Welcome to Pittsburgh and Orientation
1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Students are encouraged to attend this exciting information session. The orientation kicks off with a welcome from Conference Co-Chair Anthony DiGioia, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, and Conference Co-Chair Richard
Gray, P.G., Hon.M.ASCE. Then prepare yourselves for an enjoyable icebreaker exercise, followed by networking tips for the Annual from Program Chair James Withiam, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE. Afterwards you will be treated to an overview of what attractions in the area are a must by members of the local steering committee.
Student & Younger Member Reception
7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Join your peers at the Carnegie Science Center for an evening of networking while enjoying the marvels of science.
CEO Forum: By CEOs…For Everyone
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
How are civil engineering employers preparing for the workforce of the future? What issues should CEOs be addressing today? Bring your burning issues directly to our panel of experts and help direct a stimulating discussion among leaders of the civil engineering profession. Jason Jennings, the opening plenary speaker, will moderate the Forum and add his unique business and leadership expertise. All attendees are invited to participate in this stimulating session.
Moderator: Jason Jennings, Author and Opening Plenary Speaker
Panelists: Allen D. Biehler, P.E., Secretary of Transportation, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (invited); Robert (Bob) Luffy, P.E., M.ASCE, President & CEO, American Bridge; Celestino R. Pennoni, P.E., L.S., F.ASCE, Chairman, Pennoni Associates; James A. Rispoli, P.E., F.ASCE, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy; Shirley Ann Jackson Ph.D., President Rensselaer Polytechnic University
Join one of the sessions from Track 1, Track 2 or Track 3
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Track 1: Changing the Conversation
The result of a comprehensive and groundbreaking study led by the National Academies of Engineering (NAE) and funded by the National Science Foundation, the new report Changing the Conversation argues one of the greatest obstacles to attracting talent to engineering is the lack of compelling messages that appeal to younger generations. This session will report on the surprising findings of this unique project and present the messages recommended by the study’s authors. Speakers will also examine the success of programs that have adapted engineering messages and approaches to attract students from groups underrepresented in engineering, including women, African American, Hispanic American, and Native American/American Indian students. This session will end with a discussion of a recent production by WQED that poses the question to young people: “Did you ever think about a career in engineering?”
Moderator: Anthony Iannacchione Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, Principal Research Engineer, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, NIOSH
Presenter: James H. Johnson, Jr., P.E., F.ASCE, Howard University; Cathy Leslie, P.E., M.ASCE, Executive Director, Engineers Without Borders - USA; Rick Sebak, Producer/Writer/Narrator, WQED Pittsburgh History Series “Stop Calling This a Problem.”
Track 2: Where is risk-based decision making going?
Explore the accomplishments and challenges of quantifying risk for large distributed infrastructure systems. How is current knowledge being adapted to this new challenge and what types of information can be gained? Discuss where these methods need to go to best serve society and what is the civil engineer’s role in developing and applying these tools.
Moderator: Gregory Baecher, Ph.D., M.ASCE, Professor, University of Maryland
Presenter: Martin W. McCann, Jr., Ph.D., A.M.ASCE, Technical Lead,
Delta Risk Management Strategy
Track 3: Influence
Today’s team-oriented engineering projects require leaders who can do more than calculate. Learn personal communication skills, including setting goals, objectives, and milestones, which are paramount to delivering projects on time and on budget. This session will teach you to make business contacts, get results from your team, and dress for success.
The link between a leader and his or her business demands that you get out into the world, establish new relationships, and leave a memorable impression. Improve your networking skills and then learn the power of influence. Once you’ve learned to communicate outside your organization and motivate within, make sure you look good doing it with pointers on how to dress for success.
Presenter: Richard Overmoyer, M.P.A., Principal, Director of Economic Architecture, GSP Consulting Corporation
Lunch with Governor Rendell
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Join ASCE’s special guest, The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a lunchtime presentation on the nation’s infrastructure. Gov. Rendell, along with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, recently launched the Building America’s Future Coalition, which seeks to bring state and local interests together to urge the federal government to invest in the nation’s infrastructure. Gov. Rendell, a longtime supporter of ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, will share his plans and initiatives for improving the condition of the nation’s infrastructure.
Presenter: The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Governor of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (invited)
Registration Fee: Additional tickets are $35 in advance; $45 on-site.
How to Find the Perfect Job
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
You’ve graduated, and now it’s time to find your first job. But, the profession is broad, so where do you start? Your work could take you from engineering design firms, construction contractors, owners, architects, and fabricators to designing, selling, or managing projects within organizations that are large or small, private or public. Now, you can have a system for finding the perfect job that custom fits who you are. Dr. Deborah Fisher, civil engineering professor, and co-author of the national award-winning book Four Secrets to Liking Your Work, shares four basic laws of what she calls “people physics.” These laws teach us how to understand our own actions, how to work better with others and, most importantly, how to find the right position where we can be more successful once we’re there.
Presenter: Deborah Fisher, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE, Associate Professor, University of New Mexico
The Four Laws of People Physics (Track 4: Session 3)
2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
As civil engineering professionals, we interact with a diverse population that includes owners and contractors, fellow designers, regulators, fabricators, and architects, just to name a few. People problems often get in the way of our effectiveness as engineers. Wouldn’t it be nice to understand human interaction and pull “people types” out of a manual like steel beams? Dr. Deborah Fisher, a civil engineering professor and co-author of the national award-winning book Four Secrets to Liking Your Work, will demystify human interaction. She will cover the science of behavior, motivation, task balance, and emotional intelligence and show how these relate in our everyday interactions.
Presenter: Deborah Fisher, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE, Associate Professor, University
of New Mexico
ASCE Annual Business Meeting & Order of the Engineer
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
2008 was a remarkable year for ASCE. Celebrate the achievements of the Society and your fellow members at this year’s ASCE Business Meeting. ASCE Executive Director Patrick J. Natale, P.E., F.ASCE kicks the morning off with a report on the state of the Society, followed by the induction ceremony for the 2009 Board of Direction. The ceremony
will culminate with the inaugural address of 2009 President D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE.
Klotz, a member of ASCE for 34 years, is the President of the Texasbased firm Klotz Associates, Inc. His exemplary service to ASCE includes serving as Region 6 governor and chairing several committees dealing with political involvement, policy review, and employment conditions. He actively participates in the Texas Section and Houston Branch and volunteers with the Greater Houston Partnership, the Harris County Flood Control Task Force, and the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District. Klotz served as a Director on ASCE’s Board of Direction and as
Conference Chair of the Houston Conference Host Committee for the 2001 Annual Conference.
Following Klotz’s address, ASCE will honor the outstanding contributions of several of its members by presenting the President’s Medal, the Norman Medal, and the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prizes.
Klotz, Natale, and 2008 President David G. Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE will conclude the Business Meeting by initiating new members into the Order of the Engineer. Recognized by their stainless steel ring, members of the Order of the Engineer take the Obligation of the Engineer to pledge responsibility to the profession. Become one of the more than 2,700 engineers who have participated in an ASCE-led Ring Ceremony since 2003.
When you attend the ASCE Business Meeting, look for the special box to drop your business card for a chance to win complimentary 2009 ASCE membership or registration to the 2009 Annual Conference in Kansas City, MO.
Registration fee for induction: $15; (No fee to attend the ceremony).
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Patrick J. Natale, P.E., F.ASCE ASCE, ASCE Executive Director |
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D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE. ASCE 2009 President |
ASCE After Graduation
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Students should plan to attend the After Graduation session for tips on staying involved in ASCE after graduation and discover “What’s In It for Me.” The session will review the benefits and networking opportunities available for recent graduates at the local and national level. From Career Connections to the Mentoring Program, ASCE is the home for civil engineers at every career stage. Find out why employers think ASCE student members have an edge over
their peers, and how some recent grads landed a job just by being active.
Life Balance
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Learn how to work smarter, not harder. The Life Balance session will teach you proper methods of Time Management, how to maintain a positive attitude, the benefits of community involvement and how to balance school, work and life. This session is for anyone who wishes to maintain a happy and balanced life after college.
Student Lunch and Open Mike
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Check, Check, One, Two… Take part in the student lunch open mike. Feel free to get on stage and discuss current events in the civil engineering world, vent about problems in school or even just tell a joke and lighten the mood. Closing out the forum will be a message from ASCE 2009 President D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE. (invited)
Heinz History Center
1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
The Senator John Heinz History Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in the state of Pennsylvania. Devoted to the history and heritage of Western Pennsylvania, the History Center is
a 275,000-square-foot museum and research facility that is located in the city’s historic Strip District. The History Center’s home combines the former Chautauqua Lake Ice Company building with the five-story Smithsonian wing that
opened November 13, 2004. Original artifacts and interactive exhibits appeal to newcomers, long-time residents, and people of all ages, revealing the fascinating scope and impact of the region’s past. The History Center is also a great place to explore family roots, including photographs, maps, books and manuscripts relating to Western Pennsylvania history.
Registration Fee: $10
Convention Center Green Building Tour
1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center raises the bar to a new level for meeting and exhibit space, services and amenities. Located in the hub of Pittsburgh’s cultural, business, and entertainment district, the Center effectively blends unparalleled functionality with cutting-edge technology to offer an unforgettable meeting experience. The $375 million facility is the cornerstone to Western Pennsylvania’s hospitality industry and truly a design and engineering gem. The Center is the first and largest certified “green” convention center in the world and is the only meeting venue to be awarded the Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Registration Fee: $10
Pittsburgh Bridges / Incline Tour
1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh and its suburbs are known for steep hillsides covered with buildings, streets that have steps for sidewalks, and sidewalks that are named streets. With topography such as this, it’s not surprising that there are so many bridges. And inclines are another unique mode of pedestrian transport in the City. Take a guided tour to ride an incline and see the City’s breathtaking panorama from Mt. Washington, learn about the 1880s vintage Smithfield Street bridge that crosses the Monongahela River, see the Sister Bridges over the Allegheny River. After the tour you’ll understand some of the particular transportation challenges that face designers in the area and why Pittsburgh is the City of Bridges.
Registration Fee: $10
