Ricardo Castro, Associate Vice President
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our Miami office to sit down with Ricardo Castro, PE, Associate Vice President in our group! When Ricardo came to the United States in 2001, the plan was to earn a master's degree and head home to Colombia two years later. Twenty-five years on, he's still here, and he now calls himself Miami's biggest ambassador. Two Stones and a Soccer Ball: Growing Up in Cúcuta Ricardo grew up in Cúcuta, a small city on Colombia's border with Venezuela, with two television channels and one sport. After class, he and his friends...
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Robby Vogel, Director of Structural Engineering
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head over to our to sit down with Robby Vogel, PE, Director of Structural Engineering in our Buildings group! Robby has been selling since he was 13. Back then he'd call customers at his dad's mechanic shop to tell them their car was ready, then offer to detail it if they could wait a few more hours. The pitch has gotten bigger since, and so have the stakes, but one pattern has held for his whole career. Almost every door he walked through opened because he knew somebody, or somebody knew his mom. Seguin, Texas:...
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Pablo Dominguez, Geomaticist
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our to sit down with Pablo Dominguez, a geomaticist in our ! If you ask Pablo what he'd be doing if he weren't surveying, he'll tell you archeology without hesitating. He's stood at the Colosseum and at the pyramids in Giza, and the History Channel runs on a loop at his house, much to his wife's dismay. Spend an hour with him, and you'll start to notice that Land Surveying and Archeology are two jobs that are closer than they sound. Salt Life: Growing Up in Miami Pablo was born in Guatemala and moved to Miami at...
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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...
info_outlineIn Episode 93 of the WGI Unleashed podcast, we’re excited to introduce you to Grant Farley, EIT, a Senior Graduate Engineer in our MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) Division based out of WGI’s Austin, TX office.
Grant joined hosts Dan and Katie for a lively conversation full of laughs, career insights, and fun stories. From his small-town Texas roots and a childhood fascination with robotics to designing electrical systems for complex infrastructure projects across the country, this episode offers a look into the life of a young engineer making waves at WGI and proving that passion, curiosity, and a great team can take you far.
From East Texas to Texas A&M
Born and raised about 50 miles east of Dallas, Grant grew up in a town so small that his high school graduating class had just 47 students.
But don’t let the size fool you - Grant’s drive and curiosity were anything but small. He was a standout athlete, an all-state football player, and a self-proclaimed tinkerer who loved pulling apart computers and competing in state-level robotics competitions. It was clear from early on that Grant was destined for a career in STEM.
After high school, he enrolled at Texas A&M University and pursued a degree in Electrical Systems Engineering Technology, gravitating toward coursework focused on microcontrollers, embedded systems, and energy-efficient building technologies. Though he originally considered cybersecurity and IT due to family influence, Grant’s experience in college steered him toward something more tangible - designing real-world electrical systems and infrastructure.
Launching a Career with WGI
Grant’s professional journey with WGI began at a Texas A&M career fair, where he connected with company recruiters and "saw the light," so to speak. He immediately saw alignment between WGI’s core values and his own - especially our commitment to innovation, integrity, and a people-first culture.
Fast forward three years, and Grant has already earned a promotion from Graduate Engineer to Senior Graduate Engineer, taking on more responsibility and autonomy in the design process. He now collaborates directly with architects, project managers, and other disciplines to develop sophisticated electrical systems for buildings and infrastructure projects across the country.
Spotlight on Projects: EV Infrastructure, Parking Garages, and Life Sciences
Grant has had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects that reflect both the breadth and depth of WGI’s capabilities. Some of his most notable contributions include:
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A major parking garage in Georgetown, TX – one of Grant’s first opportunities to lead electrical design, from incoming utility coordination all the way down to branch-level circuits and lighting.
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Fleet EV (Electric Vehicle) charging infrastructure – part of a national initiative, these projects have deepened his expertise in power distribution and are helping drive the future of sustainable mobility.
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One of Austin’s largest life sciences lab developments – a technically complex and 'power-dense' facility that has challenged Grant to apply creative thinking to a new project type for WGI.
These experiences have taken him across the country - from St. Louis and Chicago to Louisiana and Arkansas - giving him valuable field exposure through punch walks, site investigations, and even topping-out ceremonies.
A Day in the Life
A typical day for Grant involves reviewing project scopes, breaking down design tasks, collaborating with internal teams, and diving deep into electrical layouts and code compliance. He frequently references the National Electrical Code, which serves as a standardized framework for his designs across state lines, with some jurisdictional nuances along the way.
While the bulk of his work is rooted in design, Grant also appreciates the field-side experiences that bring his designs to life - literally seeing a project go from paper to reality.
Life Outside of Work
Outside the office, Grant is just as interesting. He’s an avid fisherman and enjoys annual trips with his wife and her family to Port Aransas, TX, where beach days, charter fishing, and jetty-side hangs are a tradition. He even once rescued a sea turtle caught in the rocks - snapping a selfie before safely returning it to the ocean.
He’s also an occasional golfer, a dedicated sci-fi fan (currently working through The Expanse series), and a proud pet parent to what he jokingly calls a “mini zoo”: two dogs, two cats, and two ball pythons. From a sweet orange tabby named Kitty to their newest rescue cat Cipher, Grant and his wife have created a home that’s as full of personality as he is.
Oh—and he does a mean Gollum impression. You'll have to listen to believe it.
Why WGI?
When asked what makes WGI special, Grant doesn’t hesitate: the people. He reflects on the supportive, collaborative environment and how the open design of WGI’s new Austin office encourages cross-disciplinary conversations and teamwork. According to Grant, WGI’s people-first culture is a key reason why he’s not only stayed, but thrived.
“Being able to go to work with people you enjoy, who support your growth and push you to do your best—that’s what sets WGI apart.”
Tune In
This episode is packed with memorable moments—from rescuing sea turtles on the Texas coast to designing cutting-edge electrical systems across the country. So, tune in, and as always, stay curious, stay driven, and keep unleashing your full potential!
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