WGI Unleashed Podcast: David Gerber, Project Manager
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie are back in our office to sit back down with David Gerber, Project Manager on our ! David is a two-time guest, a “two-peat” he happily likens to Steve Martin’s SNL record. Last time around, he got a little feedback for being too tight-lipped about his coworkers, so this time he came prepared to fix that, handing out shout-outs across thirteen years and five offices… From Miami to Lakeland David was born in Miami and lived there until he was about five, when Hurricane Andrew came through and cost his parents their jobs....
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Rachel Starck, Environmental Scientist
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our corporate headquarters to sit down with Rachel Starck, Environmental Scientist! Rachel is a Florida native who grew up in Orlando with a childhood reputation for attracting wildlife, and a mother who gave her exactly the right career advice at exactly the right time. Two and a half years into her first job out of college, she's doing the work she set out to do... and loving every second of it. From Orlando to the Atlantic Coast Rachel grew up in Orlando, where both of her parents built long careers at Walt...
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Susanna Coleman, Administrative Assistant
WGI Unleashed
In the latest episode of the , hosts Dan and Katie head back to South Florida to sit down with Susanna Coleman, an Administrative Assistant in WGI’s ! Susanna’s story is one of curiosity, reinvention, and an unshakable love of learning. From the south side of Chicago to the shipyards of Scandinavia, Susanna has lived what she jokingly calls “several lives” — and each one has shaped the curious, people-loving teammate she is today. This is one conversation you won’t want to miss. From the South Side of Chicago to South Florida Born and raised in a tight-knit, blue-collar suburb...
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Kristen Nowicki, Senior Project Manager
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the , we head to Fort Lauderdale to catch up with Kristen Nowicki, Senior Project Manager on WGI’s team. From her early days climbing trees in Pennsylvania to helping shape communities across South Florida, Kristen’s story is equal parts thoughtful, driven, and refreshingly down to earth. We also learned one very important thing right away: she could eat pineapple pizza every day for the rest of her life. That might be the boldest take we’ve had on the podcast yet. From Tree Hugger to Planner Kristen’s path into planning was anything but linear, and it makes...
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Scott Jones, Technical Geospatial Solutions Manager
WGI Unleashed
At WGI, every associate brings a unique story to the table, but few start on a remote fishing island in Alaska and end up leading cutting-edge geospatial solutions across the country. In this episode of the , Dan and Katie sit down with Scott Jones, Technical Solutions Manager on our team, to talk about a career path shaped by adventure, curiosity, and a willingness to solve problems in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. A Childhood Built for Adventure Scott’s story begins in Petersburg, Alaska, a small fishing community where getting anywhere requires a boat or a plane...
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Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager
WGI Unleashed
On the latest episode of the , we travel to WGI’s to sit down with Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager for our group. In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie explore Jason’s 23-year journey at WGI, from starting in the field as a rod person to leading operations in one of the firm’s growing offices. His story highlights persistence, curiosity, and the impact of saying yes to opportunity. From Florida Roots to Geospatial Leadership Jason grew up in Central and South Florida, including time in Lake Wales, where he balanced football and marching band. Yes, marching band. And yes, there...
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Maria Acosta, Video Multimedia Editor
WGI Unleashed
On the latest episode of the , we head back to WGI's corporate headquarters in to sit down with Maria Acosta, Video Multimedia Editor! In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie take listeners behind the camera to spotlight Maria’s creative journey, the role she plays in shaping WGI’s multimedia content, and the passion she brings to telling stories through video. From her early artistic roots to her role producing podcasts, training videos, and campaign visuals, Maria’s story shows how curiosity, resilience, and creativity can lead to an exciting and impactful career at WGI. Early Creativity...
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Jill Mathison, Geospatial Administrator
WGI Unleashed
In the final episode of 2025, the heads to as hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Jill Mathison, a long-time member of WGI’s ! Jill’s story is one of persistence, adaptability, and wholehearted commitment. From her early days growing up on Long Island to helping shape WGI through years of growth and transformation, Jill’s journey reflects what it truly means to build a career with intention. From Long Island to South Florida Born in New York and raised on Long Island, Jill grew up surrounded by creativity and culture. Thanks to a mother who loved the arts, childhood trips into...
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Amanda Wojtasiak, Graduate Architect
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the , hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Amanda Wojtasiak, a Graduate Architect in our , whose path into the profession is anything but ordinary. Amanda brings a spark of creativity, a global childhood, and a love of learning to everything she touches, and this episode shines a light on the personality behind her growing design career at WGI. From living overseas to mastering artistic crafts to racing sailboats under the moonlight, Amanda’s story is filled with movement, energy, and curiosity. This episode offers a fun, vibrant look at one of the many talented young...
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Coleen Johnson, Director of Geospatial
WGI Unleashed
The October edition of the is officially here! Join us as we travel to , to chat with Coleen Johnson, RPLS, WGI’s Director of . Coleen’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for learning. From hand-drafting machine parts in Houston to leading cutting-edge geospatial teams at WGI, her journey proves that sometimes the best career paths are the ones you create yourself. From Small-Town Roots to the Lone Star State Coleen grew up in the rural town of Hannibal, New York, surrounded by rolling hills, dairy farms, and open skies. With four siblings, a farm-loving...
info_outlineWelcome back to another captivating episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast!
For our 84th episode, we sat down with Coriann Salas, WGI's Corporate Program Manager in our Fort Lauderdale, Florida office!
Coriann’s journey began in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan before relocating to Florida at the age of ten. Now, with over two decades spent in the Sunshine State, she proudly considers herself a “Native Floridian.” Having spent her formative years in the sun and sand, it's no surprise that her academic path led her to the University of Central Florida during the exciting Dante Culpepper days.
Finding Her True Calling in Engineering
Coming from a family of engineers, Coriann initially chose to study environmental sciences, hoping to carve out a different path than that of her relatives. However, her natural aptitude for mathematics and an interesting piece of advice from a professor quickly guided her back to engineering. This switch, small as it may seem, not only aligned with Coriann's strengths but also equipped her with essential life skills that she consistently incorporates into her daily work, such as problem-solving and organization.
Coriann’s professional journey began with a structural engineering internship, where she, not so excitingly, helped design water and wastewater treatment tanks. Determined to secure a better foothold in the industry, she tirelessly reached out to numerous engineering firms in the state of Florida until she landed a position as a junior bridge designer. Over 13 years at this firm, she honed her skills and deepened her understanding of the engineering landscape while creating connections and relationships that would benefit her greatly down the road.
Rising to New Challenges at WGI
Through relentless tenacity and effective networking over her years in the business, Coriann was offered an opportunity to grow WGI’s transportation team and lead a team of bridge designers. One of her significant achievements at WGI was opening a new office location in Fort Lauderdale - allowing her to grow professionally and create something she is incredibly proud of.
Embracing a New Role with Broader Impact
Coriann’s career took a pivotal turn when she was asked to spearhead WGI's companywide transition from a legacy internal associate and client database, Deltek Vision, to a new and improved platform, BST. Achieving the success she did throughout this initiative resulted in Coriann being promoted to WGI’s Corporate Program Manager. In this role, she has spearheaded other key initiatives, including enhancing Quality Assurance/Quality Control practices and procedures across the company. Her work now involves collaborating with almost every department, from Finance and Accounting to Human Resources and everywhere in between.
Coriann's dedication and commitment to WGI’s core value of “Be the change you seek” have cemented her as an invaluable resource for WGI. While she enjoys working behind the scenes and making significant impacts across various facets of the organization, she still appreciates her roots and occasionally gets her hands dirty in some plan sheets.
A Multifaceted Life Beyond Engineering
Outside of her professional life, Coriann is a devoted mother of two and a fitness enthusiast who has completed the 7-mile marathon in the Florida Keys (once) and has hiked the Everglades National Park during the rainy season, showcasing her adventurous spirit. Even though health is a priority for Coriann, she also has a passion for baking sweet treats, appreciating the precision and mathematical aspects it involves.
Join us in this inspiring episode as Coriann Salas shares her journey, insights, and the values that drive her contributions to WGI. Don’t miss out on this engaging conversation on the WGI Unleashed Podcast!
Join us in thanking Coriann Salas for sharing her fascinating story - from her early days at school in Orlando to the many hats she wears now; Coriann's journey has been nothing short of thrilling! So, put on those headphones and crank up the volume because it's time to get unleashed!
Don't forget to tune in next time as we unravel more captivating tales and insights on the WGI Unleashed Podcast. Until then, stay inspired and keep unleashing your potential!
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