachel Thomas, Senior Interactive Design Specialist for the JMT Technology Group, based in Hunt Valley, MD. Rachel takes us through her journey from print design to discovering her passion for user experience (UX) design. She shares how she blends her technical knowledge with her love for design, crafting intuitive and impactful digital experiences. One of the standout projects Rachel worked on was the Vision Zero initiativ...

In this episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we celebrate National Mentoring Month with Leigh Anne Friesen! Leigh Anne shares valuable insights from her diverse career in planning and mentorship, including her work leading educational activities for students of all ages, aiming to guide the next generation. She discusses recent projects with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and how speaking Spanish has shaped her professional path, including a memorable summer spent in Israel working at...

In this episode of the Meet JMT podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Tim Elliott, Director of the new JMT Economic Redevelopment Studio in Hunt Valley, MD. Tim shares his journey—from creating a unique degree in Architecture Marketing at the University of Maryland, to founding Elliott Sidewalk Communities, a real estate firm focused on redevelopment in university cities. Over two decades, Tim led urban plans and developments valued at over $1B across five cities. After selling his re...

On this episode of the Meet JMT Podcast, we sat down with Wes Carson, our Energy Practice Leader based in Harrisburg, PA. Wes shares insights from his remarkable 39-year career, which spans roles in mechanical design, operations management, and asset integrity across industries like precast concrete manufacturing, energy, and engineering—including his experience with Penn DOT before joining JMT. He also discusses his role as Client Relations and Project Manager on three major projects at JMT,...

In this episode, we sat down with Richard Muster, Senior Inspector in our Pittsburgh, PA office, to learn about his incredible journey from a career in the US Navy and defense contracting to the inspection industry. Although Richard has been with JMT for just over a year, he’s already made significant contributions to projects like the Pittsburgh Airport Short Term Parking Garage Rehabilitation and the Mon-Fayette Expressway. Richard also shares insights from his extensive past experien...

In this multi-part series of the Meet JMT podcast, we had the privilege of sitting down with employee owners Hardy Willis, Nioma Lawson, Reece Shuler, Stephanie Buckner, and Zack Levine to share their powerful stories about the recent hurricane Helene that impacted Western North Carolina. Our Asheville-based team members opened up about how this natural disaster affected their lives—personally and professionally—and their incredible strength in the face of adversity. Their resilience is a tru...

In this multi-part series of the Meet JMT podcast, we had the privilege of sitting down with employee owners Hardy Willis, Nioma Lawson, Reece Shuler, Stephanie Buckner, and Zack Levine to share their powerful stories about the recent hurricane Helene that impacted Western North Carolina. Our Asheville-based team members opened up about how this natural disaster affected their lives—personally and professionally—and their incredible strength in the face of adversity. Their resilience is a tru...