IBC Executive Committee
Congratulations to William Detwiler, T.Y. Lin International, Liji Huang, Ph.D., CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd., Jennifer Laning, P.E., Pennoni, and Frank Russo, Michael Baker International on their election on the International Bridge Conference Executive Committee.
Mr. Detwiler is a Senior Bridge Engineer & Principal Project Manager at T.Y. Lin International in their Coral Gables, FL office. Mr. Detwiler is currently managing the Design Review of the $800M I395/SR836/I95 Design/Build project for the Florida Department of Transportation. He has over 25 years of experience in bridge engineering including inspection, preservation, repair and rehabilitation projects and design experience in both concrete and structural steel, including box girder bridges and segmental construction.
Mr. Huang began the study Civil Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. After nine years of study, he received a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering, and joined CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd. He has devoted his career to bridge design, consulting and research ever since he joined CCCC. CCCC was founded in 1954. The company undertakes the survey, design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of large bridges and tunnels in China and overseas. Mr. Huang will be the first International Bridge Conference representative from China.
Ms. Laning is an Associate Vice President in the Transportation Division with a primary focus in bridge inspections and project management. She serves Pennoni as a Bridge Inspection Practice Leader, headquartered in the Baltimore, Maryland office. Her responsibilities include project management and quality management of NBIS Bridge and underwater inspection projects and coordination of relevant project requirements for local, state and federal clients.
Mr. Russo is the Vice President and Technical Director at Michael Baker International. As a member of the Baker Technical Services Group for bridges, he is responsible for the design, design oversight, quality control, and marketing support of complex bridge engineering projects nationwide. He has an extensive teaching background in academia and for professional clients. He also has experience in forensic engineering and expert witness report preparation.
We are pleased to welcome each of these candidates to IBC Executive Committee and we look forward to their assistance in the planning for the 2019 International Bridge Conference, which takes place on June 10-12, 2019 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD, USA. For more information on the event visit, https://eswp.com/bridge/bridge-home/.
Future City Competition Results
Congratulations to New Lebanon Jr/Sr High School for winning the 2015-2016 Capital District Future City Competition! Their city, “Marhielo” took first place overall in the competition on January 9. A list of all the winners can be found here.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ESWP MEMBER AND AQUATECH CEO VENKEE SHARMA UPON APPOINTMENT TO THE UNITED STATES – INDIA CEO FORUM
Announcement Made by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
CANONSBURG, PA, Feb. 14, 2019 – Venkee Sharma, CEO of Aquatech International, has been appointed to serve on the U.S. – India CEO Forum. Established in 2005, this Forum provides an opportunity for dialogue between the United States and Indian governments to strengthen the economic and commercial relationship between both countries.
The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, who will co-chair the Forum with Indian Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu. “The U.S.-India CEO Forum is critical to the fruitful commercial relationship and strong economic ties between our two great nations. The incoming U.S. CEOs will bring fresh perspectives to the Forum and help us consider new opportunities to further deepen our cooperation,” he said.
“It is an honor to be part of this CEO Forum, which plays an important role in encouraging economic opportunities and strengthening important business relationships in both our countries. While Aquatech is headquartered in the United States, our global operations include a significant presence in India which includes global technical services, R&D, as well as an appreciable footprint in the local market. This affords us a unique and beneficial perspective that we can bring to the Forum,” said Sharma, who will serve a two-year term on the Forum.
SAME/ESWP Program Recap
On February 12, ESWP was pleased to partner with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) in presenting a program on the Emergency Rehabilitation of Route 30, presented by Cheryl Moon-Sirianni, P.E., District Executive of PennDOT District 11-0; Brian Heintzl, P.E., of Gannett Fleming, and Eric Klimas, P.E., of Golden Triangle Construction. The three presenters provided a very informative inside look into the analysis, planning, and construction required to bring Route 30 “back to life” in less than three months, following the major collapse of this busy State highway, which carries 25,000 motor vehicles daily. The Route 30 Rehabilitation was recently recognized by the ESWP as the 2018 Emergency Rehabilitation Project of the Year. To learn more about this project, visit the ESWP Awards Page, found here.
ESWP Engineering Career Fair
ESWP’s 3rd Annual Engineering Career Fair took place on Friday, February 8, 2019 at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Our career fair provided a rare opportunity for students and professionals to meet employers and company representatives in the engineering field all in one place.
This year, 25 companies participated in greeting over 140 students from the tri-state area. The students were eager to participate this year, as ESWP had a waiting room of approximately 20 students before the start of the event on Friday. At the end of the event, companies commented “This was the best career fair yet” and “This event gives us an opportunity to talk to students from various schools, it is very beneficial for us to attend.”
In addition to the career fair, we had almost 25 students take advantage of the mock interviews that were offered. This was an opportunity for students and professionals to interact and get quick feedback on their resume and interview skills. The actual qualifications required for the job were provided by the employers prior to the interview. This includes factors such as work experience, minimum educational qualification, and average salary offered. The students that participated appreciated the feedback and experience.
ESWP recommends that students consider these five (5) things after attending the ESWP Engineering Career Fair:
1. Get organized.
2. Follow-up with employers.
3. Maintain the connection.
4. Practice your interviewing skills.
5. Reflect on your experience at the ESWP career fair.
These five items will better prepare students for a future opportunity. For more information about upcoming student or young member events, visit https://eswp.com/events/.
2019 ESWP Banquet
And a good time was had by all! The 135th ESWP Annual Banquet was held last night at the Westin Convention Center Hotel with great fanfare! More than 430 guests attended the event, believed to be among the longest running awards dinner is in the United States! You can view the award recipients on our website link here and we will post photos of the event as soon as they are available. Pictured here is University of Pittsburgh Dean of Engineering James Martin, with George Washington Prize winner Nate Carnovale, with ESWP President Bob Ward in the foreground. Thanks to all for supporting this very important engineering gathering. And congratulations to all of our award recipients!
New Location, New Events – 2018 IWC Recap
Scottsdale, Arizona was the new destination for the 79th Annual International Water Conference that took place on November 4-8, 2018. It brought together almost 900 end users, researchers, practicing engineers, educators, suppliers and contractors from more than 15 countries to learn unbiased details about the latest applications available in the industry, get educated on current technology and hold wide ranging discussions with their peers active in water treatment.
The conference opened on Sunday at 10:00 AM local time with an IWC Golf Outing at the Talking Stick Golf Club. It was followed by Continuing Education Workshops, Outdoor Exhibit Hall, and Get Acquainted Reception. The Golf Outing and Outdoor Exhibit Hall are a new addition to the conference, pleasantly surprising attendees.
To continue the excitement, the IWC introduced a H20 Theatre on Monday and Tuesday. The H20 Theatre offered a chance for companies to present information about their company that they could not present in the technical sessions. In addition, an Idea Board was added for attendees to communicate their thoughts in real time! The final addition to the conference was a TopGolf Outing hosting over 50 attendees on Wednesday evening located less than a mile from the venue.
Over the 5-day conference, 75 technical papers and 18 Continuing Education Workshops were conducted. All are carefully peer reviewed for quality and to ensure they are non-commercial. Each paper presentation at the IWC is followed by a prepared discussion-a thoroughly considered, different perspective on the topic. This was followed by an open floor discussion when all audience members and presenters can fully interact-ask questions, seek clarification, and raise alternative viewpoints.
Overall, we want to thank all the attendees, sponsors, and committee members for contributing to a successful conference and we hope to see you for the 80th Anniversary of the International Water Conference taking place on November 10-14, 2019 at the Hilton Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, FL, USA.
RIZZO International, Inc. Celebrates First Anniversary and Certification By the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
RIZZO International Inc. is proud to announce their first anniversary and achievement of national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
Rachelle Rizzo, President of RIZZO International stated, “I’m so proud to continue in my father’s, (Dr. Paul Rizzo), footsteps leading a team to execute extraordinary projects all over the world. I’m also very fortunate to have my father still involved as CTO overseeing our phenomenal technical team. His are big shoes to fill, but I’ve been thinking about this opportunity for the decades I have been a part of the industry. As with many new businesses it’s been a challenging first year, but we prevailed and we are extremely excited about our future. Receiving our WBENC certification is definitely adding to the celebration!” My father always says, ‘It’s all part of the adventure!’ Here’s to continuing the adventure!”
To learn more about RIZZO International, Inc., please visit www.RIZZOintl.com.
RIZZO International Inc. is a specialized global engineering and consulting firm focused on Analysis and Design, Construction Management, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Geology, Hydraulic, Hydrology and Hydrogeological Engineering and Earth Sciences. Our projects are typically in the Dams & Water, Power Generation and Infrastructure Markets.
WBENC’s national standard of certification program is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.
2018 PA Brownfields Conference Recap
Over the course of 3 days, over 400 attendees joined us in Bethlehem, PA for the 2018 PA Brownfields Conference. With over 20+ educational sessions and networking opportunities with more than 45 exhibitors the conference was a success.
The conference opened on Monday with two mobile workshops (Brewing Brownfields Back to Life and Big Machines, Big Industry) followed by a “Get Acquainted Reception” at the Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, that gave attendees a birds-eye view of the historic Bethlehem Steel Blast Furnaces.
Tuesday morning the conference started with a “Brownfields 101” session providing attendees an opportunity to learn the basics of Pennsylvania’s brownfields program before the start of the conference. Following this introductory session, we were welcomed to the conference by the Mayor of Bethlehem’s staff and opening remarks by PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and U.S. EPA, Office of Land and Emergency Management Deputy Assistant Administrator, Steven Cook. Day two offered more than 12 different sessions for attendees to choose from, plus a full exhibit hall providing attendees the opportunity to lunch and learn, as they visit with vendors.
Wednesday continued with 10 more sessions and an “Economic Forecast” by Don Cunningham from Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). The conference concluded with a workshop “Winning EPA Brownfield Grants – Tips and Tricks for Success” as experts presented way to write a successful proposal.
Overall, we want to thank all the attendees, sponsors, and committee members for contributing to a successful conference. Stay tuned for information on when the next PA Brownfields Conference will occur. The Conference is planned in collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP).
Over the course of 3 days, over 400 attendees joined us in Bethlehem, PA for the 2018 PA Brownfields Conference. With over 20+ educational sessions and networking opportunities with more than 45 exhibitors the conference was a success.
The conference opened on Monday with two mobile workshops (Brewing Brownfields Back to Life and Big Machines, Big Industry) followed by a “Get Acquainted Reception” at the Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, that gave attendees a birds-eye view of the historic Bethlehem Steel Blast Furnaces.
Tuesday morning the conference started with a “Brownfields 101” session providing attendees an opportunity to learn the basics of Pennsylvania’s brownfields program before the start of the conference. Following this introductory session, we were welcomed to the conference by the Mayor of Bethlehem’s staff and opening remarks by PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and U.S. EPA, Office of Land and Emergency Management Deputy Assistant Administrator, Steven Cook. Day two offered more than 12 different sessions for attendees to choose from, plus a full exhibit hall providing attendees the opportunity to lunch and learn, as they visit with vendors.
Wednesday continued with 10 more sessions and an “Economic Forecast” by Don Cunningham from Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). The conference concluded with a workshop “Winning EPA Brownfield Grants – Tips and Tricks for Success” as experts presented way to write a successful proposal.
Overall, we want to thank all the attendees, sponsors, and committee members for contributing to a successful conference. Stay tuned for information on when the next PA Brownfields Conference will occur. The Conference is planned in collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP).
ESWP YMF Hosts Annual Social that Benefits Local Charity
ESWP hosted their 3rd Annual YMF Summer Social at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania on September 7, 2018. The event was co-hosted by ASCE, ASHE, Tau Beta Pi, SAME, and WTS Pittsburgh Sections. This year the event brought together a record attendance of more than 60 young engineers in the Greater Pittsburgh area. The goal of this event is to seek and prepare the next generation of engineers by highlighting the diverse spectrum of engineering and related technical societies. Each co-host contributed a gift basket to raffle off and had a chance to inform attendees of their professional organization.
New this year, ESWP implemented a 50/50 raffle, that the proceeds benefited the Red Door Program at Saint Mary of Mercy Church. St. Mary of Mercy Church, which is in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, provides several kinds of assistance to people in need. The “oldest” of St. Mary’s services is the Red Door Program which began during the Great Depression. This program provides a bag lunch, Monday through Saturday to more than 100 persons each day. The program is underwritten by St. Mary of Mercy Church through various contributions made directly to the Red Door. After the conclusion of this event, ESWP donated a total of $80 to the Red Door Program. ESWP plans on implementing this event again in 2019 in hopes to exceed their contribution to a charitable organization.
As you can see our Young Member Forum is gaining momentum by offering the YMF Summer Social and other quality programs designed specifically with the young engineer in mind. If you are not already a ‘young member’ ESWP offers an Under-35 dues rate of $25 annually, with a limited time offer of NO entrance fee (a $55 savings!) Now is the time to add ESWP to your professional network and expand your horizons. Click here: https://eswp.com/membership/individual-membership-2/