Starting and Running Your Own Structural Engineering Practice With Daniel Bressler | CEA 322

Ever told yourself you’d “start your own firm one day?” 🤔 Most civil engineers have, but they kick it down the road because they don’t know what it takes.

If that’s you, this interview with Daniel Bressler is a must. He’s a Structural Engineer who walked the walk you’re planning to walk.

In this episode, he breaks down the big “Aha! moment” that got him to take the leap, the experience dilemma you’ll face, and the difference between running a firm and doing the engineering.

If working for yourself is on your radar, go give this one a listen.

⏰ TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:43 Our New Year Sale with 20% OFF!
02:55 Welcoming Daniel Bressler, PE
03:27 His Blind-Folded Journey into Civil Engineering
04:49 How He Organized Himself to Get His PE After Grad School
05:49 His Experience in Civil Engineering School for Anyone Interested in It
07:24 A BIG Mistake He Made After Graduating (That You Should Never Make!)
08:27 2 Reasons Why Keeping in Touch With Your Classmates Can Help You at Work
09:57 Our Hot Takes on the Value of a Master's Degree: Is It Worth it?
13:32 ASCE Resources He Used to Get Ahead — in School and Beyond
16:52 His Experience Being a ASCE New Face of Civil Engineering
17:33 How to Join ASCE If You're Getting Started (And Why You Should!)
17:58 Why He Started His Own Engineering Firm...Despite Not Wanting to
20:45 The Experience Dilemma to Start a Firm: Do You Have Enough of It...or Will You Ever?
22:02 The Difference Between Owning Your Job and Owning Your Company (Live By This!)
23:47 The Advantages of a LLC That Make It a Good Move for All Engineers
25:47 How to Get a Business Education to Grow Your Firm as a Civil Engineer
28:23 The Two Biggest Business Challenges Every Newly Founded Firm Face
30:17 His 5-Year Plan for His Firm's Growth
32:15 The (Realistic) Value of the Brutal SE Exam
36:28 His Experience With the Civil PE Structural Exam
38:15 2 Pieces of Advice He Gives to Anyone Getting Started in Structural Engineering
40:19 Connect With Daniel
41:34 Conclusion

🚨 OUR NEW YEAR SALE IS LIVE 🚨
Discount: 20% OFF any review course
Code: NEWYEARSALE
Deadline: February 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM MST

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
CEA Podcast Ep #312 (SE Exam) -    • The New SE CBT Exam: The Good, The Bad, an...  
CEA Podcast #229 (Colten Johnson) -    • The Quest for Structural Engineering Excel...  
ASCE Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) - https://www.asce.org/sei
ASCE Mentor Match - https://collaborate.asce.org/standard...
ASCE Collaborate Community - https://collaborate.asce.org/home
ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition - https://www.asce.org/communities/stud...
ASCE Steel Bridge Competition - https://www.asce.org/communities/stud...
2023 ASCE New Faces of Civil Engineering - https://www.asce.org/publications-and...
Brooklyn College - https://www.brooklyn.edu
New York University - https://www.nyu.edu

💬 CONNECT WITH DANIEL:
LinkedIn -   / daniel-bressler  
Website - https://dnbengineering.com

🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
The Civil FE Startup Guide - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/f...
The Civil PE Startup Guide - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/p...
FREE CFM® Course Module - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/c...

🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
Civil FE Review Course - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/f...
Civil PE Review Courses - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/p...
CFM® Review Course - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/c...

📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/f...
FE CBT Exam Simulator - https://civilengineeringacademy.thriv...
PE Bonus Theory Questions - https://ioakeson.gumroad.com
PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/d...
PE CBT Exam Simulator - https://civilengineeringacademy.thriv...
CFM® Practice Exam - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/f...
FE Environmental Practice Exam - https://ioakeson.gumroad.com/l/gowxaw
PE Environmental Practice Exam - https://ioakeson.gumroad.com/l/Enviro...

📱 CONNECT WITH US!
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