Not A Desk Job: Managing Miles + Making Projects Happen

Not a Desk Job Series | Heath Hagner

One week he’s in a small town inspecting concrete pavement placement. The next, he’s troubleshooting a highway detour outside a major city. Heath Hagner’s role as a transportation engineer keeps him on the move, building infrastructure solutions that make a difference one project at a time.

For more than 20 years, Heath has built his career in the field as a construction leader, supporting the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) on heavy and highway road, bridge, and infrastructure projects. In the past three years, he has expanded his role to managing both construction and design efforts, collaborating with local officials, engineers, contractors, business owners, and property owners to deliver project solutions.

Every week Heath hits the road to oversee multiple WisDOT projects across the state, from Southeast Wisconsin to communities large and small, staying hands-on, constantly moving, and solving problems in real time as a senior project manager on ISG’s Transportation team.

Every Mile Adds Experience

Fieldwork and variety isn’t just part of the job, it’s what sharpens Heath’s skillset. Working with different contractors on numerous project types in different locations gives him hands-on experience that’s hard to match.

Each site brings something new, whether that is a different way of planning, building the work, coordinating a challenge, or navigating a lesson that can carry into the next project. Each takeaway adds to his understanding of how work can be tailored to best meet the needs of each unique project and client.

With every mile, he builds perspective and confidence. The more ground he covers, the stronger his instincts and insights become, not just as an engineer, but as a communicator and leader.

Building Connections, Sharing Knowledge

Being on project sites gives Heath a deeper understanding of project needs and helps him build face-to-face connections with the people who make things happen. These daily interactions are also invaluable for those looking to eventually become design engineers, providing firsthand insight into how projects are built and what it takes to create cost-effective, buildable designs. For someone early in their career, experiencing how others think, communicate, and solve problems is where some of the best learning happens.

Heath shares his experience and guidance, making him a mentor that others want to learn from. Students and early-career professionals walking the site with him gain confidence knowing they can grow and succeed at ISG under his leadership.

Each project introduces him to new engineers, inspectors, designers, and contractors, broadening his exposure and growing a network that supports his development. Every conversation adds something new—whether it is a construction tip, a lesson in coordination, or a better way to communicate in the field—and Heath uses these interactions to guide and mentor others, helping them apply these lessons to their own growth and future projects.

Flexibility, Trust, and Teamwork

ISG’s culture of flexibility, trust, and teamwork plays a key role in making a field-focused career like Heath’s successful. He is empowered to manage his time, plan his schedule around project demands, and make real-time decisions in the field. That level of trust and flexibility to manage his own schedule helps him stay proactive, responsive, and efficient.

Behind the scenes, multiple disciplines work side by side as one team to solve problems and keep projects on track. Whether it is coordinating with utilities, navigating plan changes, or jumping in to support construction teams, there’s a shared commitment to getting it done right.

As an employee owner, the sense of shared responsibility runs deep. Everyone has a stake in the outcome, and that ownership mindset shows up in the way teams communicate, support each other, and take pride in their work.

A Career That Covers Ground

Since joining ISG in 2020, Heath has played a key role in growing the Transportation team’s portfolio and helping expand its construction presence. Fieldwork has remained central to that growth. It is not just about getting out of the office—it is about seeing more, learning faster, and building relationships that make each project better than the last.