Before a site goes live, the engineering has to work. So does the partnership.
Brett Lauritsen from Olsson joins Susan and Charles to talk about what actually moves the needle on project readiness. With two decades of experience at one of the country’s largest engineering firms, Brett shares how teams can prevent delays, reduce rework, and stay competitive—especially when deals move faster than ever.
In this episode:
- What site selectors are really asking when they say, “Is this site ready?”
- The gap between utility availability and utility capacity—and why it matters.
- How to avoid surprises by bringing engineers in before the RFI goes out.
- What “fast-track permitting” looks like in practice, and where it breaks down.
- Why engineering is more than a technical service—it’s a strategic lever.
- How candid conversations upfront save months of friction later.
You’ll also hear how Olsson’s team builds trust with both public and private sector clients by telling them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear. For economic developers, engineers, and anyone on the front lines of project delivery, this episode lays out the fundamentals of building confidence before you break ground.