 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
DECEMBER 2007 Branch Newsletter[PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE: Reflection on the Year] [MEET THE MEMBER: ] [MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT: 2007 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award] PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE: Reflection on the YearWe, as a society, have a tendency to rush through our day-to-day activities and don’t take time to really “stop and smell the roses” (sorry for the cliché). We don’t really take time to appreciate all that we have and the people that bless us every day. Even more so during the holidays we get caught up in the end of the year activities and just rush through trying to get things done. Do you ever ask yourself, where did the year go? That is definitely something I ask myself. Well, with Thanksgiving here and gone, and Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to spend a moment to think about those special times in your life and the people that have crossed your path this year. Did you have a new baby this year, or buy a new house, or maybe you got a new job? Maybe you ran into a friend you haven’t seen in years. These are all things to be thankful for. I think it is imperative to take this moment to reflect and evaluate how far you have come this year and to also figure out where you want to go next year. It is the time for New Year’s Resolutions.As I reflect on the year professionally, I think of the incredible year I have had with ASCE and those that have stepped up to take part in this organization. I think about the great speakers that have brought us interesting topics during our monthly luncheon meetings. I think about the professionals in this community and I see how blessed I am to work with such great engineers. I want to thank each and every one of you that has volunteered your time at some point throughout the year to make this profession better. This month I also wanted to reinforce the need to join or renew your ASCE membership. When you are joining or renewing your membership, it is also imperative to not only pay your Section dues, but to also pay the Branch dues. This Branch uses these dues each year to help support the various activities, such as luncheons, seminars, scholarships, awards, etc. that are conducted throughout the year. Without these dues, we will not be able to continue some of these activities. So please, when filling out the form, make sure the box is checked for Branch dues. If you want to join ASCE and don’t know how, you can go to www.ASCE.org/membership to get the application. I want to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful new year!!! I hope to see you all at our December monthly meeting where we get to recognize the outstanding projects of the year. ~ Kari Wagner MEET THE MEMBER:This months ASCE member profile features Judd King of Earth Systems Pacific. From wine caves to rocket launch pads, Judd is a well rounded civil engineer who gives back to the community. Growing up locally in Nipomo, he began his engineering studies at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. He developed an interest in geotechnical engineering while working as a lab technician during college. Judd transferred from Hancock to Cal Poly in 1998 where he graduated in 2001 with a focus in water resources and geotechnical engineering. After college, he married his wife, Valarie. They lived the "simple life" working at a camp on Catalina Island for six months. He then moved to Sacramento where he worked as a staff engineer. The move from the classroom to the field proved to be an educating experience. "I learned more from my field experience with contractors than from a lot of my courses in college. On-the-job experience can teach you what is practical and what isn't." Now back in San Luis Obispo, Judd is working as a project engineer for Earth Systems Pacific.Judd finds time to pass the CE torch, sparked in his own life by professionals who paid back to the community, by visiting colleges. Once each semester, he returns to Hancock to familiarize students about the field of Geotechnical Engineering. He emphasizes the importance of acquiring work experience and gaining contacts to advance students careers in a direction they want to go. Finding the perfect job is "often not a result of a stunning resume, rather it's who you know." Judd's first project with Earth Systems Pacific involved testing and inspection services for a rocket launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Following some time in the field, Judd obtained his professional registration in 2005. Judd’s recent projects have included wine caves, mixed-use projects, prison facilities, and infrastructure improvement projects. Through his work as an engineer, Judd has learned to comfortably move forward with a project while effectively dealing with obstacles as they arise. Judd finds it important for engineers to "Be proactive about problems when they arise and be part of the solution. A good Engineer should be able to listen and be willing to change how you look at things and approach problems differently." Judd puts emphasis on the importance of interpersonal relationships found through Engineering. "Success goes back to the relationships you have on a day to day basis. If people can come to you and trust you, that's what is important, not money or possessions." Outside of Civil Engineering, Judd spends a great deal of time in the ocean. He sails as much as possible enjoying hearing nothing but the wind, and also has a fondness for surfing. Judd joined ASCE three years ago, and feels it is important that we as engineers meet together in a setting outside of work. ASCE “allows us the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences”. He notes the importance of Civil Engineers to see ourselves as an elite group of professionals, not a commodity. By Daniel Parker-King MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT: 2007 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement AwardRegister OnlineThis month's meeting is the Branch's 2007 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) Award program. The OCEA Award honors a local project that best illustrates superior civil engineering skills and represents a significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society. The luncheon will start with opening remarks and introduction of the judges, followed by short presentations on each of the entries, and commence with the award presentation. This year, there were six nominations, representing a wide array of civil engineering disciplines. There’s definitely a project for everybody in this suite of deserving projects. Make sure to mark your calendar and join us at AJ Spurs to see which project will be awarded the 2007 OCEA Award!
Cuesta Grade Tower Wall
Sherwood Wells Arsenic Removal Facilities
Cambria Grammar School
South Miller Street and East Cook Street Improvements Project
Robin Ventura Ball Field
River View Park [PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE: Reflection on the Year] [MEET THE MEMBER: ] [MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT: 2007 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award] |
HOME | NEWSLETTER | OFFICERS | PICTURES | LINKS | EMPLOYMENT | SPONSORS | ASCE NATIONAL
Website created and maintained by JAVDE