Articles

July 2026 CI/UESI Technical Session

Co-Founder
The Marilla Group

Dr. Syed is an executive with with nearly 25 years of experience in public relations, public affairs and strategic communication across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Her expertise spans organizational development, community outreach, crisis communication, media relations and brand and reputation management. She was selected as the Chief Communications Officer for the City of Fort Worth in October 2025 and has been leading the Communications & Public Engagement Department (CPE). She most recently led a strategic marketing and communications firm, The Marilla Group, as co-founder and consultant and served as vice president for Allyn Media. Prior to that, she served as the director for the Public Information Office for the City of Dallas, leading citywide media relations, public engagement and crisis communications. Dr. Syed’s career also includes a background in journalism and broadcasting, giving her a unique perspective on storytelling and transparency in government.

MOT Field Engineer
Kiewit

Mr. Autade is a Civil Engineer (EIT) currently working as a MOT Field Engineer at Kiewit. He specializes in developing efficient traffic control plans, coordinating with DOT and municipal agencies, and optimizing lane closures to enhance safety and minimize delays. With a Master’s in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University, Autade brings strong technical expertise in roadway design, 3D modeling, and plan production using OpenRoads Designer, Civil 3D, and AutoCAD.

3D Modeling Project Lead
Kiewit

Mr. Nepal is a 3D Modeling Project Lead at Kiewit. His professional journey includes significant contributions to roadway engineering and infrastructure development. At Kiewit, Mr. Nepal advanced through roles such as Team Lead and Roadway Engineer II, focusing on complex construction and engineering projects. His expertise extends to 3D modeling, a critical component in modern infrastructure design and execution. Prior to Kiewit, Mr. Nepal served as a Training Engineer at MV Engineering, a firm specializing in structural and roadway design, where he contributed to major infrastructure projects in Texas. This role involved providing expert engineering solutions in areas like roadway and bridge design, municipal engineering, and hydraulics. Earlier in his career, Mr. Nepal gained foundational experience as a Summer Engineering Tech-V with the Department of Transportation, Texas, and as a Lecturer at Acme Engineering College. These positions provided exposure to public sector transportation planning and academic instruction in engineering principles. Mr. Nepal holds a Master of Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, complementing their undergraduate studies at Kathmandu Engineering College, Tribhuvan University.

Utilities Engineer
Solaray Engineering, Inc.

Mr. Ludwig is a Utility Design and Coordination Engineer at Solaray Engineering with over six years of experience supporting major TxDOT and municipal infrastructure projects involving roadway, rail, and urban redevelopment. He has managed several SUE projects, performed utility conflict analysis, and designed utilities using 3D utility models. Throughout his career, Mr. Ludwig has collaborated with multi-disciplinary design teams including IH 30, the DART Silver Line (Cotton Belt), Southeast Connector, Dallas Love Field Airport, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Outside of engineering, Andrew has been happily married for 14 years and enjoys teaching Tae Kwon Do twice a week, where he shares his passion for martial arts and mentoring others.

Utilities Design Coordinator
CSJ Associates

Mr. Hunter is a licensed Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, experienced in utility relocation and project management for major highway construction projects, including overseeing easement acquisition, utility conflict analysis, and coordination of multi-stakeholder teams, with a track record of managing extensive utility relocations to meet compliance and project timelines. He has worked as a Utility Design Coordinator on some of the largest transportation projects in Texas such as Midtown Express (SH183/SH114), DFW Connector (Connect 4, SH121), I35 NEX (I35/I410), and Southeast Connector (I820/I20/US287).  In his free time, he likes to travel, play video games, and go on long runs.

Design Engineer
Solaray Engineering, Inc.

Mr. Baca is a Design Engineer at Solaray Engineering. His engineering career includes significant contributions to infrastructure development and project management within the architecture, engineering, and design sectors. At Solaray Engineering, Mr. Baca focuses on design engineering, leveraging expertise in utility design and relocation, subsurface utility engineering, and utility coordination. This role involves applying innovative design solutions to transportation and municipal projects, including roadways and telecommunications infrastructure, with a commitment to delivering high-quality results.