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Welcome to the ASCE Houston Branch Newsletter of upcoming events, articles, jobs and more from our membership.  

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President's Message

President’s Message – March 2026

Dear ASCE Houston,

I hope you guys enjoyed Engineer’s Week as much as I did. It was truly an honor to be selected by our Younger Member (YM) Committee as the ASCE Houston Young Engineer of the Year, and I’d like to congratulate Houston Engineer of the Year, Brian Manning, one last time. I enjoyed getting to celebrate this special time with you all during last week’s festivities.

Brian’s remarks during the YEOY Awards really resonated with me as he highlighted the importance of always saying “yes” to opportunities as they come your way, and prioritizing building connections in our industry. My leadership journey with ASCE started 8 years ago when I signed up to be our YM Community Service Chair, and I never knew how many doors my involvement with ASCE would open for me by simply staying involved and saying “yes” to opportunities. Over the years, ASCE has always been so much more than just a source of technical content for me, it’s given me a place to grow my network, share my passion with other leaders in our industry, and give back to our community. So to any students and other young engineers out there reading this - say yes to getting involved, I can promise you that you won’t regret it! If you’re looking for opportunities to get plugged into a leadership role, please reach out to myself or any of the board members to see if there’s a role that might be a good fit for you as we transition positions this coming fall.

Earlier this past month, during our February Branch meeting we had the pleasure of recognizing two local projects that received ASCE’s Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) Award - the City of Houston’s Northeast Transmission Line, and PortHouston’s Project 11 Ship Channel Expansion, along with one Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Individual Award for design, awarded to Lawrence Griffis with Walter P. Moore in recognition for his outstanding contributions in structural engineering design. These awards are a national-level distinction and are awarded for exceptional civil engineering innovation and significant contributions to society. You can learn more about these awards HERE.

March is already shaping up to be a very busy month with several technical sessions and volunteer opportunities hosted by our Education Committee, Younger Member Committee, and several of our institutes which you can learn more about in this newsletter. I especially want to highlight our Younger Member Committee’s Volleyball Fundraiser Tournament coming up on March 11th - I encourage you all to gather some coworkers and sign up for some friendly competition for a good cause. All proceeds from the tournament go directly to supporting our high school and university student scholarship funds. Speaking of scholarships - applications are open on our website HERE! Please be sure to share this opportunity with students, interns, and family members that are eligible!

Our next Branch Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Ballroom at Tanglewood. Our keynote speaker will be Leilany Thielen, P.E., Deputy Director of the Capital Projects & Infrastructure Division of Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA). Our Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI) will also be hosting a technical session before the lunch entitled “Would You Bet Your Capital Plan on AI Models? A Technical Evaluation for Municipal Engineering” presented by the City of Sugar Land. I look forward to seeing you all there!

As always, please reach out to me anytime if you’d like to discuss suggestions to improve our programming or inquire about ways to get involved.

Sincerely,

Anna Chamberlain, PE, CFM, ENV SP

President

[email protected]

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Calendar of Events

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Articles

ASCE March Houston Branch In-person & Virtual Meeting

📅 Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 11:00 – 1:00 PM
📍 The Ballroom at Tanglewood - 5430 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056
💻 In-Person & Virtual Event

Online registration closes at 12pm the day before the event. Walk-ins may register onsite on the day of the event. 

MEETING SPONSORED BY

AGENDA

• 11:00 AM - Technical Session
• 12:00 PM - Lunch / Keynote Address

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

TECHNICAL SESSION
Topic: Would You Bet Your Capital Plan on AI Models? A Technical Evaluation for Municipal Engineering

NOTES:

1. Lunch will be a chicken dish. If you would like a vegetarian or gluten-free option, please indicate this in the registration comments. We cannot guarantee that these options will be available for walk-ins.

2. VIRTUAL MEETING REGISTRATION: A link will be sent to you the day before the event, with a reminder one hour prior to the start time.

ASCE Houston Branch February Meeting Recap

February YM Board Game Happy Hour Recap

A quick thanks to those that came to the happy hour last week! Here is a short event recap from the Board Game Happy Hour that occurred on February 19th.

Last week’s Board Game Happy Hour was a huge success, bringing together more than 20 participants, including a great mix of students and young professionals. With over 10 different game options on the table, Uno quickly became the crowd favorite, sparking plenty of laughs and friendly competition. The atmosphere was lively, giving everyone a chance to relax, connect, and network. Overall, it was a fun, energetic evening and we’re already looking forward to the next one.

Virtual Session Recaps

From Preparation to Performance: Strategies for Certification Success

On February 25, 2026, ASCE Houston hosted an engaging virtual webinar titled “From Preparation to Performance: Strategies for Certification Success.” Nakia Hillsman, MBA, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, DASSM, ENV SP, SHRM-SCP, shared her expertise on effective study techniques, active learning strategies, and practical test-taking tips to help engineers approach professional licensure and certifications with confidence. Attendees gained actionable insights on organizing study materials, managing exam anxiety, and applying disciplined learning strategies for long-term career growth. Thank you to Nakia for presenting such valuable content and to everyone who joined us online!

Dredging Out Hurricane Harvey

On February 11, 2026, our virtual technical session featured “Dredging Out Hurricane Harvey”, presented by Amanda Retta, P.E., Civil Engineer at Tetra Tech. Amanda took participants through the comprehensive debris removal efforts from Lake Houston following Hurricane Harvey—covering dredging methods, environmental considerations, and execution challenges in handling nearly 780,000 cubic yards of sediment. Her presentation offered firsthand insight into the complexities of post-storm recovery engineering. Many thanks to Amanda for her informative session and to all attendees who tuned in!

Mentorship and Professional Development: The Multiplier Effect in Engineering Careers

By Akshay Dumbre, PE, PMP, M.ASCE

Mentorship Program Co-Chair, ASCE Houston Branch

We tend to view engineering through a purely technical lens, but technical skill is really just the price of admission. Long-term success is built on the things they don’t always teach in school: mentorship, clear communication, and a deliberate focus on professional growth. The engineers who actually move the needle are the ones who treat their judgment and their professional relationships with as much care as their calculations.

Every engineer begins by mastering the fundamentals: the standards, the design principles, and the day-to-day reality of project work. But eventually, your role evolves. Success becomes less about what you can produce at your desk and more about how you communicate, make tough calls, and collaborate across the aisle. This transition from 'doer' to 'leader' is rarely easy, which is why having a mentor is so vital. They provide the perspective you need to bridge that gap.

You can't learn 'judgment' from a lecture hall. It’s built through experience, and mentorship is the fastest way to get there. A good mentor shares the 'why' behind the 'what,' helping you understand the broader stakes of your technical work. It’s the difference between just following a standard and knowing when a project requires a different approach. That insight is the most valuable asset you can develop in the career.

Then there’s communication. We like to think of engineering as a solo technical sport, but it’s actually a team game. If you can’t get your point across, mistakes happen and timelines slip. Clear communication isn't just a 'soft skill', it’s how you build trust with your team and your clients. The engineers who can actually explain the 'why' behind a design are the ones who get invited to the table for the big decisions.

Professional growth doesn't just happen by accident, you have to go after it. That means staying curious, being open to feedback (even the kind that’s hard to hear), and staying flexible as the industry shifts. We all hit those 'now what?' moments when we take on a new leadership role or a bigger set of responsibilities. That uncertainty is normal, but it’s a lot easier to navigate when you have a mentor or a professional network to lean on.

It’s hard to grow in a vacuum. Organizations like ASCE provide a unique space to develop leadership skills and find mentors that you might not have access to at your firm. Stepping outside your daily project bubble to engage with the broader professional community can be a game-changer for professional career.

If you want to stay in this game for the long haul, technical skill is only half the battle. You also need a strong network and the ability to lead when things get complicated. Mentorship is the ultimate shortcut here, it’s the multiplier that turns years of experience into immediate growth. When we invest time in mentoring the next generation (and staying open to learning ourselves), we’re doing more than just building resumes. We’re strengthening the entire profession from the ground up.

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Get to Know Your Board Member

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Member Spotlight

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Membership Report

March 2026 Membership Report

Currently, adjusted assignments to the Houston Branch include 3,675 members. 88% of all renewals elected to pay their Texas Section Dues. Thank you for your ASCE participation!

Who do I contact with Membership questions?

 Houston Branch - President Elect:  Aaron Orozco

Email: [email protected]

National Membership Contact - [email protected] or call 800-548-2723

Membership Information - http://www.asce.org/membership/

Online Application - https://join.asce.org/default.aspx

Renew Your Membership - http://www.asce.org/renewal

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Treasurer's Report

March 2026 Treasurer's Report

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