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_outlineIn the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, we get to know Cody Lambert, PE, a Senior Structural Engineer based in WGI’s Austin, Texas office. With a laid-back attitude, a passion for mentoring, and a knack for complex design challenges, Cody brings his thoughtful and collaborative spirit to everything he does, whether it’s leading structural efforts on a unique residential build or fostering a learning culture among his teammates.
Growing Up in Cypress
Originally from Cypress, Texas (a large suburb just outside Houston), Cody describes his upbringing as classic suburban - playing basketball in the street, riding his bike around the neighborhood, and earning a reputation for missing curfews despite his mom’s best efforts (and watch purchases). While he played traditional sports early on, Cody eventually traded team athletics for something a little more daring: BMX biking. Though he wasn’t part of an official team, he spent much of his free time at skateparks and backyard halfpipes.
Discovering Austin and the Path to Engineering
After visiting his older brother at the University of Texas at Austin, Cody instantly fell in love with the city’s energy and set his sights on becoming a Longhorn. Though he entered college undeclared, a transformative architecture course and a growing interest in design led him to architectural engineering.
Ultimately, he found his niche in structural engineering, drawn to the challenge of solving tough technical problems. That realization set the course for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at UT, where he specialized in structural design.
Early Career and Joining WGI
Cody continued on to earn his master’s degree at UT, then launched his career through a series of impactful internships, including one where he worked on a toll kiosk project at Austin’s airport, and ultimately, a long-term position at a structural firm. That journey eventually led him to WGI, thanks to former colleague and now-supervisor Forrest Bratton. Since joining the firm, Cody has become an integral part of WGI’s Buildings division, known not just for his engineering expertise but for his dedication to mentoring younger team members.
In fact, mentorship and knowledge-sharing are Cody’s favorite parts of the job. He helped implement a biweekly “Lessons Learned” session in the Austin office, creating space for engineers to reflect on project experiences, share mistakes, and grow together as a team. His philosophy? Teach others so well that you make yourself obsolete.
Standout Projects
Cody also shared some highlights from his project work, including a complex private residence in Telluride, Colorado, where his team designed a two-story basement structure underneath a suspended historic cottage, an incredibly intricate feat of coordination and engineering. He also contributed to the recently completed Jacksonville Transportation Authority's Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC), helping navigate tricky soils and deep foundation design.
Away From His Desk
Outside of the office, Cody is an avid rock climber, often hitting the gym several times a week. He’s also passionate about cooking, discovering new restaurants, and spending time with his two dogs—Kade and Bonita—who he and his girlfriend brought together to form one very quirky (and lovable) pet family.
From his early days in Cypress to tackling world-class projects and championing team growth, Cody brings a humble, people-first approach to structural engineering—and it’s clear his impact at WGI stretches far beyond the drawings and calculations.
Tune In
This episode is full of thoughtful insights, surprising stories, and inspiring moments - from BMX and rock climbing to navigating complex structural challenges and mentoring the next generation of engineers.
So, tune in, and as always, stay curious, stay driven, and keep unleashing your full potential!
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