Orange County Branch Newsletter

March 2016

President's Message

ASCE Life Membership: A Legacy for the Next Generation

By Steven L. King, P.E.

On March 5, ASCE Los Angeles Section hosted its annual Life Member Brunch in Monterey Park.  Life Membership is quite an honor in ASCE. It represents a lifetime commitment to ASCE and the civil engineering profession by remaining a member for the full length of a professional career. There were 41 new members inducted into the 2016 class of Los Angeles Section Life Members.

This year’s keynote address was provided by ASCE Society President-Elect, Norma Jean Mattei, Ph.D., P.E., F. SEI, F. ASCE. Norma Jean discussed ASCE’s Strategic Initiatives; Sustainable Infrastructure, ASCE Grand Challenge, and Raise The Bar. You may recognize that ASCE’s previous strategic initiatives of Infrastructure and Sustainability have now been combined into Sustainable Infrastructure. This realignment creates a seamless nexus with ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The Report Card depicts the condition and performance of the nation’s infrastructure and sees a solution in terms of leadership, sustainability, resiliency, maintenance, and private investment. ASCE has also partnered with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and promotes its rating tool, Envision, which incorporates economic, social, environmental criteria in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure.

Life Members have invaluable information to share with the next generation of engineers and leaders. Over the past few years, the Orange County Branch has taken significant steps toward engaging our more experienced engineers with younger professionals. With great success, the Orange County Younger Members Forum has lead two programs to foster interactions through the Mentorship Program and the Young Engineers Speakers Series. While the Mentorship program is nearing its halfway point this year, the Speakers Series program is set to kick off again on May 16 with ASCE Region 9 Governor, John Hogan, PE, F.ASCE presenting “Owning a Business Vs. Being an Officer at a Larger Firm.” This

With much appreciation, I’d like to take this time to recognize Greg Henk, P.E. for his service to the ASCE Orange County Branch.  Mr. Henk is an ASCE Fellow and Life Member and has served on the Orange County Branch Board of Director’s for the past year plus, as Secretary and Treasurer. Not only did he serve diligently in his positions on the Board, he also served as a leader in renewing the Branch’s partnership with Engineers Without Borders and establishing two new community service partnership projects with the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the U.S Forestry Service.

Although Greg is reducing his responsibilities on the Board, his enthusiasm for service and contributions to the Orange County Branch will be felt for many years to come. Greg has been a wonderful mentor to many young engineers and he will be greatly missed on the Orange County Board of Directors. Thank you Greg and thank you to all of Orange County Branch’s Life Members for your continued commitment and service.

By: Steven L. King, PE