A compelling online presence is a requirement for many industries, and environmental engineering is no exception. In fact, this statement made as much sense 10 years ago as it does today. Considering the rapid growth of social networking, mobile connectivity, and Cloud-based computing, engineering firms in all disciplines need to take the steps to properly brand their company online lest they run the risk of being an also-ran in their industry sector.

Let’s take a look at four easy ways to give your environmental engineering firm an online brand that gets noticed.

A LinkedIn Company Page is a Must

While LinkedIn is the dominant social network for individual professionals, companies and organizations are also able to set up their own LinkedIn pages. This is a great opportunity to gain additional publicity and networking for your company. Have members of your management team write articles on the site to position themselves and your organization as thought leaders in the world of environmental engineering.

Don’t Skimp on the Graphic Design

Spend extra resources on creating a company logo that gets your firm noticed. Leverage that design to re-architect the look and feel of your organization’s website. Remember that your website is still a vital aspect of your company’s online presence.

Don’t forget the Other Social Networks

While LinkedIn remains the most important social network for professionals, your company also needs a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. An online marketing strategy must take advantage of the synergies between all four leading social networks. Sharing posts made on LinkedIn with your followers on the other networks extends their effectiveness.

Leverage Smart Usage of SEO

Smart use of search-engine optimization techniques helps to increase the reach of any posts and articles made by your company — anywhere on the Internet. Consider adding a blog to your website to provide more opportunities for potential customers to find your organization.

Expanding your company’s online brand is vital for your ultimate success. A competent and engaged workforce also plays a role. Talk to the engineering recruiting experts at The Talley Group for your staffing needs. As one of the top engineering staffing companies in Seattle, with a great supply of both Seattle engineering jobs and talented candidates, they can help ensure your organization’s success.

Agriculture and environmental engineering are important disciplines, especially in this era of climate change and the ever-increasing population of the world. Tracing the history of agricultural engineering education at the college level provides insight into its development in the early 20th Century and beyond. North Carolina State University is typical of other American universities in this regard, and as such is the focus of this article.

Growing from Humble Beginnings North Carolina State University created its first agricultural engineering teaching program in 1920, when the university was known as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. A four-year course in the discipline actually attracted no students for the first few years, so its beginnings were definitely very humble. The first graduate from the nascent program earned a B.S. in Agriculture (no Engineering) in 1935. Soon afterwards, a fully fledged agricultural engineering degree program saw its first graduate in 1938. Nearly simultaneously, agricultural research efforts began at the college in 1937. An actual Agricultural Engineering Department saw its genesis in 1940, as the program separated from the Agronomy Department where it had resided since its beginnings.

An Expanding Program’s New Lab Space Over the 40s and 50s, the Agricultural Engineering program at North Carolina State continued to grow, taking advantage of an eventual 95,000 square foot facility called Weaver Labs. The university began offering a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering in 1957. In 1965, the department changed its name to Biological and Agricultural Engineering, reflecting the growing importance of biology as it relates to the practice of agriculture. It was the first department in the United States to do so. Currently, Biological Engineering is the only undergraduate program offered, but a significant number of agricultural courses are still part of the coursework, along with environmental engineering and bioprocessing/food classes. If the history of agricultural engineering education, with its evolution to encompass biological and environmental disciplines, inspires use to further a career in this area, talk to the experts at The Talley Group.

As one of the leading sources for Seattle engineering jobs, they have the knowledgeable recruiters on hand t insure your success. Be sure to schedule some time with them today!

Salaries at engineering firms are seeing a nice recovery from the Great Recession so far in 2014. An industry study from ZweigWhite, made in a partnership with the American Council of Engineering Companies, looks at salary data by U.S. region, the firm’s specific industry specialty, and the job role. There is no doubt that this year is a good time to be either getting started, or already an experienced worker, in the engineering industry.

Let’s take a closer look at the survey data.

All Experience Levels seeing Engineering Salaries go Higher

A rising tide lifts all boats is the time-honored saying, and it appears to ring true for salary levels in engineering. The ZweigWhite study shows that everyone, from entry-level engineers to firm principals, is earning more so far this year. Project engineers, project managers, and departmental heads also see an increase earning rate.

The Northeast and South Atlantic, as well as the Central regions in the survey both show salary increases. The Mountain and Pacific combined region held steady, probably because engineering salaries in those regions already rank among the highest in the United States. Wherever your location in the United States — it pays well to be an engineer!

Environmental Engineering Jobs remain Lucrative

The environmental engineering discipline garnered special attention for salary growth in the ZweigWhite survey. The Central region noted an increase of 17 percent in the median base salary for environmental engineers for 2014 compared to the previous year. Firm principals for environmental engineering companies saw a 2014 salary increase of 12.7 percent compared to 2013’s numbers.

Project managers involved in the structural engineering discipline saw a median salary increase of more than 10 percent — from $81,640 in 2013 to $90,000 in the current year. Hopefully, the still improving economy bodes well for engineering salaries in 2015 and beyond.

If you are an environmental engineer fresh out of a college, or an experienced worker looking for career advancement, talk to the engineering staffing experts at The Talley Group. They are one of the top engineering recruiting firms in the Seattle area, with the unique capabilities to help you and your career no matter your specific discipline — environmental, structural, and more. Schedule some time with them today!

When one thinks of the traditional wind turbines for wind energy production, the image includes a towering massive structure, taller than the downtown skyscrapers. It has been essential to put these gigantic turbines in areas with much open space, in order to maximize the output in relation to the set up costs.

Up until now, vast stretches of rural farmland or urban wastelands have housed windmills, with sometimes hundreds of them placed creating turbine farms. The owners of these areas receive great incentives and rebates from the government for their efforts.

Now, several companies have created smaller turbines that could possibly even fit in our backyards. These turbines could work to power homes, farms and smaller businesses. The Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) has approved two small wind turbines with more approvals coming.

The national certification process will generate sales of more of these turbines because now an everyday homeowner will be able to receive the same rebates and financial incentives as those wind turbine farmers. And whereas an older style large windmill cost over $60,000 to install, the investment in a smaller turbine will be more accessible to many.

In order to get certified the SWCC has to review the engineering design. The council looks at the mechanical engineering of the aerodynamics of the blades, and tests them in extreme conditions. These structures need to hold up after many years of pounding winds and weather, which can lead to corrosion.

The first two models to be certified are the Bergey Windpower Excel 10 and the Southwest Windpower Skystream 3.7. The Bergey has been around since the 1980s, and has endured much testing, so it was not difficult to provide certification for this wind turbine.

In order to test the turbines, much attention needs to be paid to the mechanical engineering simulations. The tests being done for the larger blades can also benefit the smaller turbine creators. The National Science Foundation has funded research including a virtual test environment where turbines can be tested through real, extreme weather condition simulations. These are looked at through a high-performance supercomputer platform.

This research will be essential in determining the design challenges for the next generation of these impactful turbines.

Contact The Talley Group for the latest positions in mechanical engineering and wind turbine technologies.