With more than 24 years of experience in civil engineering, Carl’s success stems from his problem-solving curiosity, detail-driven execution, and relationship-driven leadership.   After two decades at Walker Consultants, he has become an industry leader whose work reflects both engineering precision and a deep understanding of how garages perform in the real world. 

 

Walker Consultants, a 100% employee-owned firm founded in 1965, provides planning, engineering, architecture, forensics, restoration, and building envelope services across 26 U.S. offices.1 As a managing principal and structural engineer, Carl leads design, restoration, quality reviews, lighting studies, and facility assessments, with deep experience in post-tensioned structures, testing, and construction administration. His field‑aware approach also shapes how he evaluates emerging technologies, like EV charging infrastructure. 

 

The Road to Walker 

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Carl didn’t grow up in a building‑industry family, but he was hooked early. A childhood trip to the Metrodome sparked his fascination with structures, and a high school physics teacher who opened his machine shop garage to students fueled it further. He entered Marquette University as a non‑engineer until a friend asked, “Dude, why are you not doing this?” He switched to civil engineering and never looked back. 

 

Graduate school and early jobs gave him a broad foundation. At Opus, he learned the language of construction sites and labor relations. At a small precast design‑build firm, he wore multiple hats—structural, architectural, mechanical, and electrical. A principal there encouraged him to “work for Walker,” and he did. 

 

Small Decision, Big Impact 

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Carl believes the most important design choices are often small ones. Like with most investments, there is a lot of economic pressure to drive down first costs.  As he put it, “putting a little more money in at the beginning will save a lot of money over the lifetime of the garage.” Extra concrete cover, flattened rebar wires, and good lighting dramatically improve durability and user experience. 

 

He also cautions against squeezing in every possible parking space. Designing for realistic utilization creates a more comfortable, higher‑performing garage that customers prefer and that generates more reliable revenue. Cleanliness matters, too, as proper drainage and easy wash‑down design protect concrete and simplify operations.

(See Trina Tutor's article related to this issue here!) 

 

The Human Side of Engineering 

 

Carl designs with operations in mind. On one rehab project, a carefully planned phasing strategy failed because customers kept clipping gate arms. After watching traffic patterns, his team shifted the posts and solved the problem. The lesson: restoration isn’t just concrete and steel, it’s flow, clearances, and customer experience. 

 

As he grew from engineer to managing principal, Carl learned that technical skill isn’t enough; motivating his team requires listening, explaining the “why,” rewarding ingenuity, and understanding each person’s puzzle pieces. He reflects on a talented technician he struggled to connect with and reflected that, had he listened more carefully and translated better for the team, “they could have continued to do some really great work together.” 

 

His client relationships follow the same philosophy. They value his thoughtful questions, consistent follow‑up, and humility. One client said he preferred Carl’s team - even at a higher cost - because they “check and make sure they understand.” That trust shapes better outcomes. 

 

Industry Involvement 

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Carl’s leadership is strengthened by active involvement in IPMI and ACI, where he has served on committees shaping national conversations on concrete design and durability. At the National Steel Conference, he and a colleague presented a novel steel‑framed parking structure which was unusual due to fire and corrosion concerns. Their approach proved successful, demonstrating Carl’s willingness to rethink norms. 

 

Carl’s Family, Passions, and Parking Roots 

 

Outside work, Carl enjoys fishing, boating, skiing, and camping with his two boys. His wife, Maggie, a school principal, has shaped his understanding of how to care for people. They enjoy sharing notes about leadership and management.   

 

You know what Carl hates?  Paying for parking! And doing the dishes – but it’s their family rule that if you don’t cook, you do the dishes. He tried cooking more, but his family quickly realized his ‘meals’ were just elaborate attempts to dodge dish duty. 

 

I also wondered whether the old “valet-to-parking-career” pipeline applied to him, so I asked Carl if he had ever been a valet.  He laughed and said, “Yes!”  He once parked cars at Twins and Vikings games and even ran a high‑school parking plan that funded pizza for football games. 

 

Carl’s Call For Caution 

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Carl urges the industry to slow down on EV charging. With “so much misinformation,” he’s seen owners install 40 chargers when they need four. His advice: maintain “healthy skepticism,” sift through the details, and avoid chasing the “shiny new thing.” Rushed choices strain finances and undermine the customer experience. 

 

Designing for longevity, watching how garages actually behave, and refusing to let “little things” slide shape Carl’s philosophy of stewardship rather than one‑time projects. 

 

Leadership 101 

 

Carl embodies each principle on my effective leadership checklist—and adds two more: 

1. Be curious and invite feedback.  

2. Lead with a clear sense of purpose for yourself and for your customer.  

3. Work hard, work hard, never give up, work hard, work hard.  

4. Lead with respect and tailor motivation to the individual. 

5. Invest in your network and industry involvement. 

6. Be proactive in client relationships for long-term success.   

7. Pay attention to the details as they drive cost and performance. 

8. Being a valet is a legitimate pipeline to success.     

 

It was a pleasure interviewing another thoughtful leader in the parking industry. At TPN, we share Carl’s belief that small details shape big outcomes—whether in garage performance, revenue protection, or customer experience.