Charlie Doud, PE is one of the many skilled GAI professionals who help clients create better communities, water infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, power generation and delivery, and more from our office locations throughout the United States. Today we will find out a little about Charlie—the background, motivation, and methods that he brings to the table every day for GAI and GAI’s clients.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your experience and what led you to a career in engineering.
Charlie Doud: After I earned my college degrees in botany and zoology, I worked for the U.S. Forest Service on fire and timber crews in a very remote location in Idaho. Later, I established both a farrier and a timber contracting business. The available work was very seasonal, and I decided to pursue my mechanical engineering degree out of both interest and the need for year-round employment.
I had taken practical classes like welding, gas engine repair, diesel repair, plumbing, and machining—background that made mechanical engineering a good choice in my mind. So, I went back to school and got my degree, and it’s been the basis of a great career. Soon after earning my degree, I accepted an engineering job with Lockheed Space Operations in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and subsequently accepted a job with the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC).
I was at OUC for 33½ years, where I became primarily responsible for the start-to-finish management of large capital projects. Over the course of my career, I worked in almost every area of the utility that required engineering including generation, transmission, distribution, industrial wastewater and pumping stations, landfills, tanks and piping systems, large-scale remediations, lobbying of state and federal regulations, and even endangered species management and controlled burn permitting and operations.
In short, it was my job at OUC to coordinate the various groups and help make sure the facility was built in accordance with the plans and specifications, on time, and within the budget. I selected the engineering firms and negotiated the contracts; reviewed and approved the plans and specifications; presented and secured the regulatory permits; reviewed the RFP and led the construction contractor selection committee; negotiated the construction contract requirements; and managed the construction and startup operations. The engineering design teams, quality assurance teams, and construction contractors reported directly to me for the duration of the construction.
Bringing a project to successful completion gives me a sense of accomplishment even after all my years in the business.
Q: What is your role at GAI and what sorts of projects do you typically contribute to?
Charlie: I am the Assistant Director of Engineering in GAI’s Florida Water Division. We perform planning, design, and construction management/inspection services for water, wastewater, water reuse, and stormwater infrastructure for municipalities, utilities, and developers.
My role in projects varies greatly depending on the project itself. My duties can include acting as Engineer of Record; coordinating, preparing, and reviewing construction plans and specifications; reviewing and recommending approval to the owner of shop drawings, payment applications, change order requests, quality assurance and construction reports, partial and final lien waivers, and as-builts; revising plans and specifications to accommodate unexpected developments; coordinating, reviewing, preparing, and securing construction and operation permits; budget and schedule tracking and adherence; and communicating the project status with the owner.
Q: How do your years of experience and responsibility come into play to help support your team’s work and advance staff development?
Charlie: My broad range of experience enables me to support my coworkers both technically and interpersonally.
I help guide the development and review of construction plans as well as helping the team navigate complex negotiations, build strong relationships with clients and agencies, anticipate potential liabilities, and more. Often, my role comes down to advising and offering my insights on communication, meeting management, and teamwork so others can grow in their roles and lead confidently.
Q: How do you measure your success?
Charlie: I believe that we’ve succeeded when we know that the team has completed a project in accordance with the client’s plans and specifications and that we’ve met the schedule and stayed within budget. I enjoy improving infrastructure and managing major capital projects, particularly when I have the responsibility of managing the various groups involved. Bringing a project to successful completion gives me a sense of accomplishment even after all my years in the business.
It’s my role to interface with the client with timely updates, notifications, and whatever other information they deem necessary throughout the project—when GAI earns repeat business, it’s a very clear sign that we’ve had a positive working relationship with that client and that the client believes the project was a success.
Q: Why do you feel that GAI is a good place to put your skills to work?
Charlie: GAI is growing rapidly, and I’m involved in opportunities that will come with that growth. The firm is extremely focused not only on acquiring new work, but also on doing the best job possible while saving the client as much money as possible. This approach by GAI makes me feel like the company’s values align with my own.
There is a real focus on safety here, and I’ve been impressed with GAI’s opportunities for employee education and career development. GAI does a very good job supporting its people, and I’m glad to be part of the team.
Contact Charlie Doud, 321.319.3036, for more information about GAI’s civil engineering services —message GAI and start the conversation about how our multidiscipline professionals can meet your unique project needs.
Charlie Doud, PE draws on nearly four decades of experience to help guide his team in the planning, design, and construction management/inspection services for water, wastewater, water reuse, and stormwater infrastructure for municipalities, utilities, and developers. His broad engineering background includes more than 33 years with the Orlando Utilities Commission, where he was responsible for managing the full lifecycle of large capital projects.
