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Michael Reid

Michael (Mike) Reid '00
Senior Project Manager, PBS&J, Panama City Beach, Fla.
Master's Civil Engineering

As a part of a project to rebuild Mississippi Gulf Coast's water and sewage systems in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Auburn University alum Mike Reid is working on two projects that will provide Hancock and Harrison counties with more advanced water systems. Reid is senior project manager for PBS&J in Panama City Beach, Fla.

The projects, sanctioned by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, are funded though a $650 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant. Of the many projects that this grant is funding, PBS&J is in charge of two major efforts and assisting another firm on four smaller ones. 

Reid serves as the engineer-of-record on the project in Harrison County. "The citizens of Pearlington, Miss. currently have no water or sewer system," says Reid. "They rely on individual water wells and septic tanks located at each house."

When Hurricane Katrina hit, these individual water supplies were compromised by flood waters. Reid's team is working to install a water system designed to withstand future disasters. This $25 million project employs the latest technology and will be capable of supplying three million gallons of water per day.

Reid feels that the master's degree he earned at Auburn has served him well in his current position.

"I read a recent study that indicated that on average, only one in four engineers in the U.S. goes on to get a master's degree in engineering," says Reid. "I feel honored to have been able to be in the select few that did, and having a degree from Auburn, one of the best engineering schools in the region, makes it even better."

As a high school student, Reid was drawn to mathematics and technology. His father was a civil engineer, and after Reid considered the different types of engineering, he followed in his father's footsteps. He was especially attracted by the tangibility of civil engineering. 

"I felt like civil engineering was more concrete and knew I would be able to see designs become realities through bridges, buildings, roads, dams or more," says Reid.

After receiving a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of South Alabama in 1987, Reid entered the professional world working with a large government contractor. Studying for his P.E. rekindled his desire to have a more advanced degree. At work, he frequently dealt with military officers who had many years of training and expertise. This made Reid feel that he needed additional education to better relate to his clients, and the technical information he learned while in graduate study at Auburn helped him accomplish this goal.

"Clients look to you to have the answers and advise them," says Reid. "They want you to bring answers to their questions and the graduate courses I took in water and wastewater treatment helped me to be more technical in my everyday activities."

After graduating from Auburn with his master's degree, Reid went to work in the engineering consulting business. His degree from Auburn gives him added confidence in a work environment that constantly challenges him to maintain chargeability to a diverse client base using a range of skills from public speaking to client and customer service.

"The MCE degree I earned, which was primarily geared toward water and wastewater treatment, helped me stand out in the crowd as a technical expert," says Reid. "The degree helped me get my foot in the door."

Reid is drawn to his current managerial position because of the challenge to mix technical skills with personal skills in order to close a sale. He manages a group of technical experts that design complex projects and provide high-quality deliverables on schedule and within budget.

"Consulting is not for everyone," says Reid. "If a person thrives on being constantly busy and accountable for everything, then consulting is the place to be. If not, then it is probably not the best fit."

Although a master's degree from Auburn Engineering was hard work, Reid is constantly reminded of the benefits of his education. "I believe the degree put me on a faster career development path than just having a bachelor's from a smaller university," says Reid. "Auburn has been a real boost to my self confidence."

He believes that being a graduate from Auburn makes him stand out in a professional crowd and encourages future graduates to make connections once they enter the working world. 'I've met hundreds of alumni throughout the southeast, and we have that common bond of loving Auburn and the reputation that comes with it," says Reid.