Two of LFA’s staff recently passed the Professional Engineering (PE) exam, adding credentials to their names that allow them to stamp projects and advance their careers.
Water Engineer JJ LaBounty, PE, and Transportation Engineer Trevor Creager, PE, both attended Trine University where they played baseball together; LaBounty as a third baseman and Creager as pitcher. The two had contacts at LFA who encouraged them to apply after graduation. Creager said he was originally drawn to LFA’s location because he is from South Bend and both his family and his wife’s family also live here.
The summer before his senior year, Creager was also an LFA intern, and familiar with the way it does business.
“I enjoy the size of our company and respect that it’s more family based,” he said. “I know who everyone is here. If you’re in a huge company, you’re not gonna know everyone.”
LaBounty said he chose LFA because he was impressed with the way engineers spoke about their work.
“They all seemed to have a passion for the projects they were talking about … it was really inviting to hear someone who is excited about the work they’re doing,” he said.
Both 2018 college graduates, the PE exam can only be taken after first passing the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam and then working four years under an established PE. Each man had different study techniques for the eight-hour exam. Creager preferred intense late-night sessions over a six-week period and LaBounty spent a few hours a week over six months studying.
Both expressed extreme relief after passing the exams, known for complexity and intensity. They will be required to complete 30 hours of continuing education with at least one hour in ethics and one hour in Indiana statutes and rules every two years in order to maintain their professional engineer registration.
“As licensed engineers, we can now assume further responsibility for the company,” LaBounty explained. “We can both fulfill more roles.”
LaBounty lives in Elkhart with his wife, Olivia, and two pit bull rescues, Eddie and Annie. In his spare time, he works out at the gym, every day.
Creager lives in South Bend with his wife Koryn and their 10-month-old son, Maddox. He coaches baseball for a 13-to-15-year-old team in his spare time and enjoys video games.
Congratulations Trevor and JJ!