This is an Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) podcast sharing the stories of leaders and innovators in the dam safety community. Your host for this episode is Silas Sanderson, P.E.

In this episode, we welcome Sharon Tapia, PE, PMP, Dams Practice Lead at GEI. She has worked in multiple capacities related to dam safety and business operations in California for over 30 years. She brings an understanding of all the disciplines associated with dams and dam safety, with expertise in hydraulics, hydrology, structural, geotechnical engineering, and risk evaluation. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of California Davis. She has served on various national boards including the board of directors for ASDSO and FEMA’s National Dam Safety Review Board. She is also a past president of ASDSO.

Sharon, thank you for sharing your story and advice on career insights and technical expertise for engineers at all levels.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Silas and Sharon discuss:

• Why Costco might be the best place to secure an internship
• Comparing a career in the public versus private sectors
• What to do at your first ASDSO Conference
• Making the transition from individual contributor to manager
• What it’s like to be a regulator for the largest state dam safety program in the country

We want to hear from you!

Have questions for our guests? Want to suggest a topic? Email us at [info@damsafety.org] – we’d love to hear from you!

Get Involved with ASDSO

👷 Membership Benefits – Joining ASDSO gives you access to:
✅ Member discounts on training and products
✅ Unlimited access to ASDSO conference papers
✅ Online member directory
✅ Surveys archive & Journal of Dam Safety
👉 Become a Member: https://www.damsafety.org/basic-page/become-member

🤝 Join a Committee or Interest Group – https://damsafety.org/VolunteerOpps

📚 Upcoming Training Opportunities – Browse live and on-demand webinars, seminars, and past sessions: https://damsafety.org/training-center

📢 This program is copyrighted in 2025 by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. All rights reserved.

This is an Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) podcast sharing the stories of leaders and innovators in the dam safety community. Your host for this episode is Nicole Chiles, P.E.

Today, Nicole welcomed Bill Bingham, P.E., who has led the design of more than 250 new dams and major rehabilitations with over 55 years of experience. Bill has also served on the peer review teams for 28 State Dam Safety programs and many others while he chaired the Peer Review Committee from 1989 to 2011 and afterwards.

Bill, thank you for your stories and advice!

Follow us as we explore more dam safety topics at damsafety.org

Get Involved!

Association Membership

In addition to free resources for the Dam Safety community, membership with ASDSO provides the following list of benefits and more! Follow this link to join! https://www.damsafety.org/basic-page/become-member

• Member discounts on all training and products
• Unlimited access to full ASDSO conference papers
• Online member directory
• Miscellaneous surveys archive
• Journal of Dam Safety

Committee Membership

Consider joining one of the many ASDSO committees and Interest Groups. Find the full list at the following link: Committees and Interest Groups | Association of State Dam Safety

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Find upcoming training opportunities, including on-demand webinars, live webinars, seminars, and past content in the Training Center! Training Center | Association of State Dam Safety

ASDSO Toolbox

The ASDSO Toolbox (www.damtoolbox.org) is intended to be a one-stop shop for current guidelines and regulations of the dam safety industry. The content is growing, but we need your help to further the momentum! Consider volunteering as a moderator, proposing new content, or suggesting additional resources.

This program was copyrighted in 2025 by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials with All Rights Reserved.

This is an Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) podcast sharing the stories of leaders and innovators in the dam safety community. Your host for this episode is Brianna Crotty, P.E.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Craig Findlay, Principal at Findlay Engineering, Inc. With over 45 years of experience in dam safety and geotechnical engineering, Dr. Findlay has served as lead engineer and consultant on a wide variety of dam projects including: FERC Part 12 Inspections, forensic investigations, and seismic and seepage analyses. He is a vital resource for sharing design insights and best practices for internal drainage systems and the long-term safety of embankment dams.

Dr. Findlay, thank you for sharing your story and advice on career insights and technical expertise for engineers at all levels.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Brianna and Dr. Findlay discuss:

• Challenges of working for yourself versus an employer
• How FERC Part 12 Inspections have changed over the years
• The importance of following the data in dam safety and more specifically related to climate change
• A successful engineering skillset including selling services, speaking, and a willingness to be honest with your clients

We want to hear from you!

Have questions for our guests? Want to suggest a topic? Email us at [info@damsafety.org] – we’d love to hear from you!

Get Involved with ASDSO

👷 Membership Benefits – Joining ASDSO gives you access to:
✅ Member discounts on training and products
✅ Unlimited access to ASDSO conference papers
✅ Online member directory
✅ Surveys archive & Journal of Dam Safety
👉 Become a Member: https://www.damsafety.org/basic-page/become-member

🤝 Join a Committee or Interest Group – https://damsafety.org/VolunteerOpps

📚 Upcoming Training Opportunities – Browse live and on-demand webinars, seminars, and past sessions: https://damsafety.org/training-center

📢 This program is copyrighted in 2025 by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. All rights reserved.