Articles

President's Message - March 2018

Dear Dallas Branch Membership:

First things first.  Primary Elections are coming up on March 6 with early voting February 20 to March 2, make a difference in our community’s future, vote in the primary elections and encourage your colleagues to vote to select who will move on to the November ballot.

Many of you had the opportunity to attend the February 21 E-week February awards luncheon where our Dallas Branch Engineer and Young Engineer of the Year were honored. Below find my video message at the luncheon to show you how I put our Branch’s best foot forward to the over 600 attendees from the engineering community at large. 

“The Dallas Branch ASCE and its predecessor the Dallas Civil Engineer's Club started in 1924. For over 90 years this group has enjoyed a rich and spirited relationship with the Dallas community, local governments, Texas Section ASCE, National ASCE, TSPE, and other organizations. This tradition continues and grows stronger every year and ASCE Global has finally taken notice by recognizing our branch above all other similar branches worldwide as the Outstanding Large Branch of the year. This well-deserved award stems from energetic leadership, current membership numbering over 1200, and routine draws of over 200 to our monthly meetings, and countless greater good initiatives accomplished over the years. Our college scholarship program provides funding for deserving high school graduates. Our incredibly active younger leadership gets everyone involved throughout the year in meaningful outreach to support future engineers including Civil Engineers clubs in DISD high schools, formal DISD partnerships to attend and support STEM programs, Future Cities, Girl Scouts, SMU and UTA student chapters. I don’t have time to share all the worthwhile initiatives, and I learn something new every day from this group about something new being done for the greater good of the public and the profession. Join us!  I’m confident you’ll find something that would enrich your professional and life missions.

This year, we're proud to honor Victor Zepeda, Principal of Arredondo, Zepeda and Brunz, as the Dallas Branch Engineer of the Year.  Victor ASCE Texas Section Service to People awardee in 2017 and has been an active engineer of high reputation for over 40 years since graduation from University of Houston in 1974.  His professional accomplishments are impressive and extensive, and his service to ASCE exemplary. Victor is a pure engineering leader. Over his career he’s found time for multi-year service commitments on over a dozen boards for diverse organizations such as the Hispanic Leadership Institute, DFW Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, North Texas Commission, Ballet Austin, St. Catherine Sienna Catholic Church, and so many others. Congratulations to you, Victor, for this well-deserved award and thank you for all you’ve done for all us.    

We are also excited to highlight our Young Engineer of the Year Ashlyn Morgan, Professional Engineer at Kimley-Horn. Ashlyn graduated from Texas A&M Suma Cum Laude in 2011. Ashlyn is a passionate and energetic leader that inspires others to lead. She’s been an active leader in our branch since 2013. Her key leadership has included her work as 2016-2017 programs chair and leader for ASCE’ Dallas Branch’s Habitat for Humanity project during the Texas Section Centennial Celebration. Ashlyn, congratulations to you for this well-deserved award and thank you for your continued service to the Dallas Branch and community at large.”

See you at the meeting!  

Yours in service to ASCE,

Mark Boyd, PE
President
ASCE Dallas Branch, 2017-2018