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_outlineJoin us for the latest episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, as we round out Q3, getting to know Erin Sandoval, PE, a Civil Engineer based in WGI’s San Antonio, Texas office.
If you think all engineers are quiet and reserved, Erin will quickly change your mind. She’s a runner who tackles 20-mile weekends for fun, a world traveler with a fascination for the British royal family’s “not-so-pretty” history, a former synchronized swimmer who once competed nationally, and a magnet for rescue dogs who seem to literally follow her home.
Oh, and somewhere along the way, she’s also built a thriving career in land development.
Finding Her Way Into Engineering
Growing up in San Antonio with two military parents, Erin was always equal parts disciplined and curious. She excelled at math from a young age (asking teachers for extra homework in first grade!) and knew she wanted to build a career doing something she loved. What she didn’t know was that her journey to becoming a civil engineer would take a few unexpected turns.
Originally aiming for a degree in environmental engineering, Erin discovered midway through her college career at the University of Texas at San Antonio that her program track was actually civil-heavy. Instead of giving up, she powered through, focusing her frustration and eventually found herself at a career fair where she landed an internship at Big Red Dog, right as it was joining WGI. That “lucky break” turned into the perfect fit — giving her the chance to see the impact of land development firsthand and connect with mentors who helped shape her path.
Wearing Many Hats (and Preferring Baseball Caps Over Bucket Hats)
From drainage reports to subdivision plats, public hearings to client meetings, Erin’s days are anything but boring. She’s quick to point out that civil engineering isn’t just about sitting behind a computer — it’s about problem-solving, communicating, and wearing “a lot of different hats.” While she’ll pick a baseball cap over a bucket hat any day, Erin shines when she’s putting on her client-facing hat, presenting projects at zoning cases, or mentoring the next wave of interns.
She credits her success not only to her own determination but also to the culture of the San Antonio office: “The people are what keep me coming back every day,” she says. “We’ve got such a solid team that balances each other out — everyone brings different strengths to the table, and it just works.”
Life Outside the Office
Outside of work, Erin is just as driven. When she’s not coordinating with clients or leading projects, Erin’s probably running 20 miles for "fun", hiking, or planning her next active adventure. She admits her idea of a perfect vacation is the kind where she comes home exhausted from exploring instead of lounging on the beach. Her love for animals also shines through: her two rescue dogs, Nipsey and Frannie, both came into her life in true “storybook” fashion by literally following her home and quickly making themselves part of the family.
A former synchronized swimmer who once competed nationally, Erin brings the same competitive spirit and determination to her career, proving that her blend of technical expertise, people-first mindset, and adventurous nature are what make her such a dynamic force as part of WGI's Civil Team.
And if you ask her about hidden talents? Erin can still belt out the alphabet in a series of burps — a childhood party trick that may or may not resurface at the next WGI happy hour...
Tune In
This episode is filled with stories that highlight Erin's resilience, humor, and drive to succeed - So, tune in, and as always, stay curious, stay driven, and keep unleashing your full potential!
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