Chris Dusza Celebrates 25 Years With Civiltec

Chris Dusza, PE, CFM

Vice President, Principal Engineer in Charge

Can you share a story of challenge or triumph at Civiltec that has stuck with you over the years?
What has stuck with me over the years is the people at Civiltec that have poured into me. From my start at Civiltec, people took the time and made the effort to teach me many, many things. I don’t know that I would have developed into a professional engineer, owner and vice president otherwise. Even today, I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people that teach me new things all the time. It is something that I will never forget and make it a point to do the same for others.

As Vice President, how have you worked to maintain a strong emphasis on the Civiltec’s core values as the company grows its staff, expands its office footprint and takes on more projects?
The two biggest core values that I focus on are family and having fun. I think they go hand in hand. We spend a lot of time together, so we really are like family (in a good way). It is important that everyone feels like part of the family and that we enjoy spending time together. I want people to love what they do and really enjoy doing it at Civiltec. As we grow and take on more and more projects and get even busier, I don’t ever want to lose sight of having fun and enjoying what we do. I think that’s a big part of what makes Civiltec a great company.

What is your vision for the future of Civiltec’s leadership and impact?
My vision for Civiltec leadership is to continue to see new leaders and owners develop within the company. Our leadership and ownership transition plan is working. It is incredibly rewarding to see the next generation take on leadership and possibly ownership roles. I hope our leadership and ownership group continues to become more diverse. I enjoy getting different perspectives and viewpoints, ones I have never considered. I hope our current and future leaders continue to embrace changing technology and work environments but never lose sight of what makes Civiltec great. Our relationships with one another set us apart and make us an unbeatable team.

What exciting things are going on in Civiltec’s Arizona branches right now?
I think the continued work sharing between all offices in Arizona and California is very exciting. I am working on projects in California with staff that I have never really worked with directly. Conversely, I have California staff with whom I have never really worked at a project level working on some of my projects as well. Also, bringing on the summer interns will be both exciting and challenging. It is fun to see college students working and learning in the office, but a little challenging when we are so busy. Lastly, we are getting a foosball table in the Peoria office, something I have wanted for quite a while. I am looking forward to beating all challengers.

What advice would you give to aspiring engineers or those just entering the field?
My advice would be to start your career in a place where you get exposure to a lot of different projects and tasks. Explore all elements of civil engineering, water, wastewater, drainage, transportation, and so on. Don’t get pigeon holed into any one thing, at least not yet. Figure out where your passion lies, pursue it to the best of your abilities and work will never feel like work. Never stop learning, ask when you don’t know and enjoy what you do.