CDM also strives to set a positive example as a corporation that is responsive to the needs of the communities where it does business. Its involvement in local communities is demonstrated, in part, through supporting education at all levels to help develop future business leaders and technical innovators. The best reflection of a company’s industry stature is the quality of personnel it attracts and retains. Profiling several of its prominent African-American employees clearly makes the point.

Tina Houston (right) is a vice president and client officer with 17 years of diverse environmental engineering experience. She specializes in managing large, complex multitask projects in areas of environmental management, regulatory compliance, wastewater treatment, and hazardous waste management. In rising through the ranks, she faced many obstacles in becoming the highest-ranking African-American female at CDM. She comments: “Being an African-American working mom with four kids, my obstacles were many. I had to prove I could produce at the same pace as the males in the company. This involved working many long hours because I did not want it to appear that my family obligations would cause my work to suffer.”

Graduating with a B.S. in civil engineering from the West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1984, Houston set her sights on career growth with a company that recognizes and rewards exceptional performance. Since 1994, she has managed the City of Atlanta’s Department of Aviation’s environmental contract at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. Houston is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive environmental program that complies with all applicable local, state and federal environmental regulations. Over the past eight years, she has supervised as many as 70 professionals. These include multi-disciplinary teams of engineers, toxicologists, geologists, and air quality scientists.

Apart from her day-to-day project management duties, she is actively involved in numerous professional organizations. These include: the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Association of Airport Executives, the Georgia Water Pollution Control Federation, and the Environmental Committee of the Airports Council International. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar. Industry leaders have recognized Houston’s contribution to the engineering field. In October 2001, she was designated as one of “Fifty Who Make A Difference” at the Women of Color Technology Awards Conference.

Her advice to junior, or entry-level, technical employees is simple: “Complete any assignment asked of you, and don’t consider any to be beneath you. You can learn something from even the most menial task. The importance of being a team player should not be overlooked.” She adds, “Read and study even when you are off the clock. You should request, accept and act on constructive criticism. Remember that everyone makes mistakes. No one expects you to be perfect. Be patient; your time will come.”

Gilbert Jackson (left) is a senior vice president and client officer with CDM in New Orleans. He has over 25 years of experience in all facets of environmental construction projects, including water and wastewater facilities, sewer pump stations, pipelines, and other structural projects. He directs the Office of Urban Strategy and is responsible for urban marketing nationwide. His job is particularly challenging given the many roadblocks that minority contractors and engineers have faced historically.

A related goal of his is “growing the minority, senior-level staff within the firm.” He counsels those working in mid-management: “Communicate with your superiors and make it clear to them where you are headed. Shoot straight and stay focused.” Jackson’s career growth has demonstrated the wisdom of such advice. After studying construction management at Southern University, he has followed a career path encompassing increased responsibilities in the areas of business development and project management of construction and environmental projects. A key focus of his work has been maintaining effective quality assurance and quality control processes and inspection methods for various construction projects.

In 2001, Jackson was selected to receive the “Outstanding Leadership Award” presented by the U.S. Conference of Black Mayors’ Business Council. He was nominated for the award by several mayors with whom he had worked closely over the previous year. Contributing to his professional stature is his active involvement in numerous industry and government organizations including the American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of County Officials. He is also involved in minority-focused organizations such as the National Conference of Black Mayors (Co-chair, Corporate Advisory Council), the Congressional Black Caucus, and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (Corporate Advisory Council). In addition, Jackson is an active supporter of the goals of the National Urban League and the United Negro College Fund. “It is extremely important to give back to the community--and not just financially,” he explains. “We need to always remember where we came from.”

To junior-level professionals, Jackson advises, “Carefully set your goals and priorities. Believe in yourself; believe that you can attain the success you want, and stay focused.”

Michael Pack (right) is a vice president with CDM in Atlanta. He earned his B.S. in civil engineering from Wayne State University in 1975 and an MBA in the Executive MBA Program, Management and International Business Studies, from Georgia State University in 1985. He has over 26 years of engineering, marketing, and management experience. His engineering experience includes extensive involvement in the planning, design and construction management of numerous airports, transportation, and port authority facilities and projects.

For the past eight years, Pack has been associated with CDM. He now works as technical advisor with the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation (DOA) providing technical expertise for the on-call environmental consulting and design services project.

A major highlight of his career was serving as interim general manager for Atlanta’s DOA in 1993 responsible for directing the operations, management and overall administration of the airport. He also provided oversight in the planning and development of Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport’s expansion. Ultimately, this resulted in construction of a $370 million new international concourse in time for the 1996 Olympic Games. As another “feather in his cap,” Pack co-founded the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC). In addition, he has been actively involved in the Airport Council International, the American Association of Airport Executives, and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.

To minorities working in mid-management positions, Pack advises: “Find a senior-level mentor within the company. Build professional relationships inside and outside the firm. While doing so, learn as much as you can about the company and the various services or products that it offers. It’s okay to specialize, but don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Be versatile.” Pack would like to see more young African Americans involved in the Aviation industry—whether working in accounting, finance, law, public relations, or engineering. “For those who are in engineering, take the Engineers-in-Training Exam prior to completing your undergraduate degree,” he mentions. “Subsequently, take the second part of the exam (the Professional Engineers Exam) to obtain your P.E. This is very valuable to your career. It will be important if you’re working for a technical firm or intend to start your own engineering business.”

With role models such as these, ambitious African-American collegians can set their sights on a distinguished career in the field of engineering, if they apply themselves and work for a company that wholeheartedly supports their success.

Calvin Bruce is a frequent contributor to THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine.