Driving Innovation in Public Works - A Conversation with Austin Brooks

— Professional Background?

• Can you tell us about your journey to becoming the Public Works Director at SEG?

I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some fantastic engineers along the way, which provided mentorship and guidance that allowed me to gain municipal, state, and federal experience on some amazing projects. These experiences opened different doors over time, which turned into more diverse project experience both for public and private clients. The opportunity for my next career progression presented itself after extensive discussions with SEG’s visionary CEO, Ali Fakih, which caused me to join SEG in 2023. Together, we are building a strong foundation and are extremely excited about the prospects for 2025 and beyond.

— Project Insights?

• What are some of the most exciting public works projects you’ve worked on recently?

#1 - The City of Phoenix northwestern transportation improvements projects, which included almost $450 Million Dollars of roadway, drainage, and utility infrastructure improvements to accommodate the $50 Billion Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) development. The project moved at an incredible pace, coordination included local, state, and federal agencies, over fifty different contractors and subcontractors, while maintaining access to the site to accommodate the traffic generated by material deliveries and over 10,000 daily plant construction workers.?

#2 - City of Mesa Central Mesa Reuse Pipeline (CMRP) – Mesa’s #1 infrastructure project. 11 Miles of 36” reuse pipeline to connect existing infrastructure to obtain water surface credits to help diversify City’s water portfolio to allow for future expansion and growth in the southeast valley.

• How does your team integrate sustainability into public works projects?

Sustainability is evaluated for all projects to identify and determine if alternative pavement materials and construction methods, drainage retention solutions, zero scape landscaping and planting that minimizes heat island impacts, grey water harvesting, and water conservation efforts can be implemented wherever possible.?

— Innovation and Impact?

• What innovative solutions are you implementing to address challenges like urban infrastructure and climate resilience?

All projects are evaluated for things like walkability to promote vehicle trip reduction or satisfying shade requirements for sidewalk and other pedestrian facilities to further promote outdoor activity. These efforts can be aided by underground parking designs and lighter color/alternative pavement materials to reduce heat islands impacts, while maximizing the implementation of renewable energy infrastructure wherever possible.

• Can you share an example of how a recent project has positively impacted the community?

Not all projects are extraordinary or achieve engineering or architectural excellence. Most of the time, a well-engineered project is the street or waterline or sewer line that no one notices, because it functions exactly how it is supposed to function. As an engineering project manager, I/we/SEG take pride in finding design solutions that work and provide value engineering elements to save our clients (and ultimately the taxpayer) money, time, and disruption. Those are my favorite projects.

— Leadership & Vision?

• How do you approach leading multidisciplinary teams on complex projects?

The keys to successful projects are early and frequent communication and coordination, establishing a precise critical path schedule, and lots of flexibility and brainstorming with continued coordination throughout. Individual task leaders are identified, all of whom have specific goals and targets for the minor and major milestones to keep the overall project on track, while holding frequent discipline specific and overall project specific progress meetings, ideally with client and contractor inclusion to identify potential constructability issues early during the design process.??

• What is your vision for the future of public works in the regions we serve??

Each of the regions SEG serves presents a unique set of challenges and with it, solutions and potential. Water conservation and assured water supply limitations will play a large role in the southwestern United States and the middle East. Texas has a history of utilizing Public Private Partnerships for large infrastructure projects. The long-term transformation into Electric Vehicles and the infrastructure needed for successful implementation. These are just some of the challenges, and thus opportunities for Public Works growth.?

— Personal Touch, Advice & Reflection

• What motivates you as Public Works Director, and what advice and experiences have shaped your role?

Employee and client satisfaction drive me, along with the excitement of opportunities for growth in 2025. My advice to aspiring professionals is to learn broadly, seek smarter peers, follow your passion, and always ask for help. The most rewarding part of my role is mentoring teams, solving challenges, and achieving project success with pride.

At SEG, our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community impact shines through the leadership of Austin Brooks, PE, our Public Works Director. His career reflects a passion for collaboration, mentorship, and solving complex challenges, driving SEG's forward-thinking vision.  

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, SEG is dedicated to delivering exceptional engineering solutions that meet today’s needs while building a sustainable and prosperous future. Together, we’re not just creating infrastructure—we’re strengthening communities!