The QBS Express

What does it look like when a lifetime of unlikely adventures—escorting the Secretary of Defense on a Turkish ferry, commanding a geotechnical lab full of PhDs, playing cello to reset your soul—actually teaches you how to lead? Colonel Fred Reynolds is back for Part 2, and this time we get to the heart of it: the leadership maxims he's earned the hard way.HighlightsCol. Reynolds escorted a sitting U.S. Secretary of Defense through Turkey for four days—as a lieutenant colonel assigned essentially by accidentWhen the Secretary wanted to cruise the harbor, Reynolds negotiated use of a docked passenger ferry—there was nothing else availableHis post-military career at Black and Veatch took him back to Turkey to manage a massive hydropower program on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—until the Turkish Lira collapsed and the deal fell apartA Muslim Turkish engineer, a Catholic priest, and a Protestant American Army colonel all crawled under a church together to fix its floor—and the engineer refused to charge because "it's all for the same God, isn't it?"Reynolds earned his PhD in earthquake engineering while working at Black and Veatch—and used it to design earthquake-resistant water caissons at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri RiversHe plays cello under the instruction of a cellist from the Kansas City Symphony and calls it his best therapyHe has published a 17-page scholarly article on German World War I Zeppelin aviation—through the lens of philatelyTen leadership maxims drawn from 29 years of military service, Black and Veatch, and a life well-examinedChapters0:00 – Back for Part Two0:31 – Secretary of Defense Visit2:41 – Hiring a Harbor Ferry4:28 – Powerful People Are Human4:49 – Rapid-Fire Army Career7:30 – Retirement and the ACEC Link8:02 – Black and Veatch Turkey Pitch12:46 – Hydropower Deal Falls Apart13:35 – Church Floor and Shared Faith17:16 – PhD and Earthquake Design19:03 – Cello as Therapy20:56 – German WWI Aviation Research22:35 – Publishing Through Philately23:21 – Leadership Maxims Setup24:26 – Leaders Can Be Made26:10 – The Skillset of Leaders Can Be Taught29:13 – Walk the Talk31:10 – Appreciate Differences33:22 – Choose People Carefully36:13 – Give People the Resources to Succeed37:29 – Cohesive Teams Win38:17 – Cover Weaknesses, Not Cheerleading42:06 – You're in the Seat for a Reason43:28 – Promotion Is Capability, Not Reward45:16 – The Curse of the Possible47:55 – Closing Thanks and FarewellResources MentionedWest Point (United States Military Academy) – Where Col. Reynolds learned the foundational leadership principles of Duty, Honor, CountryPlease Understand Me – The book on personality types and leadership that Reynolds credits as an epiphany; rooted in the four ancient Greek temperamentsBlack and Veatch – The engineering firm where Reynolds worked for nearly 20 years post-retirement, including international hydropower projects in TurkeyOther Resources:Learn more about ACEC Kansas

In this engaging conversation on the QBS Express, host Scott Heidner is joined by Calvin Reed, Kansas Secretary of Transportation and Director of the Kansas Turnpike Authority, and Greg Shieber, the Deputy Secretary and State Transportation Engineer for the state of Kansas. Both guests share a glimpse of their personal backgrounds, their journeys into the realm of civil engineering, and their experiences working with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). They provide valuable insights into KDOT's broad mission, stressing its significant roles beyond the design and paving of roads and building of bridges. The conversation also highlights the agency's vital partnerships at the state, federal, and local level, the challenges and opportunities lying ahead for KDOT, and the critical role of the workforce in the future of engineering and infrastructure projects.00:09 Introduction and Guest Introduction01:02 Guest Background: Greg Schieber06:45 Guest Background: Calvin Reed15:17 Understanding KDOT's Role and Responsibilities23:57 Interactions with Policymakers at State and Federal Level32:33 Appreciation for Agency Partners33:07 Working with Local Units and Government34:13 Building Relationships with Local Authorities34:34 Challenges in Local Infrastructure Maintenance34:59 Investing in Local Bridge Improvement Program36:13 Developing a Local Bridge Planning Tool36:42 Future Challenges in Local System Investment37:07 The Role of KDOT in Supporting Local Governments37:37 Creation of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub38:31 Looking Forward: Challenges and Opportunities for KDOT38:52 Delivering the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program39:25 Future Funding for Transportation41:09 Workforce Challenges in the Industry42:30 Innovation and Changing Technologies in Infrastructure43:15 Managing Inflation in Local Projects44:12 Future of Preservation and Modernization of InfrastructureOther Resources:Learn more about ACEC KansasThis show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. For more information visit ictpod.net

Being involved in politics wasn’t even on Blake Carpenter’s radar until a class project at Wichita State led him to an interview with Representative Jim Howell that changed everything. He shares with host Scott Heidner how that journey has led him to his current role as the House Speaker Pro Tem. On this episode we discuss:Growing up in HalsteadBeing ranked a top tier gamer at Call of Duty (when time allows)Trying to figure out what to study at Wichita StateThe value of the Eagle Scout achievementBecoming interested in politicsStarting as a freshman legislator right out of collegeGrowing into leadership roles and the associated time commitmentThe internship programBlake’s podcast, The Kansas BriefingProposing on the cliffs of IrelandOther Resources:Learn more about Braden, Headner, Lowe and AssociatesBlake Carpenter, Kansas State Representative, 81st DistrictThis show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. For more information visit ictpod.net

Host Scott Heidner is joined by Kansas State Representative and House Majority Leader Chris Croft. They talk about his life and military career that eventually brought him to Kansas and led him to taking on his current role in state government. On this episode we discuss:The role his mother played in his life and finding role models for himGrowing up outsideJoining the Army and seeing the worldHow he met his wifeWhat he learned from Popeye’s Fried ChickenJumping out of the first plane he rode onThe value of mentors in his lifeWorking at the Pentagon and military mobility equipmentFinding a home in KansasA vision for transportation infrastructure in the stateGetting started in public serviceTaking on the house majority leader mantleGoing out on Black Friday and Christmas EveOther Resources:Learn more about ACEC KansasChris Croft, Kansas State Representative, 8th District This podcast is brought to you by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kansas. This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. For more information visit ictpod.net

The latest episode of The QBS Express features co-host Sara Clark with TranSystems and guest Chris Gutierrez, President of KC SmartPort. Listen in as we get an in-depth account of how SmartPort came to be, who it serves, what part of the market occupies its time and resources, and how Chris's interest in this industry was sparked by collecting beer cans at a young age!

The QBS Express is happy to welcome co-host Shawn Turner with Transystems and Representative Richard Proehl to the show! Tune in as we learn about Representative Proehl's interest in veterinary science and agriculture, his time in the 101st Airborne Division, working as a rodeo clown and bull rider, and most importantly the importance of good infrastructure investment!

Join us as we visit with Keith Browning, the Local Road Engineer for the Kansas Association of Counties! Listen in as we discuss how he found his way to the engineering field, the services he provides to members, and the interaction that involves with ACEC member firms. Stay with us to the end and you may find out something you didn’t know about what Keith does in his free time!

The QBS Express visits with KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz and KDOT Director of Aviation Bob Brock to discuss the recently announced Kansas Supersonic Flight Corridor! Learn the exciting story of how KDOT and partners all around the state proactively created and pitched this program, the opportunities and challenges that were met along the way, and what the future of this project means to Kansas business, the aerospace industry, scientific/academic fields of study, and much more.