If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.
- Lauren Eiseley
Links

My non-fiction reading

For news, and much of the information I intend to post about here, I read or follow these sources:

New York Times

Wall Street Journal

National Public Radio

The Atlantic

Scientific American

Fortune

Forbes

Harvard Business Review

Along with a variety of other things that catch my eye


Fiction/Pleasure Reading

Steve Jobs
Inferno (Mass Market Paperback)--by Dante Alighieri [2005 Edition]
Dirty Thirty


General Links

Yes, I am a weathergeek too

What is this page?

I find myself frequently thinking about things that I've read, heard, or thought about. I am driving my family crazy trying to discuss these things, so, I thought I would post some of these thoughts here and see if anyone takes to them.

I intend to post about a wide variety of topics, including
  • Water and water issues, like scarcity
  • Environmental issues
  • Economics and economic policy
  • Professional Services business strategy
  • Interesting items I've read, particularly parallels among multiple items
  • General thoughts and musings

Obviously, the areas that I am most qualified to discuss are water and environmental issues and I will post a lot on that topic, but I want to post more about the more broad areas listed above, including interactions between the topics


I am particularly interested in posting about business strategy. In 30+ years in the professional services industry, I have noticed an excess of engineers and a lack of business professionals in the leadership of companies. While these are wonderful, intelligent people, they often lack the background or even interest in strategy. I think that this is an under-studied area in business and I hope to advance thoughts in that area. 

Who am I?
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My name is Pete Thomson. Professionally, I am an engineer and businessman. I focus on delivering efficiency upgrades in the water and wastewater space.
Personally, I am an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction, a news junky, and, I like to think, a deep thinker. 

More about me

Qualifications

My primary degree is is a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Chemical Engineering) from the University of Michigan.

My second degree is a Masters of Business Administration (Finance and Entrepreneurship) from the Univeristy of Maryland


My certifications and licenses include Professional Engineer's Licenses in a number of states and Design Build Institute of America Design-Build Professional.


I have worked in the water industry in sales, engineering, project management, and director-level business management roles. My entire career has been in the Professional Services industry:  consulting, engineering, and construction.