People Spotlight: Meet Howard Michael
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are introducing Director of our Northern California Highways Group and Senior Manager of Business Development, and providing an insight into their inspiration and work.
Howard Michael, based in Sacramento, brings more than 35 years of engineering, transportation, and multi-disciplinary project leadership that continue to shape communities and infrastructure across California. As Director of AECOM’s Northern California Highways Group and Senior Manager of Business Development, he has managed major Caltrans on-call contracts, multi-disciplinary highway and bridge programs, and large-scale infrastructure pursuits, blending deep technical expertise with a commitment to safety, sustainability, and meaningful community impact.
What inspired you to join the industry?
From a young age, I was fascinated by construction. Watching buildings, roads and bridges take shape left a lasting impression. That early interest grew into a love for drawing and drafting, which eventually led me into architecture studies. My first boss, owner of a small structural engineering company encouraged me to transition from my AA degree in Architecture to pursue a degree in civil engineering, where my skills and passion aligned perfectly.
I began my career in drafting and structural design while obtaining my AA degree, which later expanded with a national engineering firm into treatment plants, pump stations, and pipelines, and later transitioned into bridge and highway design. That path allowed me to blend structural expertise with transportation leadership. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to contribute to some of California’s most complex projects, including interchanges, bridges, tunnels, and highways that require project problem identification and definition, risk identification and management, and performance-based designs that involve balancing safety, environmental sensitivity, and addressing stakeholder concerns.
From a young age, I was fascinated by construction. Watching buildings, roads and bridges take shape left a lasting impression. That early interest grew into a love for drawing and drafting, which eventually led me into architecture studies.
What projects stand out most in your career?
I have worked on a wide range of projects, both large and small. Among those that stand out:
- A water treatment plant in Redding, where I played a key role in structural design of treatment facilities, operations building, pump station and a 7-mile-long water transmission main.
- The San Diego Creek Bridge on State Route 73 in Newport Beach, CA, over the San Diego Creek, one of the largest bridges that I designed.
- The Douglas/I-80 Interchange in Roseville, CA, a complex project that included freeway mainline widening, ramp realignments, an Interstate bridge overcrossing, a new Interstate on-ramp with cut-and-cover tunnel involving fire life safety elements, pump station, and operations building that was concealed in a widened fill prism — closely mirroring challenges now faced on Last Chance Grade.
- Current efforts on the Sites Reservoir Project, leading the design of 31 miles of roads and a major causeway across the reservoir.
- A Complete Streets project in Angels Camp, which is beautifying SR-49 through the “town of Angels” while enhancing safety for the active transportation community through the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks, landscape strips, and low impact design with incorporated drainage systems for natural treatment of stormwater runoff.
Whether tackling mega projects or small community improvements, I take pride in engineering solutions that leave a lasting positive, sustainable impact for the benefiting communities.
Whether tackling mega projects or small community improvements, I take pride in engineering solutions that leave a lasting positive, sustainable impact for the benefiting communities.
How do you approach problem solving and innovation?
I take a performance-based approach to analysis and decision-making. For me, every successful project starts with clearly defining the issue we’re trying to solve — only when we understand the real problem can we identify solutions that are the right size and the right fit. I enjoy the process as much as the outcome: bringing stakeholders together, facilitating discussion, and encouraging collaboration so we can develop optimized solutions as a team.
I’ve always believed engineering is about more than technical problem‑solving. It’s an opportunity to enhance communities, preserve heritage and promote sustainability. Whether I’m helping integrate educational elements or interpretive centers into projects, or designing greener, safer facilities, I see infrastructure as a legacy — something that can serve and strengthen communities for generations.
I’ve always believed engineering is about more than technical problem‑solving. It’s an opportunity to enhance communities, preserve heritage and promote sustainability.
What advice would you give to young professionals?
My advice is simple: follow your passions. When you pursue work that excites and fulfills you, it rarely feels like work. Passion fuels perseverance, even through long or difficult projects, and leads to a more meaningful career and life experience.
When you pursue work that excites and fulfills you, it rarely feels like work.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, my greatest joy is my family. Providing for them, living with integrity and leaving a legacy of service are at the core of who I am. I treasure the time spent together, finding meaning in the moments that reflect the values I have worked hard to pass on.
Faith is also a guiding force in both my leadership approach and personal philosophy. I often remind my family and colleagues of a principle I live by: “Behind every task we do, there’s something far more important than the task itself.” For me, that greater purpose is rooted in service — supporting others, uplifting communities and helping people reach their full potential.
I often remind my family and colleagues of a principle I live by: “Behind every task we do, there’s something far more important than the task itself.” For me, that greater purpose is rooted in service.