As a PE myself I do understand what you mean. I always thought of the PE as a kind of union card, it let you in some doors, but was no guarantee of much else. I've worked with good and bad PEs, and self taught engineers and professionals who were every bit as good or better than some highly educated ones.
Like the PE all a degree proves is that the person had sufficient perseverance and intelligence to earn it. If you have enough time and money it doesn't take a whole lot of either. As with the PE it opens some doors more easily than not.
My education and PE has allowed me to do some things that I probably would not have been able to do without. For that I appreciate having them.
Myself, except when legally required or required by a client, I never paid much attention to a person's PE registration status or education. Focusing on what they can do works a lot better.
Yes, most were "Professional Engineers". There were some, though, whose PE you would define as "P**ck with Ears" under your breath. I spent a little over 40 years in the water/wastewater construction and engineering field. I only wish, at the collegiate level, the engineering education would include sufficient teaching of the human component of the field. So many engineers cannot or do not want to deal with confrontational issues. I was called to a project where the owner was upset with the contractor and our on-site representative. Within 48 hours, I had refused to approve a half-million dollar contractor's pay request and told him we would not accept almost $100,000 of fabricated stainless steel piping. The Engineer's phone was ringing off the wall!!! He called me in my hotel room and told me he was resigning from our firm. I told him he was one of the best young engineers I had worked with. His design was top notch and would be a huge benefit to the client. He said he just could not... would not get involved in a "food fight" with the contractor. I asked him to please reconsider. Asked him to set up a meeting with the contractor that I would chair. He didn't need to say a word during the meeting... just observe. That was in 2010. He's still with the firm long after I've been retired. He had to do some self-education in working through some intense confrontation... and has.
I was retired at 69... I thought. Playing golf on a 4th of July weekend, out of state. My phone rang and it was the firm. When I answered, they said they needed me back for about 6 months. Immediately told them "NO!". Told them if there was anything to discuss, I would help, and to call me the next week.
A contractor was in trouble, in a 40' deep excavation. They could not get the infiltrating water source cut off so concrete could be placed and the project continue. The contractor was already almost 60 days behind schedule. The pre-project bore logs did not show this much water.
After an "interesting" discussion about compensation, 24 hours later I was on the way to the project site, two states away. On site, I have a very frustrated and angry contractor. I have a very frustrated and angry client. I have both angry with our firm, even though the contract was very explicit that site investigation was the responsibility of the bidder.
Took me three weeks. The first week was just convincing the contractor what the problem was and how we could solve it. The second week was procuring and getting the proper material to the job site. By the fourth week, he was setting forms and tying steel. Our firm still has a working relationship with that client. The contractor... though his feelings and pocketbook were hurt... thanked me when I turned the project over to a younger representative.
Things underground can change. Textbooks don't always suggest how to analyze and correct those changes in a time sensitive means. Attitudes can change when a contractor finds they can run over the engineer's representative and the client to save time and money. These type of things need taught in college!!! They aren't. Engineering student at taught to get from 1 to 5 you have to go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Sometimes to get to 5 you have to go 1, 3, 4, 2, 5.
I've rattled on too long. "Expert" has been politicized. "Expert" has been a title to gain more financial gain, more celebrity status. Yet, there ARE many very good and sound "experts" in their fields. It's just difficult to decipher those who have not been compromised by money or fame from those who quietly perform their work.
Just joking.
