Driving Innovation and Accessibility

As Transportation Municipal Team Leader at Garver, Mac Milburn has been recognized for his dedication to public safety and accessibility. The 28-year-old’s passion for historic and community-focused projects, as well as his creativity and leadership under tight schedules, made him an easy choice for this list.

“I nominated Mac because he embodies what people hope for in the next generation of infrastructure leaders: someone who cares as much about the people using the road as the road itself,” said Brent Schniers, P.E., Garver’s director of transportation.

Milburn’s dedication to the field crosses state lines, as he has strived to obtain licensing in three states, further broadening his ability to serve the communities he is entrusted with.

Following completion of his internship in 2018 and receiving his first P.E. license, Milburn’s career launched as project manager in Garver’s Tulsa, Okla., office. Not long after, Garver tasked Milburn with the company’s municipal practice expansion in the Kansas City Metro area and the state of Missouri.

“He continually takes on challenges most engineers don’t face until much later in their careers as seen with his recent move to another city in another state to take on a leadership position,” Schniers said. “His combination of technical skill, humility and commitment to public service makes him stand out in a field where safety and accessibility are paramount.”

Milburn displayed strong leadership when working on Tulsa’s Pathway to Hope initiative, an effort to improve pedestrian connectivity between the historic Greenwood District and John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park along Interstate 244.

Showing a unique sensitivity for the project and it’s intended goal, Milburn skillfully navigated the project’s design challenges and tight schedule to bring the dream to fruition. Within the short project window, he was responsible with the alignment of the trail and installing a drainage system in the heavily restricted corridor.

“Mac strengthens every team he joins. He brings structure to complicated challenges and offers clear direction when projects reach critical moments,” Schniers said.

The 28-year-old has been lauded for his ability to turn around complex design solutions in a crunch and is an active promoter of efficient strategies. He led the charge in developing standardized Excel tools to calculate drainage runoff across multiple municipalities, providing a more consistent process for young engineers that resulted in their increased quality and confidence.

“He streamlines processes, builds tools that help young engineers grow, and shares his ideas across offices without hesitation,” Schniers said.  “Mac distinguishes himself in the way he turns complex design problems into clear, workable solutions. He has a talent for breaking down large obstacles that might slow a team, turning them into organized, well-reasoned approaches everyone can rally around. Our projects consistently benefit from his leadership, keeping schedules on track and decisions firmly rooted in sound engineering.”

As many others in the industry, Milburn sees the shortage of civil engineers entering the workforce as the biggest challenge facing the sector. But he also sees an opportunity to support the next generation of engineers.

“One of the biggest challenges facing the roads and bridges industry is the growing experience gap in the workforce. There is a shortage of civil engineers with 10 to 20 years of experience, which means younger professionals will need to step into leadership and decision-making roles earlier in their careers,” Milburn said. “This shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity to intentionally develop talent and support the next generation of engineers as they take on greater responsibility.”

And Milburn has surely seized that opportunity, serving as a mentor in Garver Launch, the company’s internship program, and leading local recruitment efforts as a member of Garver’s University Recruitment Committee and the Transportation team’s recruitment committee.

“He leads by example, whether it’s mentoring interns or supporting early-career teammates, and represents our group with a calm, capable presence,” Schniers said. “His body of work shows up in tighter project delivery, stronger collaboration, and colleagues who grow faster because he’s part of the team.”

For his younger colleagues making their way in the field, Milburn warns not to let their years of experience dissuade them from making an impact as oftentimes it is less about seniority and more about project preparedness.

“Don’t let your years of experience prevent you from contributing to your organization in meaningful ways,” he said. “Early in my career, I learned that being an effective project manager is less about tenure and more about preparation, ownership, and follow-through. Your biggest impact comes from what you can do today, not only from what you have done in the past.”