August 5, 2026
A key part of Metric’s fifty years of success is our people: the individuals who have contributed their time, talent, and perspective all along the way.
To honor our history, we have invited employees to share their own stories from their time at Metric. These reflections highlight a range of experiences, from career milestones to everyday moments that have left a lasting impression.
We begin this series with a story from Robert Linares, P.E., Executive Vice President of Transportation.
“My story begins in 1999 Miami as a 23-year-old intern in Metric’s PD&E division.”
Metric’s PD&E service identifies the needs for an area and develops technical solutions that balance economic, ecological and social considerations so that clients can reach a decision on the conceptual design to meet a project’s proposed purpose and need.
“I was given a stack of reports and manuals along with my first task, drawing a typical section on MicroStation. I quickly realized that this was hard work. Within the first month I had worked numerous weekends and very late night/mornings. However, like most things, you get out of it what you put in.
What also stood out to me early on was that all the people around me cared deeply about the work they were doing. There was an emphasis on giving nothing but our best to our clients and having a sense of personal pride and responsibility over everything we did.
In looking back now, I can see clearly that I had an unfair advantage compared to some of my peers. I had Raul Driggs, Ph.D., P.E, as my boss and, most importantly, my mentor.
From day one, Dr. Driggs demonstrated what it means to lead with humility. He didn’t do it with brash statements or motivational speeches, but through his daily actions.
He had a servant leader’s heart and cared most about doing right by the client and his staff. He would always lift me up before taking any credit for himself. Countless times I was given credit in front of the client for things that I was marginally responsible for. However, he understood how important self-confidence and self-belief are in one’s success. He was establishing that trust with the client in me at such a young age.
Looking back at the past 27 years, the good and the bad, the main word that comes to mind is “blessed.” Blessed for everyone that God has placed in my path during all these years.
Thank you to Metric for the past 27 years of adventure and thank you to Dr. Driggs for showing a young engineer what success in this industry looks like.”
– Robert Linares, P.E., Executive Vice President of Transportation
As we continue to recognize this milestone year, we look forward to highlighting more of the experiences and voices that have shaped Metric over time. Thank you, Robert, for sharing your Metric Story!
About Metric Engineering, Inc.
Founded in 1976, Metric Engineering, Inc. provides transportation and civil engineering services to public and private clients nationwide. The firm operates in Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, and Texas, delivering planning, design, and construction support services for roadway, multimodal, and infrastructure projects.
For more information, visit www.metriceng.com.
