Engineering Legends

Mamon Powers, Jr., Part Two

In this episode of Engineering Legends, host Chris Burke talks with Mamon Powers, Jr., chairman and CEO of Powers & Sons Construction. Powers shares the story of building one of the Midwest’s leading minority-owned construction firms, from joining his father’s company in the early 1970s to leading major projects across the region. He reflects on key milestones, the mindsets that shaped his leadership and growth, and major developments throughout his career, including large-scale projects and the formation of Lakeside Alliance. The conversation also highlights the journey and significance of the Obama Presidential Center project. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Mamon Powers, Jr., Part One

In this episode of Engineering Legends, host Chris Burke talks with Mamon Powers, Jr., chairman and CEO of Powers & Sons Construction. Powers shares the story of building one of the Midwest’s leading minority-owned construction firms, from joining his father’s company in the early 1970s to leading major projects across the region. He reflects on key milestones, the mindsets that shaped his leadership and growth, and major developments throughout his career, including large-scale projects and the formation of Lakeside Alliance. The conversation also highlights the journey and significance of the Obama Presidential Center project. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Benjamin Sells, Part Two

In this episode of Engineering Legends, host Chris Burke talks with Benjamin Sells, writer, psychotherapist, lawyer, and former Village President of Riverside, Illinois. Ben shares the story behind key moments in Chicago’s infrastructure history, drawing from his books The Tunnel Under the Lake and The History of the Chicago Portage. He explores the engineering challenges and bold decisions that helped shape the city’s development. The conversation also highlights the legacy of Ellis Sylvester Chesbrough and why Chicago wouldn’t be what it is today without his vision. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Benjamin Sells, Part One

In this episode of Engineering Legends, host Chris Burke talks with Benjamin Sells, writer, psychotherapist, lawyer, and former Village President of Riverside, Illinois. Ben shares the story behind key moments in Chicago’s infrastructure history, drawing from his books The Tunnel Under the Lake and The History of the Chicago Portage. He explores the engineering challenges and bold decisions that helped shape the city’s development. The conversation also highlights the legacy of Ellis Sylvester Chesbrough and why Chicago wouldn’t be what it is today without his vision. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Dick Lanyon, Part Two

In this episode of Engineering Legends, host Chris Burke talks with Dick Lanyon, longtime leader at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and historian of Chicago’s water infrastructure. Dick shares the story behind the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the bold engineering project that reversed the river and helped save the city from a public health crisis. He reflects on the political battles, engineering challenges, and lasting innovations that shaped the system we rely on today. The conversation also looks ahead to modern water management issues, including the future of the Chicago Area Waterway System. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.