Shaped By Experiences
Celebrating the Many Paths an Engineering Career Can Take
One thing we’ve come to learn is that there is no single way to become an engineer. Some people discover the profession early. Others find it after detours, restarts, or entire careers in different fields. Some begin their journey overseas; others uncover it close to home.
Engineers Week gives us a chance to celebrate the variety of ways people find it to our profession. It reminds us all—especially future engineers—that career don’t have to fit a mold.
This year, we’re highlighting three JEO team members whose stories show just how varied and meaningful career paths can be. Their journeys look nothing alike, yet each one led to a place where curiosity, resilience, and purpose intersect.
Muhanad Alsamaraie, P.E.
Transportation
For Muhanad Alsamaraie, engineering has been defined by adaptability, persistence, and a commitment to professional growth.
Over more than two decades, he has built his career across Iraq, Dubai, and later the United States—gaining experience across continents and cultures while maintaining a constant commitment to excellence.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad in 1998, completing 152 credit hours—well beyond the 126 typically required at many American universities. He followed with a master’s degree in transportation engineering in 2001 and became a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Iraq in 2005.
With years of experience and licensure already established, Muhanad relocated to the United States ready to continue his career. What he quickly learned was that professional credentials do not always transfer across borders.
“If I wanted to fully practice as a civil engineer, I needed to earn a PE license,” he explains. “Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to take on design responsibilities or lead projects in the same way.”
Determined to meet U.S. standards, he began the licensing process again. In March 2021, he passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. By October 2021, he had completed the PE exam. In 2022, he fulfilled additional requirements, including two courses necessary to earn Engineer Intern (EI) status.
One of the most significant challenges was administrative.
“Obtaining my bachelor’s degree transcript and graduation certificate was a challenging and time-consuming process,” he recalls. “It took nine months to receive my transcript due to the outdated administrative system in Iraq. Universities there still rely entirely on paper-based procedures, and there is no option to request or receive official documents via email or through university websites. This reliance on manual processes significantly delayed the completion of my documentation.”
Even after submitting his records, he was required to take two additional basic science courses to meet U.S. licensing standards, despite having completed far more credit hours than typically required.
He continued forward. In 2025, Muhanad officially became a Licensed Professional Engineer in the United States.
Throughout his career, he has developed experience in civil engineering, transportation design, construction operations, personnel management, and project management. What stands out most, however, is his persistence.
“I am most proud of my perseverance and determination to overcome complex challenges, both academic and bureaucratic, in pursuit of my professional goals,” he says.
Today, his work is centered on impact.
“I hope my work helps communities move more safely and efficiently,” he shares. “These improvements in roadway design can prevent crashes, save time, make communities more connected, and enhance daily life for thousands of people.”
He is particularly drawn to the problem-solving nature of transportation engineering.
“What I love most about my job is the problem-solving aspect. Every project is a new challenge—balancing safety, mobility, costs, land constraints, public concerns, and long-term performance. I enjoy finding solutions that are not just technically sound but practical and equitable.”
Looking ahead, he sees continued evolution in the profession.
“We’re evolving from designing roads to designing resilient, intelligent mobility systems that improve quality of life.”
His journey reflects the realities many internationally trained professionals face when rebuilding careers in a new country. It also reflects the persistence required to meet new standards and continue contributing at a high level. For Muhanad, engineering remains focused on building systems that serve communities effectively and responsibly.
Ann Nissen, P.E.
Water Resources
Ann Nissen, PE, didn’t set out to work in water resources. Her path to engineering took time, reflection, and a deliberate decision to change direction.
After high school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and began working at Walgreens as an assistant manager. She valued the leadership responsibilities and daily interaction with her team and customers, and the role provided meaningful experience early in her career.
Over time, however, she began to reconsider her long-term goals.
“I spent time reflecting on what I enjoy and what I am good at,” she says.
That reflection led her back to school to study civil engineering.
Early in her coursework, she found herself drawn to water resources. The interest had deeper roots. Growing up, her dad would take the family to Papio Creek after heavy rainstorms to see how high the water had risen. On family trips, she paid attention to mountain streams and the way water shaped the surrounding landscape.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the power of water,” she says. “I just didn’t realize it could become a career.”
As she progressed through the program, the direction became clear. She wanted work that addressed real-world challenges and had a tangible impact on communities. Water resources offered both technical problem-solving and the opportunity to help communities understand and manage flood risk.
Today, Ann finds the most satisfaction in helping clients make informed, confident decisions. In water resources engineering, analyses must be precise and defensible. Cities and counties rely on that work to guide infrastructure planning, reduce flood risk, and protect public safety.
“I love working with our clients to make sure our analyses are accurate and defensible,” she says. “It feels good to know the work supports public safety, planning, and long-term resilience.”
Her work extends beyond models and calculations. It is about ensuring clients have the information they need to plan responsibly and serve their communities effectively.
She is equally thoughtful about where the profession is headed. With aging infrastructure, rapidly evolving technology, and the growing challenges of climate change, she sees tremendous opportunity for engineers to make a meaningful difference.
“There is so much opportunity ahead,” she says. “Engineers have important work to do. I am excited to be part of solutions that help protect people and strengthen our communities for the future.”
Ann’s career path was not linear, but it was intentional. By reassessing her interests and strengths, she found a direction that aligned with both. What began as a childhood curiosity became a profession focused on helping communities prepare for and respond to the challenges water can bring.
Trevor Breeling, P.E.
Water Wastewater Electrical
Trevor Breeling’s path to civil engineering was shaped by service, persistence, and a willingness to start over.
In high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve. After graduation, he attended boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, followed by “A” School in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he trained as a Construction Electrician in the Seabees (Construction Battalion).
Shortly after enrolling at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) to study electrical engineering, his plans changed. One month before his freshman-year final exams, he was deployed to Iraq. Following three months of preparation in Gulfport, Mississippi, he spent six months overseas working alongside multiple branches of the U.S. military and the Iraqi Army.
When he returned home, Trevor re-enrolled at UNO and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He set his sights on federal law enforcement, applying to agencies including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Omaha Police Department. With limited openings at the time, those opportunities did not materialize.
Over the next several years, he worked a range of jobs—from distributing Budweiser to linen services and overnight security—while refereeing indoor soccer nearly every evening. After three years without finding a long-term fit, his wife encouraged him to revisit a long-standing interest: civil engineering.
He retook foundational courses and, in many ways, began again. Four years later, he graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln through UNO with a degree in Civil Engineering.
There was no single defining moment that redirected his path. Trevor had long been interested in bridges and waterways, initially focusing on water resources and transportation. During a yearlong internship at JEO, however, he discovered that water and wastewater infrastructure aligned best with his strengths and interests. He was drawn to the construction side of the work, building strong communication with contractors and developing practical solutions in the field.
Today, Trevor is motivated by continuous improvement.
“While new innovations and trends are interesting, it’s motivating to be able to look at projects we consistently deliver and think, ‘Can we design this system a bit different and get more out of it?’” he says.
He takes pride in knowing his work supports safe, reliable water and wastewater systems for the communities he serves, helping ensure regulatory standards are met and protecting public health. Each step in his journey—military service, career shifts, and returning to school—has shaped the steady, practical perspective he brings to engineering, focused on improving essential systems for the people who depend on them.