Rimkus Consulting Group Inc.
Rimkus is a worldwide leader in forensic engineering and technical consulting, now operating from 110+ offices.
AUDIENCE: District managers, marketing leads, and senior executives (200)
LOCATION: The Westin Houston, Memorial City — Houston, Texas
CHALLENGE: Rimkus’s bi-annual leadership meeting sought a speaker who could tie personal resilience to the precision and accountability required in forensic engineering, following two years of pandemic-era travel hurdles.
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
45-minute keynote: “Rise & Resilience” + 15-minute Q&A
Onsite AV rehearsal with COO Jonathan Higgins and Group President Mark Barrow
Flexible travel pivot demonstrated commitment (driving 9 hrs to Houston when fights were canceled during severe weather)
When Rimkus leaders convene, the conversation usually centers on root-cause analysis, failure modes, and court-ready reports. For their April 2022 summit, organizers wanted an opening that reminded technical experts of the human side of problem-solving.
Cara Brookins delivered exactly that. Her keynote paralleled the investigative mindset engineers use with the determination she and her children summoned while constructing a two-story home from scratch. She underscored that, like forensic work, meaningful change starts with meticulous planning, relentless questioning, and the courage to own every outcome.
By weaving relatable anecdotes with actionable frameworks, such as her “Rebuild Roadmap” for tackling complex projects, Cara positioned resilience not as a buzzword but as a method Rimkus teams could apply to client challenges. Attendees later reported higher confidence in leading cross-disciplinary investigations and mentoring junior staff.
“Everything was PERFECT! Cara was so down-to-earth and receptive to our group… even after Mother Nature forced a last-minute travel change.”
— Lisa Palomo, Event Lead
