--- title: "5 Questions With An Expert: Frank Carmichael" description: An interview-style blog post with Frank Carmichael, the Austin Branch Manager/Pavement Leader at HVJ Associates®. Read his story of ensuring project success. image: https://www.hvj.com/hubfs/Profile_Frank%20Carmichael.jpg --- [![HVJ Logo](https://www.hvj.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HVJ%20logo_141x71.png?width=110&height=71&name=HVJ%20logo_141x71.png "HVJ Logo")](https://www.hvj.com/) ** [ Let's talk ](https://www.hvj.com/contact-us) ** ** Geotechnical Engineering Soil, rock, and groundwater conditions at every site are different. We assess the specific site conditions and design earth structures (slopes, channels, and dikes), foundations (retaining walls, bridges, buildings, tanks), and subsurface structures (clarifiers, lift stations, buried utilities, tunnels) to economically achieve the specific project objectives. Learn More → Construction Materials Engineering & Testing Construction material performance is key to the function and durability of any project. We engineer and test materials such as soil, concrete, and asphalt so you get what you pay for and the project performs as expected.     Learn More → Civil/Pavement Engineering A successful project starts with clear understanding of the project’s specific needs. We prepared street rehabilitation PS&E, traffic control designs, pavement designs, and asset management systems based on careful understanding of design requirements.   Learn More → Environmental Geology & Engineering Impact from hazardous waste, wetlands, faulting, and/or NEPA processes are serious concerns for project development. We identify such concerns early in project development, and provide strategies to mitigate impacts and provide the proper regulatory approval so the project can proceed on time and achieve the project goals. Learn More → Roads & Bridges Congestion and failing road surfaces cause delays, vehicle damage, and even driver safety issues. Solving these problems requires our specialized knowledge of pavement and roadway structures. Learn More → Water, Wastewater & Flood Control Drinking water, flushing toilets, and dry streets for granted – until they are gone. We specialize in keeping these systems running effectively. Learn More → Airports, Ports & Dredging Expanding and maintaining ports and airports is crucial to our economic development. HVJ’s specialized pavement, wharf, and navigation channel experience makes it happen. Learn More → Rail & Transit Rail and public transit facilities enable efficient transportation of people and goods. Our detailed knowledge of AREMA requirements keeps projects on track. Learn More → Buildings & Parks Schools, universities, courts, parks, solid waste facilities are all critical to our society. HVJ has specialized knowledge and experience with a multitude of public projects. Learn More → [About Us](https://go.hvj.com/about-us) [News & Resources](https://www.hvj.com/blog) [Locations](https://www.hvj.com/all-locations) [Partners](https://www.hvj.com/partners) HVJ Difference Our engineers provide a unique blend of capabilities and experience because of the support they receive. Employees do not simply exist here. They thrive. Learn More → Culture We are committed learners, empowered to interact based on making strong commitments. We take ownership of our actions and results. Learn More → Benefits We believe in taking care of our employees. We offer a rewarding work experience, opportunities for advancement and competitive benefits. Learn More → Employee Stories Check out what our employees say and learn about the HVJ experience! Great people and even greater teams are behind every project. Learn More → Current Openings We're always looking for talented individuals who fit our culture and can bring new perspectives and experiences to our growing teams. Learn More → Agencies HVJ has been proud to support hundreds of public agencies meet and exceed service expectations from their constituents.  Learn More → Consultant Clients We’ve developed ongoing teaming relationships with many consulting firms based on delivering outstanding client satisfaction. Learn More → Providers Our success strongly depends on our business associates that provide the products and services we need. Learn More → HVJ Difference Our engineers provide a unique blend of capabilities and experience because of the support they receive. Employees do not simply exist here. They thrive. Learn More → Culture We are committed learners, empowered to interact based on making strong commitments. We take ownership of our actions and results. Learn More → Benefits We believe in taking care of our employees. We offer a rewarding work experience, opportunities for advancement and competitive benefits. Learn More → Employee Stories Check out what our employees say and learn about the HVJ experience! Great people and even greater teams are behind every project. Learn More → Current Openings We're always looking for talented individuals who fit our culture and can bring new perspectives and experiences to our growing teams. Learn More → The Opportunity Own a successful engineering business by adding our proven systems to your engineering talent and network. Learn More → How It Works Help us branchise – you help us build a branch office and then convert it into your own franchise. Learn More → Who's A Fit? Are you energetic and confident? See if this might be an opportunity that fits you. Learn More → FAQs What do you want to know?  Find the answers to common questions. Learn More → Success Stories Hear about the outstanding results our current franchisees have produced using our proven systems. Learn More → Search **Menu** ** ** [![Let's Talk](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/5496911/6233d0db-c76c-4678-9152-08331c17b6f1.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/5496911/6233d0db-c76c-4678-9152-08331c17b6f1) ![](https://www.hvj.com/hubfs/shutterstock_330042014%202.jpg) [Blog](https://www.hvj.com/blog/tag/blog) | 4 min read # 5 Questions With An Expert: Frank Carmichael Written by [HVJ Associates](https://www.hvj.com/blog/author/hvj-associates) September 30, 2020 **![Profile_Frank Carmichael](https://www.hvj.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Profile_Frank%20Carmichael.jpg?width=216&name=Profile_Frank%20Carmichael.jpg) [Frank Carmichael](https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-carmichael-1a8a064/) **Austin Civil Branch Manager/Pavement Practice Leader **1. What type of work do you do at HVJ, and what do you find most interesting about it? **I lead HVJ’s pavement engineering practice, and am also the Austin Civil Branch manager. My team’s specialty is plan, specification and cost estimate work with a focus on street rehabilitation, pavement design and traffic control plan engineering. We work on a wide variety of projects, including urban streets, county roads, state highways, airport runways, taxiways and aprons, toll roads, and port terminals. As part of pavement work, it is a natural extension for us to also develop PS&E for street rehabilitation projects and traffic control plans to accommodate motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians during construction. I enjoy the challenge of designing transportation infrastructure that meets many competing demands. Traffic loading frequencies and different load types and sizes must be estimated for the life of the pavement. Another significant design consideration is environmental conditions, such as accounting for exceptionally hot weather, or areas with recurrent ice or frost. In high temperature, for example, pavement can get soft, so the pavement mix must account for that. It may seem simple on the surface, but we use complex engineering to determine factors like the thickness of the surface and base layers as well as the design of the mix so that it will perform according to the traffic loads and environmental conditions. It’s a statistical problem to estimate how long the pavement will last and which design option will meet both budget requirements and demands for longevity. **2. What have you found to be most important in a project being successful? ** A successful project requires anticipating the design problems that are most likely, and also solving the unexpected problems that pop up in a way that meets the project’s goals. Technically, pavement engineering is like designing a recipe that must be perfectly made. I am a detailed person, which is important because missing one detail can result in costly maintenance and even early failure of the pavement. I often think about high profile engineering failures that have had disastrous consequences. It drives me to strive to make sure we develop a clear understanding of the project requirements, and that we are designing cost-effective, durable pavement. **3. What are the common types of problems that your clients are trying to solve? What do you think draws them specifically to HVJ?** Our clients are looking for a pavement design that meets their technical operational requirements within the confines of their budget. They are counting on us to provide a design that accounts for environmental and contextual factors which are unique to each project. For example, residential areas have a low number of heavy vehicles (limited to the occasional school bus, garbage truck, etc.), while arterial roads may need to withstand over 250,000 vehicles per day with many heavy vehicles. So our clients are trusting us to consider all of these design factors.    We must also work within the confines of the client’s budget. With an unlimited budget, it’s not as difficult to create a pavement design that will last for many years. However, it is rare that budget does not impact our decisions. Sometimes the budget is very limited and we need to think creatively to make the pavement last longer, such as looking to a new material or a unique construction design. For example, you can modify the hot mix asphalt or Portland cement concrete mix design to make it last longer. So, we need to fully understand their requirements and then create solutions that fit. **4. HVJ describes itself as being built on service. What does client service mean to you, and what keeps clients coming back to HVJ?** One of the most important skills that keeps clients coming back to us is our ability to listen closely to their operational and budget requirements. This necessitates our thinking critically to ask the right types of questions and being fully engaged in the problem. The best solution will be customized for each project. Our team’s depth of experience allows us to listen closely, and then make promises that we can keep. Unexpected challenges often arise, but we work around them to meet the timeline, budget, and technical needs -even if it means working outside of the box. One unique way that HVJ provides value, is that our project team is made up of the same people from the beginning to the end to provide continuity. At many firms, a different team works on each piece of the project; this makes it difficult for everyone to understand all of the pieces of the puzzle. At HVJ we focus on building lasting client relationships by earning our clients’ trust so they want to keep coming back. We are responsive and collaborative. We take seriously our role as  a team player in developing strong relationships that enable the entire design to fit together. **5. You’ve been at HVJ for 20 years. What do like most about being part of the HVJ team?** I appreciate that HVJ encourages and expects everyone to participate in professional organizations, and to engage in activities like authoring professional papers and practicing lifelong learning. I also appreciate the culture of developing non-technical skills such as effective communications, active listening, and setting clear conditions of satisfaction. HVJ fosters an environment of open communication,  and I have confidence that I can openly call my colleagues in other offices to ask questions, brainstorm, and make sure we are coming up with the best possible solution. One of the most common problems in this industry is making assumptions rather than confirming facts through clear communication, so HVJ’s open, collaborative culture mitigates that risk. We succeed by working well together. These are expensive decisions that can not be taken lightly, and everyone at HVJ takes this seriously. As a branch manager, I instill those values to my team through our team meetings and by encouraging everyone to share plans with one another. Even with COVID, we have found great success in virtual team meetings to make sure everyone is on the same page. 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