Employee Spotlight – Manny Kuphal

Getting to Know Manny Kuphal, Civil Technician

How long have you been at PE Services and what does your role entail?
I started at PE Services in April of 2024, when I moved back to Minnesota after 7 years in Seattle, WA. My job title is Civil Technician, and being brand new to the industry, my work has taken many forms. Last year I primarily inspected erosion control and permanent seeding on the Redefine 169 project in Elk River, and this year I have been keeping tabs on the pipe crew as they install storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and watermain here on the CSAH 18 Arboretum Area Project. I also got to be a part of our Staff Development and Training Committee this year.

What made you decide to work at PE Services over other firms?
To be honest, I had never even considered working in the civil construction industry, but one of my best friends since childhood (Andrew Gunnink) happens to be one of the Senior Project Engineers. We were in the same Advanced Placement Calculus class in high school, and he has always encouraged me to pursue a career, rather than the diverse and almost random collection of jobs that litter my resume. Andrew knows my brain and abilities fairly well, and he thought I could be a good fit here at PES, so I decided to interview. The rest is (1.5years of) history.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?
I am a visual learner, so one of my favorite tasks is taking all of the data from the plans, tabs, and measurements and finding a way that it can be organized and understood at a glance. I love using Revu to color code construction plans, layering measurements and edits over the top of a flat PDF file. This past winter I was also tasked with building spreadsheets to effectively track project quantities that could quickly become overwhelming. If you ask Andrew, I may have gone a bit overboard with some of the intricacies on these spreadsheets… I’m still very much an Excel Novice, so if he thinks this year’s sheets are over the top, wait until he sees next year’s after I have an off-season to learn.

What has been your favorite project and why?
I have only been on 2 projects so far, but I would say this year’s Arboretum Area Transportation Plan project has been my favorite. Since this project is the first that PES is the Primary Adminstrator, there has been a lot of responsibility entrusted to us. Along with that has also come greater opportunity to see the vast array of tasks, problems and solutions that can come along with that. I have gotten the chance to explore a few of the many different avenues that a career at PES could go down, and it has shown me roles that I find fulfilling which also positions me to best serve PES’ Mission, Vision, and Values.

I am happiest when….
I’m lost in whatever my latest hyperfixation is. If I’m learning about something I’m genuinely curious about, I can lose hours of time. And if you happen to accidentally strike up a conversation with me on one of these topics, I will likely talk your ear off. It’s something I’m working on…

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten? 
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

What would you tell a newcomer to PE Services?
Ask questions and put yourself in unfamiliar situations. You can’t know what you don’t know until you’re exposed to it. And once you find something you don’t know, try to find someone who can help. And at PES, we’re all here to help.

What three words would your best friend use to describe you?
Analytical, Creative, Funny