Employee Spotlight: Brett Dodd

For Brett Dodd, an early-career project involving a small embankment dam helped point him toward the career he wanted to build. More than 10 years later, his work at Schnabel has given him opportunities to continue building that expertise, take on new challenges, and grow as an engineer.

Based in Schnabel’s Alpharetta, Georgia, office, Brett is an Associate Engineer focused primarily on geotechnical engineering for dams. His career has taken him from working across several engineering disciplines early on to developing specialized expertise in geotechnical engineering, while continuing to broaden his experience through new projects and responsibilities.

A Career Homegrown in Georgia

Georgia has always been home for Brett. He grew up in the state, attended Georgia Tech and now lives in Dawsonville with his wife, their two young boys, and their dog.

While studying at Georgia Tech, Brett started as an undecided engineering major before choosing civil engineering. The field appealed to him because of its tangible results and the opportunity to split his time between the office and the field.

“I enjoy being outdoors and loved the thought of not being in an office every day,” Brett says.

After graduating during a challenging job market for civil engineers, Brett joined a local land development firm. There, he encountered a Schnabel design for the rehabilitation of a small embankment dam.

“It was just a straightforward rehabilitation of a small privately owned dam, but I thought it was so interesting and knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

Brett had already developed an interest in geotechnical engineering in school, and dam engineering provided an opportunity to combine that interest with his experience in hydrology and hydraulics. He researched Schnabel and soon applied for a position.

A Multidisciplinary Foundation Takes Root

When Brett joined Schnabel, his work wasn’t limited to one discipline. He gained experience in hydrology and hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, and structural engineering before ultimately focusing his career on geotechnical engineering.

That broad foundation continues to influence how he approaches dam projects today. His work can vary significantly from week to week, from reviewing analyses and reports to conducting dam inspections, coordinating drilling, participating in risk analysis workshops, and observing construction progress in the field.

“Dam safety projects often require geotechnical, structural, hydrologic, hydraulic, and construction considerations to develop practical solutions,” Brett says. “I enjoy the multidisciplinary problem-solving process and developing innovative designs to address complex problems.”

The variety has also provided Brett with opportunities to continually expand his knowledge and take on new challenges throughout his career.

Opportunities to Thrive

For Brett, professional development at Schnabel isn’t limited to formal training. Some of the most valuable experiences come from being trusted with meaningful work and gradually taking on greater responsibility.

“Employees can develop technical expertise, leadership skills, and confidence through valuable hands-on experience,” he says.

Brett has experienced that progression firsthand during his more than 10 years with the company. As his experience has grown, so has his ability to take on more complex technical work, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute to projects across the country.
Schnabel also provides more structured avenues for development, including communities of practice, internal training, and formal development programs. For Brett, these resources complement the day-to-day learning that happens through project work and collaboration with colleagues.

“Stay curious and keep learning,” he says. “Everyone in this industry is constantly learning and growing, no matter how many years of experience.”

That philosophy extends to the way Brett works with younger engineers. He enjoys seeing colleagues take initiative, research problems, and come prepared with thoughtful, specific questions. Rather than viewing experience as the end of the learning process, he sees it as an opportunity to keep developing while helping others do the same.

“At no point during my time at Schnabel have I felt like my career was stagnating due to a lack of opportunities for growth and development.”

A Culture Where Expertise Grows

Professional growth at Schnabel also happens through the people whom employees work alongside. Brett values the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues who bring different areas of technical expertise and experience to their projects.

“Schnabel has a depth of technical expertise across the company, and even renowned subject matter experts are willing to share their insights and experience,” he says.

That culture of knowledge-sharing is one of Brett’s favorite parts of working at Schnabel. It gives employees opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues while also contributing their own perspectives and expertise.

Brett also appreciates the sense of community across the company. While each Schnabel office has its own personality, employees are connected by a shared commitment to serving clients as employee-owners and seller-doers.

Work That Matters

The opportunity to keep learning is especially meaningful when paired with work that has a tangible impact. Brett’s focus on dam safety allows him to apply his technical expertise to projects that help protect communities, support flood control, and maintain reliable sources of drinking water and power. Brett sees the connection between the technical work and the people who ultimately rely on these critical infrastructure systems.

After more than a decade at Schnabel, Brett continues to build on the foundation he developed early in his career—expanding his technical expertise, taking on new responsibilities and sharing what he has learned with others.