Non-compete qualifier: I have a “day job,” and I will not take on work that is of appropriate scope and scale that it falls within range of my employer, unless and until they elect not to perform that work.

Any civil engineering firm can design driveways, parking lots, and stormwater detention ponds. But you need or want something unconventional. Your project constraints are unusual, your vision is special, and you’re hearing “I’m sorry, we don’t do that,” or “that’s not really in our wheelhouse.” Where their wheelhouse ends, mine begins.

Innovation is not only interesting, inspiring, and motivating, it’s also necessary. Old thinking and old methods exacerbate and perpetuate old problems. There are few things I dislike more than the cliché, “it’s the way we’ve always done it.” The way people haven’t always done it is where I truly shine. I don’t do off-the-shelf engineering.

I love solving problems, and the more interesting and unusual, the better. If other firms or engineers don’t do it, give me a call. If I don’t do it yet, let’s see whether or not it makes sense for me to take it on.

Don’t get me wrong. I also happily take on more standard work. But remember that I enjoy turning standard into spectacular, so if you have some bright ideas, I’d love to hear them.