Unleashed With Big Red Dog Engineering

In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our Miami office to sit down with Ricardo Castro, PE, Associate Vice President in our Transportation group! When Ricardo came to the United States in 2001, the plan was to earn a master's degree and head home to Colombia two years later. Twenty-five years on, he's still here, and he now calls himself Miami's biggest ambassador. Two Stones and a Soccer Ball: Growing Up in Cúcuta Ricardo grew up in Cúcuta, a small city on Colombia's border with Venezuela, with two television channels and one sport. After class, he and his friends would set two stones down on any open patch of street they could find and play soccer until it was time to go home. He admits he wasn't much of a high school student, but that changed when he moved to Bogotá for college and traded Cúcuta's year-round 90-degree heat for mountain weather in the 40s and 50s. He chose civil engineering because his older brother had, and because his father, a medical doctor, didn

In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head over to our Austin office to sit down with Robby Vogel, PE, Director of Structural Engineering in our Buildings group! Robby has been selling since he was 13. Back then he'd call customers at his dad's mechanic shop to tell them their car was ready, then offer to detail it if they could wait a few more hours. The pitch has gotten bigger since, and so have the stakes, but one pattern has held for his whole career. Almost every door he walked through opened because he knew somebody, or somebody knew his mom.  Seguin, Texas: Home of the Fighting Matadors  Robby grew up in Seguin, a small town between San Antonio and Austin that sits on the Guadalupe River and takes its name from Texas Revolution hero Juan Seguín. In a town where everybody knew everybody, he couldn't get away with much, although he jokes that going to school with the district attorney's daughter and the judge's sons certainly didn't hurt. The building bug showed up early in L

In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our Miami office to sit down with Pablo Dominguez, a geomaticist in our Geospatial group! If you ask Pablo what he'd be doing if he weren't surveying, he'll tell you archeology without hesitating. He's stood at the Colosseum and at the pyramids in Giza, and the History Channel runs on a loop at his house, much to his wife's dismay. Spend an hour with him, and you'll start to notice that Land Surveying and Archeology are two jobs that are closer than they sound. Salt Life: Growing Up in Miami Pablo was born in Guatemala and moved to Miami at five. He draws a distinction most Floridians will recognize right away. Inland kids grow up on lakes and ponds. Miami kids grow up on boats and piers. Pablo is firmly the second kind. He and his friends would ride from the inner city out toward Miami Beach, ducking into hotel pools along the way until security ran them off. Then they'd keep going to the bridges and jump in. Swim, climb out, ride

In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie are back in our Fort Lauderdale office to sit back down with David Gerber, Project Manager on our transportation team! David is a two-time guest, a "two-peat" he happily likens to Steve Martin's SNL record. Last time around, he got a little feedback for being too tight-lipped about his coworkers, so this time he came prepared to fix that, handing out shout-outs across thirteen years and five offices… From Miami to Lakeland David was born in Miami and lived there until he was about five, when Hurricane Andrew came through and cost his parents their jobs. The family moved north to Lakeland, the Central Florida town tucked between Tampa and Orlando, where he grew up. By his own account, the third-best restaurant in town back then was Publix. He was a classic-rock kid who played the drums and, at a high school too small to have a band, tried to start a drum line of his own. His path toward engineering began somewhere less obvious: a pile of Legos o

In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our West Palm Beach corporate headquarters to sit down with Rachel Starck, Environmental Scientist! Rachel is a Florida native who grew up in Orlando with a childhood reputation for attracting wildlife, and a mother who gave her exactly the right career advice at exactly the right time. Two and a half years into her first job out of college, she's doing the work she set out to do... and loving every second of it. From Orlando to the Atlantic Coast Rachel grew up in Orlando, where both of her parents built long careers at Walt Disney World, her father in Food and Beverage and her mother in Merchandising and Park Operations. It was a fun place to grow up, but Rachel always had one thing on her mind: the beach. When it came time to choose a college, she toured nearly every university across Florida before landing on Florida Atlantic University, which checked both boxes: a smaller campus and easy access to the coast. Her initial s

In the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head back to South Florida to sit down with Susanna Coleman, an Administrative Assistant in WGI's Fort Lauderdale office! Susanna's story is one of curiosity, reinvention, and an unshakable love of learning. From the south side of Chicago to the shipyards of Scandinavia, Susanna has lived what she jokingly calls "several lives" — and each one has shaped the curious, people-loving teammate she is today. This is one conversation you won't want to miss. From the South Side of Chicago to South Florida Born and raised in a tight-knit, blue-collar suburb just south of Chicago, Susanna grew up as a self-described "total '80s kid." She and her sister walked to school, rode bikes around the neighborhood, and stayed out until their mom called them in. Family and culture were at the heart of it all. Her father immigrated from central Mexico in his twenties, and with both sides of her family rooted in Mexican heritage, Susanna grew up immersed in the

In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we head to Fort Lauderdale to catch up with Kristen Nowicki, Senior Project Manager on WGI's Planning team. From her early days climbing trees in Pennsylvania to helping shape communities across South Florida, Kristen's story is equal parts thoughtful, driven, and refreshingly down to earth. We also learned one very important thing right away: she could eat pineapple pizza every day for the rest of her life. That might be the boldest take we've had on the podcast yet. From Tree Hugger to Planner Kristen's path into planning was anything but linear, and it makes perfect sense when you hear her story. Growing up just outside Philadelphia, she spent a lot of time outdoors, which sparked an early interest in the environment. That passion led her to study environmental science at the University of Florida. But somewhere along the way, her perspective shifted. Instead of trying to stop development, she realized the real opportunity was in shaping it responsibly. That m

At WGI, every associate brings a unique story to the table, but few start on a remote fishing island in Alaska and end up leading cutting-edge geospatial solutions across the country. In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, Dan and Katie sit down with Scott Jones, Technical Solutions Manager on our Geospatial + Land Surveying team, to talk about a career path shaped by adventure, curiosity, and a willingness to solve problems in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. A Childhood Built for Adventure Scott's story begins in Petersburg, Alaska, a small fishing community where getting anywhere requires a boat or a plane and where imagination fills the gaps between long winters and remote living. His introduction to surveying came through a high school class that quickly turned into something much bigger. One of his first projects involved surveying a glacier by helicopter, an experience that sparked a lifelong interest in the field and set the tone for everything that followed. From Screenw

On the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we travel to WGI's Huntsville, Alabama, office to sit down with Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager for our Geospatial + Land Surveying group. In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie explore Jason's 23-year journey at WGI, from starting in the field as a rod person to leading operations in one of the firm's growing offices. His story highlights persistence, curiosity, and the impact of saying yes to opportunity. From Florida Roots to Geospatial Leadership Jason grew up in Central and South Florida, including time in Lake Wales, where he balanced football and marching band. Yes, marching band. And yes, there were kilts involved. Before surveying ever entered the picture, Jason thought he might become a computer programmer. He built computers in high school and enjoyed working with technology, but he quickly realized that sitting behind a screen all day was not for him. He wanted something that blended tech with the outdoors. Enter surveying. Through a famil

On the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed podcast, we head back to WGI's corporate headquarters in West Palm Beach to sit down with Maria Acosta, Video Multimedia Editor! In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie take listeners behind the camera to spotlight Maria's creative journey, the role she plays in shaping WGI's multimedia content, and the passion she brings to telling stories through video. From her early artistic roots to her role producing podcasts, training videos, and campaign visuals, Maria's story shows how curiosity, resilience, and creativity can lead to an exciting and impactful career at WGI. Early Creativity and Artistic Beginnings Maria's passion for art began at a young age while growing up just down the road from her current residence in Delray Beach, FL. From drawing in sketchbooks to exploring perspective and composition, she always gravitated toward creative expression. That foundation pushed her to explore graphic design in school and shaped her aspirations as a visual storyteller. Her c

In the final episode of 2025, the WGI Unleashed Podcast heads to West Palm Beach as hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Jill Mathison, a long-time member of WGI's Geospatial team! Jill's story is one of persistence, adaptability, and wholehearted commitment. From her early days growing up on Long Island to helping shape WGI through years of growth and transformation, Jill's journey reflects what it truly means to build a career with intention. From Long Island to South Florida Born in New York and raised on Long Island, Jill grew up surrounded by creativity and culture. Thanks to a mother who loved the arts, childhood trips into Manhattan included Broadway shows, Radio City Music Hall, and unforgettable memories like watching Herbie the Love Bug perform high above the audience. At age 11, Jill and her family relocated to South Florida, where her parents opened their own automotive business. While leaving home was bittersweet, the move sparked Jill's excitement for new opportunities and fresh starts, a theme tha

In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Amanda Wojtasiak, a Graduate Architect in our Tampa office, whose path into the profession is anything but ordinary. Amanda brings a spark of creativity, a global childhood, and a love of learning to everything she touches, and this episode shines a light on the personality behind her growing design career at WGI. From living overseas to mastering artistic crafts to racing sailboats under the moonlight, Amanda's story is filled with movement, energy, and curiosity. This episode offers a fun, vibrant look at one of the many talented young professionals shaping WGI's future. A Childhood Filled with Culture, Curiosity, and Lots of Moving Around Amanda may have been born in Maryland, but she grew up across two continents. After her family relocated to Orlando, FL, while Amanda was still in diapers, they later moved to a small town in Germany, where she attended an international school surrounded by classmates from all over the world.

The October edition of the WGI Unleashed Podcast is officially here! Join us as we travel to Austin, Texas, to chat with Coleen Johnson, RPLS, WGI’s Director of Geospatial. Coleen’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for learning. From hand-drafting machine parts in Houston to leading cutting-edge geospatial teams at WGI, her journey proves that sometimes the best career paths are the ones you create yourself. From Small-Town Roots to the Lone Star State Coleen grew up in the rural town of Hannibal, New York, surrounded by rolling hills, dairy farms, and open skies. With four siblings, a farm-loving grandfather, and 21 acres to explore, she learned early on the value of hard work and curiosity. After high school, uncertain about her next step, Coleen made a bold move—she packed her bags and headed to Houston, Texas, chasing opportunity (and maybe a little adventure). She landed a job at an oilfield manufacturing company, working in the warehouse under the blazing Houston sun. Her de

Join us for the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, as we round out Q3, getting to know Erin Sandoval, PE, a Civil Engineer based in WGI’s San Antonio, Texas office. If you think all engineers are quiet and reserved, Erin will quickly change your mind. She’s a runner who tackles 20-mile weekends for fun, a world traveler with a fascination for the British royal family’s “not-so-pretty” history, a former synchronized swimmer who once competed nationally, and a magnet for rescue dogs who seem to literally follow her home. Oh, and somewhere along the way, she’s also built a thriving career in land development. Finding Her Way Into Engineering Growing up in San Antonio with two military parents, Erin was always equal parts disciplined and curious. She excelled at math from a young age (asking teachers for extra homework in first grade!) and knew she wanted to build a career doing something she loved. What she didn’t know was that her journey to becoming a civil engineer would take a few unexpected turns

In the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we get to know Cody Lambert, PE, a Senior Structural Engineer based in WGI’s Austin, Texas office. With a laid-back attitude, a passion for mentoring, and a knack for complex design challenges, Cody brings his thoughtful and collaborative spirit to everything he does, whether it’s leading structural efforts on a unique residential build or fostering a learning culture among his teammates. Growing Up in Cypress Originally from Cypress, Texas (a large suburb just outside Houston), Cody describes his upbringing as classic suburban - playing basketball in the street, riding his bike around the neighborhood, and earning a reputation for missing curfews despite his mom’s best efforts (and watch purchases). While he played traditional sports early on, Cody eventually traded team athletics for something a little more daring: BMX biking. Though he wasn’t part of an official team, he spent much of his free time at skateparks and backyard halfpipes. Discovering Austin

In the 95th episode of the WGI Unleashed podcast, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Darcy Nuffer, PLA, a Studio Manager on our Landscape Architecture team in Austin, Texas!  Join us as hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Darcy for a lively and thoughtful conversation that spans continents, career pivots, and sustainable design. From her roots in Michigan to her leadership in one of WGI’s most creative practices, Darcy’s story is anything but ordinary…. and it’s packed with surprises you won’t want to miss.  Early Days of Development  Growing up near Lake Michigan, Darcy spent her youth immersed in nature. Volleyball games, water skiing, campfires, and long summer days at her family’s cabin instilled in her a deep appreciation for the great outdoors. This early connection with nature became a foundation for what would soon become her future career, despite landscape architecture not being her initial calling.  Darcy’s first academic pursuit came in the form of writing. She dreamed of becoming a novelis

In the 94th episode of the WGI Unleashed podcast, we’re excited to introduce you to Chris Velasquez, EIT, a Senior Graduate Engineer in our Civil + Land Development Team based out of WGI’s San Antonio, TX office! Join us as hosts Dan and Katie travel to the Alamo City to sit down with Chris for a spirited, insightful, and entertaining conversation filled with compelling career highlights, hilarious anecdotes, and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from Chris’s unique journey within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. From Curiosity to Engineering Excellence Chris’s passion for engineering and innovation sparked long before his professional career began, and his journey to where he is today is anything but conventional. Born in New Jersey but raised in Rosenberg, Texas, Chris humorously recounts his childhood experiences growing up in a quiet subdivision, jokingly referring to it as "the hood." His curiosity and keen problem-solving abilities were evident from a young age. On th

In Episode 93 of the WGI Unleashed podcast, we’re excited to introduce you to Grant Farley, EIT, a Senior Graduate Engineer in our MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) Division based out of WGI’s Austin, TX office. Grant joined hosts Dan and Katie for a lively conversation full of laughs, career insights, and fun stories. From his small-town Texas roots and a childhood fascination with robotics to designing electrical systems for complex infrastructure projects across the country, this episode offers a look into the life of a young engineer making waves at WGI and proving that passion, curiosity, and a great team can take you far. From East Texas to Texas A&M Born and raised about 50 miles east of Dallas, Grant grew up in a town so small that his high school graduating class had just 47 students. But don’t let the size fool you - Grant’s drive and curiosity were anything but small. He was a standout athlete, an all-state football player, and a self-proclaimed tinkerer who loved pulling apart computers a

In the 92nd episode of WGI Unleashed, we’re excited to introduce you to Jason Miholovitz, PLA, our Director of Landscape Architecture, who joins us from WGI’s West Palm Beach Corporate Headquarters! With over 20 years of experience, Jason's deep passion for design and a thoughtful leadership style have helped shape WGI’s national landscape architecture practice, and his story is just as inspiring as the spaces he helps create each and every day. From Sketches to Studios Like many, Jason’s love for design started at an early age - Inspired by his high school drafting classes and a natural talent for drawing, he pursued the study of architecture at the University of Florida, where he ultimately refined his interests and discovered his passion for landscape architecture. After graduation, a job fair frisbee - and a well-timed beer koozie - led him to his first role within the industry.... And the rest, as they say, is history. The chance encounter sparked a 10-year career with his first firm, where he met his wi

It's that time again - Time for another episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast! In this episode, we’re sitting down with Eric Luttmann, WGI's Director of Architecture based out of our Tampa, Florida office – So, join us as Eric reflects on his career thus far, shares insights into his passion for innovative design, and unveils the WGI projects that are shaping the future of the Architecture landscape! From the Florida Coast to Architecture Born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL, Eric’s love for the great outdoors was a clear driver and influence throughout his early years. Whether it was fishing in the Keys, playing sports, or spending time with his family, Eric developed a deep and early appreciation for the built environment around him. However, a career in architecture was far from the initial plan as he first considered careers in engineering and even the medical field before discovering his passion for design at the University of South Florida. Building a Career in Architecture Eric’s introduction to archit