Travis Miller’s engineering expertise affords him the opportunity to inspire future generations in the field.
Miller, founder and president of Miller Engineering PC, estimates he is able to put the cogs in motion for up to 500 youth annually to potentially pursue a career in engineering.
“It is impossible for anyone to look at our youth today and not see how starved our young people are for leadership skills, life skills and a sense of civic duty,” says Miller, who is an Eagle Scout and Cub Scout Pack leader.
While working as president of the southwest Missouri chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute, Miller chaired the Robert C. Boehner Memorial Scholarship Committee, honoring the late architect and member of the organization.
“This committee formally established the scholarship under my direction and our first scholarships will be issued in 2013 thanks to donations from the Boehner family and dedicated CSI members,” Miller says, noting he is currently programming chairman for the local chapter of the trade association.
Miller, a registered engineer in Missouri and 10 other states, leads a Springfield-based firm that has been contracted on numerous significant projects, including a $14 million renovation of James River Assembly’s West Campus, the $5.6 million CoxHealth parking structure, Springfield Underground’s warehouse addition and the planned Towneplace Suites by Marriott adjacent to Mercy Hospital Springfield.
“I am very proud my engineering firm is entering its 10th year beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Through creative marketing and long-standing client relationships, we have weathered the economic storm that has swallowed so many businesses,” Miller says.
Miller’s community involvement includes donating his time to the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers’ annual Mathcounts competition. As a co-coordinator for the organization, Miller helped to increase the number of schools competing to 18, and he volunteers at the organization’s annual shrimp feed to raise money for engineering scholarships. He also has joined the YMCA Camp Wakonda Committee, and donated his services to help design the foundation, masonry walls and roof structure for a new 2,000-square-foot bath and shower house. Miller is currently assisting the Christian-based camp in designing a reinforced concrete bridge at the main entry.
Taking his knowledge to the classroom, Miller performs presentations at Republic elementary schools, bringing a model bridge to help children wrap their minds around the tough subject matter.
“The youth get to learn about the different types of engineering; they learn basic concepts like tension and compression, and, ultimately, they get to build a bridge that is supported off of the ground that they all get to cross,” Miller says.
He also has presented to students at Republic High School and Missouri State University. “I was invited to speak to new engineering students at the recently established MSU engineering department and help students decide what fields of engineering might be most well suited for them based on their interests and strengths,” Miller says.
Click here for full coverage of the 2013 40 Under 40.[[In-content Ad]]
