Every year members of the San Luis Obispo Branch recognize individuals and projects by nominating them for various awards presented by ASCE. Recipients of these awards are then eligible to enter at the sectional level (LA Section) followed by the regional level (Region 9) if they win at sectionals. I am excited to announce that I recently received notification that our Branch is home to two of the recipients of Regional level awards this year. Great People: Congratulations to Kari Wagner. She was awarded Outstanding Practitioner Advisor for her many years of dedication and outstanding efforts supporting Cal Poly’s SCE Chapter. Interesting Project: Congratulations to Poly Canyon Village which was recognized as the Outstanding Sustainable Engineering Project for 2009.

Exciting Opportunity: As many of you are already aware, 2010 is the 50-year anniversary for the San Luis Obispo Branch. As such, we are planning a 50-Year Celebration event. Something this big requires quite a bit of planning. Kari Wagner has graciously volunteered to head a planning committee. If you would like to get involved in the planning for this event, please contact Kari at kariw@wallacegroup.us. Tentatively the celebration will be integrated with the National Concrete Canoe Competition (held here at Cal Poly this year). However, your ideas would be greatly appreciated. We hope to hear from you.

Another Exciting Opportunity: Engineers Week is right around the corner. Since the San Luis Obispo Branch is special (and we want to coordinate with Cal Poly) we are going to celebrate Engineers Week one week early (from February 8 – 12). This event will coincide with the 2nd annual collaborative K-12 outreach program coordinated between Cal Poly SCE and ASCE. Volunteers are needed to man informational booths and/or visit classrooms to give presentations that engage the students. This is a great opportunity to open the next generation’s eyes to the field of science. If you are interested in getting involved please contact Carolyn Berg at cberg@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Wade grew up on a ranch in Somis, California and came to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly. During his first few years at Cal Poly, Wade told me that a few of the ”weeder” courses almost convinced him to change his major to Forestry. I, as I’m sure like most of you, can relate. But, after getting some words of encouragement from his father, he decided to stick it out. I asked Wade if he ever wanted to become anything other than an engineer, and he replied, ”I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after high school. I picked Environmental Engineering, because I did ok in math and science, and liked being outside.”

Wade graduated Cal Poly with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering and began working for URS Corp in Sacramento, California. After two years with URS Corp, Wade moved to San Luis Obispo and has worked for Modern Continental as a Field Engineer and for Penfield & Smith as a Project Manager/Construction Manager. Wade now works for the City of San Luis Obispo as a Construction Engineering Manager. Wade told me that although he’s only been with the City of San Luis Obispo for a few months, he’s really enjoying it and looks forward to facilitating his, and his team’s, career progression. I then asked Wade, what was one of his favorite projects that he’s worked on? He told me; being a Field Engineer constructing eight above ground fuel tanks at an Air Force Base Long Range Radar Station, located in the remote Alaskan Interior. They lived on site in the middle of the pristine Alaskan wilderness where the only way in or out was by plane, and when he left, the temperature there was 50 degrees below zero! He said that it was a one in a life-time project and an incredible adventure! I’d have to agree.

As I mentioned previously, Wade is also a devoted and dedicated husband and father. He and his wife Marika have three beautiful children; Dillon who’s five years old, Rowan who’s three years old, and Elle who’s six months old. According to Wade, his family is his pride and joy. They currently live in Nipomo and he hopes to be able to travel to Ireland someday.

LOCATION:
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Road
San Luis Obispo, CA

DATE & TIME:
Thursday, January 21st
12:00 p.m. (Noon)

MENU:
Food will be your choice of tender slices of roast sirloin of beef, a generous portion of fresh boneless chicken breast, or vegetarian pasta with meatless marinara sauce. Entrees are served with green salad, homemade dinner rolls, along with coffee, iced tea, or milk. All choices come with a dessert from the bakery.

RESERVATIONS:
Please sign up by 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 15th, at the Branch web site (www.ASCESLO.org). Please attend the luncheon if you sign-up – some restaurants will charge the Branch for every seat we reserve, regardless of the actual attendance. If you have specific dietary restrictions or have questions, please contact Liz Moody at (805) 544-7407 or by email at lizm@cannoncorp.us. The cost is $20 for members or guests and $10 for student members.