Moustafa A. Gouda, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE
Vision Statement
It is an exciting time to be a civil Engineer and especially as a member of ASCE. Look at all the opportunities that lie ahead. Look at what ASCE has done for you lately, the report card, strategic planning, advocacy programs and valuable benefits.
As the immediate Society Past Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee and Chair of Investment Subcommittee, I can personally attest that our financial foundations are solid. We have a strong membership and national and internationally recognized stature. Thanks to the work of volunteers like you and ASCE staff, we are sitting on the summit of the mountain of professional societies.
What we need now is to sustain our success and to continue our position on the top of the mountain. We need to work together to face up to the expected challenges over the coming years, the challenges include: 1) the effect of the downturn economy on ASCE Operations, Finances and Reserves. 2) Improving the image of the Engineer by raising the bar and providing better employment opportunities. 3) Achieving the goals of ASCE Strategic planning. And 4) Implementation of the Roadmap to Destination 2025: "The Civil engineer would be entrusted by Society to help achieve a sustainable world and raise the global quality of life,"
Challenge 1, to overcome the economic downturn while implementing our Policies and supporting our strategic planning and advocacy programs the leadership needs to continue on the path of fiscal responsibility adopted few years back.
I want to use my 45 years of USA and international professional experience, my relations with the institutes as sitting Governor of the Geo-Institute, my 29 years of ASCE local Section and Branch involvement, and my 19 years services on the ASCE National Board of Direction, District 1 Director, Society Treasurer, Member of the Executive Committee and Chair of Major Board Committees (Finance, Program and Audit) and Chair of Board Subcommittees (Investment, and Members' Benefits)) to help steer our ship through unchartered waters of the current challenges.
ASCE is an organization that provides great services to our Civil Engineering community. Our core values are servicing our members and our commitment to our profession. Regardless of the magnitude of challenges, we must preserve our core values in order to sustain our success. This can be accomplished under the banner of C^3 which stands for "Coordinated Constructive Change." To better serve our members, we need to ask: "What programs are we providing today and need to do more of in the future?" "What programs are we providing today that should be done differently in the future?" and "What new programs do we need to offer in the future to keep our members engaged?"
The Board of Direction shall work with our members, Regions, Section and Branches, our Institutes and Sister Societies to overcome the challenges that face our society and our profession. We shall work together to evaluate and implement Constructive Changes concerning the following major areas of ASCE operation:
MEMBERS' BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS: In order for ASCE to grow and meet the future challenges, ASCE shall continue to improve members' benefits and programs. I want to make sure that as a profession we are continuing to move forward assisting our members so they can have better opportunities and better compensation for their services. ASCE leadership in raising the bar, in influencing public policy on infrastructure, and in advancing technology shall continue
POLICY: ASCE shall continue to be the stewards of public policy. Policy is the heart of ASCE and the result of the labor of its members.Shaping and directing the policy cannot be left to others .
STRATEGY and ADVOCACY: ASCE needs to continue to press on to achieve the strategic planning initiatives. We need to press on with advocacy putting all our resources behind our strategies. We shall and must dedicate more resources to support our initiatives. We Must Water What We Want to Grow.
EDUCATION: ASCE shall continue to educate not only its members but also educate the public servants regarding the need to increase funding for infrastructure. We must continue to raise the bar by influencing, reforming and shaping the future engineering educational curriculum.
UNIFICATION: My goal is to get all Civil Engineering Associations to agree to have one single voice that gets heard loud and clear in the Court of Public Opinion.
Fiscal Responsibility: ASCE finances are healthy with a balanced budget and adequate reserves. ASCE shall work harder to preserve its assets while allowing adequate resources for programs and for support of strategic planning and advocacy. ASCE shall continue to investigating new revenue sources.
Should you honor me and select me to serve as ASCE President Elect, I will spend my first year in office focusing my efforts on the needs of our member. Increasing and improving communications with our national and international members is important for our long term sustained success. I plan to work with our Members, Regions, Sections and Branches and Institutes to get our members engaged. I want to see that every Member is on board, embracing the "all on board" philosophy, contributing to sustaining ASCE's success through full support of ASCE Strategic Planning, Initiatives and Policies. I want to encourage all ASCE Members to become active participants in their communities. I know first hand that Civil Engineers can translate their knowledge of basic applied science into civic problem solving and have the same satisfaction that many Civil Engineers have found - when they made a difference in their community.
Confidence, transparency and effective communication will mark and symbolize my presidency. You all have my personal commitment for the full-time effort that is required to lead ASCE. I look forward to working with all of you and to continue my services to ASCE.
The above statement appears as it was submitted to ASCE by the nominee. No revisions have been made to the statement by ASCE.