Articles

President's Message - October 2016

Hello Dallas Branch! It’s hard to believe that I’m writing my last article as your President. It seems when you just get your feet on the ground being President, it comes to an end! It’s truly been an honor and privilege to serve this great Branch over the past year. I believe we have the best Branch in the country. I often tell people in other Branches what we do and they are amazed. Simply telling them that we have an average attendance of over 200 people at our monthly meetings shocks them, but it doesn’t stop there. Here are some of the things we’ve accomplished this year:

•        Provided quality monthly programs and speakers
•        Institutes provided free technical sessions each month
•        Mentored students involved with the Civil Engineering Club at Woodrow Wilson High School and the Girl Scouts Cookie Box Competition
•        Formed a partnership with DISD’s STEM Department for 2016-2017 school year
•        Participated in Future City, MathCOUNTS, and Career Fairs at schools
•        Volunteered at North Texas Food Bank and the Perot Museum
•        Participated in the TSPE E-Week Luncheon
•        Held numerous Younger Member events such as volunteer and have a beer activities, happy hours, bowling Sunday Funday, and the Statewide YM Campout
•        Hosted the Annual ASCE DFW Joint Meeting with Commissioner Victor Vandergriff speaking and over 300 civil engineers in attendance
•        Granted scholarships to deserving high school students with aspirations of being civil engineers
•        Hosted a joint meeting with SAME
•        Provided support to the SMU and UTA Student Chapters
•        Recognized our Engineer and Young Engineer of the Year Awards to Jack Furlong, P.E., and Jonathan Brower, P.E.
•        Recognized Life Members and Fellows
•        Received the 2015 National ASCE Diversity and Inclusions Award
•        Raised money for the G.B. Mann Scholarship Fund

 
To say we’ve done a lot is an understatement! What made this year so successful were the tireless efforts from the Officers and Committee Chairs. When we started the year we had many goals and I’m proud that we accomplished what we set out to do. I’m thankful for having such great people serve with me this year. Please take the time to reach out to these folks and thank them for their commitment to the Branch. 

I would also like to thank our sponsors for this year. Without the support of these companies our Branch would not be able to provide these services to our members and the community each year. Thank you to the following title Sponsors for this year:

•        Platinum: AECOM and LCA Environmental
•        Gold: Hilti, BGE, Inc., and Terrecon
•        Silver: Freese & Nicols, Halff Associates, and Reed Engineering

 
At the October meeting, ASCE Texas Section President Craig Thompson will be in attendance to install following 2016-2017 Officers:

President – Frank Pugsley, P.E.
President-Elect – Mark Boyd, P.E.
Vice President – Anthony Luce, P.E.
Past President – Brad Hernandez, P.E.
Secretary – Lisa Woof, P.E.
Treasurer (2-Year Term) – Andre Garces-Torres, P.E.
Texas Section Director (serving out 2^nd year of 2-Year Term) – Julie Jones, P.E.
Technical Director – Gary Dreighton, P.E.
Branch Director – Jonathan Brower, P.E.

The next meeting is on Monday, October 10, 2016. We will have Bob Brown and Samir Bougacha with Parsons Brinckerhoff to present on “IH 345 – Overview of Feasibility Study, Finite Element Modeling and Plans for Retrofitting”. Before and after the luncheon, the Institutes will once again have Technical Sessions providing a great opportunity to earn up to three (3) PDHs each month. 

I look forward to seeing you at the October meeting!

Brad Hernandez, PE
President
ASCE Dallas Branch, 2015-2016