Oh, What a Year! – ASCE’s 2018 in Review

It was an exciting ASCE 2018.

From the year’s first Multi-Region Leadership Conference in Las Vegas in January to the ASCE 2018 Convention in Denver in October, Society members bonded and worked together to help lead the civil engineering industry forward.

Dream Big went from the big screen to the classroom.

Kristina Swallow inspired civil engineers all over the globe as ASCE president.

Here’s a look at some highlights:

Still Dreaming Big

After launching Dream Big: Engineering Our World onto giant screens across the world in 2017, ASCE shifted its focus in 2018 toward providing DVDs of the film, accompanied by educational toolkits, to every U.S. public school. Meanwhile, ASCE members continued to organize Dream Big events in their communities, including one by the Los Angeles YMF (pictured) which hosted more than 200 Girl Scouts for a red-carpet screening of the film.

ASCE – and Phil, the ASCE Foundation’s mascot – celebrated the streaming debut of Dream Big on Netflix in June.

Rockin’ the Rockies

Denver played host to the ASCE 2018 Convention in October, connecting members from around the globe.

ASCE On-Demand Webinars Trending in 2018

1. Earthwork 101

2. Time Management: A Roles-and-Goals Approach to Life Balance

3. Connection Solutions for Wood-Framed Structures

The ASCE Board of Direction voted in October to approve a package of expanded member benefits for the 2019 membership year. Among them is a doubling of the number of free PDHs members can earn each year from five to 10, along with doubling the number of free on-demand webinars to choose from.

Strong, Dynamic Leadership

ASCE 2018 President Kristina Swallow traveled near and far throughout her presidential year, inspiring civil engineers everywhere.

At a May hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Swallow testifies to urge passage of the Water Resources Development Act, which was approved and enacted in October. Infrastructure advocacy was a key piece of Swallow’s contributions throughout the year.

In October, ASCE presidential duties remained in good hands, as Robin Kemper inherited the title and gavel.

Dynasty Cast in Concrete

Mason Breipohl paddles California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s concrete canoe to one of the team’s five victories during Race Day at the national finals in June. Cal Poly SLO won the 2018 National Concrete Canoe Competition, the school’s second straight national title and fifth this decade.

Advocacy Advancement

Pictured above: Ken Rosenfield, P.E., F.ASCE, chair of the Region 9 State Government Relations Committee, speaks at a kickoff event announcing the transportation grades in the 2019 Report Card for California’s Infrastructure, October in Los Angeles. The event attracted community leaders from around the region, including L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti (standing to Rosenfeld’s right)

ASCE Advocacy Wins in 2018

1. ASCE members and staff continued to lobby for infrastructure investment across all 16 categories of the Infrastructure Report Card. At this year’s ASCE Legislative Fly-In, attendees visited their members of Congress to advocate for the Water Resources Development Act and Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization. ASCE’s efforts led to legislative wins, with the president signing both into law in 2018.

2. ASCE released 10 state infrastructure report cards, including the first Report Card for Minnesota’s Infrastructure, plus transportation-infrastructure sections of the upcoming 2019 Report Card for California’s Infrastructure, and the 2018 Report Card for Illinois’ Infrastructure.

3. ASCE weighed in on several transportation-related initiatives on 2018 midterm ballots, including propositions in California, Colorado, and Missouri.