Connor Finney, EI, is an aviation engineer in CMT’s Springfield, IL, office. He has experience in design and construction, including apron gate operations, pavement geometry, lighting, grading, and drainage. Connor holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bradley University.
Ethan Sountris, EI, is a water resources engineer in CMT’s Davenport, IA, office. During his three internships with CMT, he gained experience supporting both water resources and aviation projects, developing an understanding of design and construction. Ethan holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bradley University.
Before stepping into their first classes at Bradley University, Ethan and Connor met through their fraternity and formed a friendship that would continue throughout their college years and beyond. Both went on to study civil engineering, participate in CMT’s internship program, and eventually join the firm as full-time employees. Their parallel paths have fostered a connection that reaches far beyond their careers.
How did your internship experience influence your decision to join CMT full time?
Ethan: Throughout my three summers at CMT, I had the opportunity to work in multiple CMT business units. That exposure played a major role in my decision to join the firm full-time because it gave me a broader understanding of the work and opportunities available at the firm. Most of my time was spent in the Water Resources Business Unit, where I work today. However, I also had the chance to perform construction and field work for the Quad Cities Aviation Group. Experiencing both office and field work allowed me to learn from different perspectives and gain a deeper appreciation for the variety of work we do for our clients.
Connor: CMT gave me the opportunity to work on major projects at large airfields during my internship. For example, I worked on projects at two Washington, D.C. airports – Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – which are some of the largest in the country. I also gained hands-on construction experience during a week at the University of Illinois Willard Airport in Champaign, IL, where I worked on the Rehabilitate Runway 4-22 project. Beyond the project experience, the work atmosphere at CMT stood out to me, and I quickly connected with my colleagues.
What gets you excited about coming to work?
Connor: First, I have great coworkers. People like Ethan and many others on the team are more than coworkers – they’re friends. We spend time together outside of work, whether that’s grabbing dinner or attending sporting events, so having those close relationships is a great aspect of working at CMT. From an engineering perspective – and specifically within aviation – the mix of design and construction is neat to be a part of because they build off of each other. Learning how infrastructure is built will eventually help with design. Now that I’ve been at CMT for a few years, I’m able to see more and more projects progress from concept and design to construction in the field. I’m currently working on a construction project that another coworker and I designed a few years back. It’s rewarding to watch that process come full circle and gain an appreciation for how much effort goes into the infrastructure and facilities people often take for granted.
Ethan: I enjoy the challenges that come with the work, especially early in my career, because it pushes me to grow and learn. There is plenty of room to expand my skills and take on new responsibilities over time. It’s rewarding to see the positive impact the projects I work on have on communities and the environment.
What piece of advice would you give yourself at the beginning of your CMT career?
Connor: There’s so much that you don’t know when you start your career, and that is OK. For the last two years, I have overseen the Springfield, IL, Aviation Group interns, and the advice I give them is the same advice I would give anyone starting a new career: You’re not going to know everything, so don’t feel like you need to right off the bat. What you do at work can be completely different from what you did in school, so you will gradually learn the ropes. I tell them to be a sponge – ask questions, stay curious, show up every day, put in the effort, and keep absorbing knowledge.
Ethan: The number one thing I would say is to learn patience. Be patient with yourself. You are going to be learning all the time, and my manager made it well-known the first day that he didn’t expect me to know everything – just come prepared and be ready to ask questions.
What is a project you worked on as an intern that you found to be a particularly valuable learning experience?
Connor: Working on aviation projects at different stages gave me some of my most valuable learning experiences as an intern. From a design perspective, two of the most significant projects I worked on were the Rehabilitate E, E1, and E2 project at Washington Dulles International Airport and the Runways 1-19 & 15-33 Pavement and Lighting Replacement project at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Then, I performed resident engineer (RE) work for a runway project at the University of Illinois Willard Airport, which means being on-site during construction. Together, those projects exposed me to different project delivery stages and helped me develop a stronger understanding of how large, complex aviation projects are planned, coordinated, and executed.
Ethan: One important project that comes to mind occurred last summer: a water main design project for the City of Macomb, IL. I started from ground zero and got to see the project progress almost to the end, which I found to be a valuable learning experience because it gave me insight into the entire project lifecycle. Another significant project took place during my second summer: a taxiway rehabilitation project at Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, IL. I was on the construction side of things, so working with the contractor and seeing their processes was interesting.
How did your time at Bradley University and your connections there influence your decision to accept a full-time position at CMT?
Connor: After things began opening up again following the pandemic, I spent a lot of time in Bradley’s civil engineering room, where students gathered to study, connect, and share experiences. Through those conversations, I was able to talk about my internship experience at CMT and hear from other students about their internships. Those connections reinforced the positive impression I had of the firm and played a role in my decision to accept a full-time position.
Ethan: I loved going to Bradley, and I think it’s been one of the better decisions I have made. Meeting Connor and others who joined CMT has given me people to rely on and connect with outside of work. If I have questions about work, I can always go to them for another perspective, which makes the transition to CMT feel even more comfortable. Beyond those personal connections, CMT had already made a strong impression on me throughout college. CMT maintained a strong presence at career fairs and through the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which gave me an early introduction to the firm and many of my future coworkers. At ASCE meetings, CMT presented at least once a semester, offering valuable insight into what life as a civil engineer is really like.
