ASCE Richmond Branch Newsletter

Volume 7 Issue 5

May 2015

Important Upcoming Dates

In This Issue

June Event - Adam Matteo, PE of the Virginia Department of

Exciting Upcoming

Transportation (VDOT)

Events and PDH

June 3rd, 6:15 PM, The Science Museum of Virginia

Opportunities
Younger Member

Still time to register today (May 12th)! Annual ASCE Golf

Tournament

News
National ASCE
Events

Contact Justin Watson directly at Justin.watson@deq.virginia.gov for last

minute registration.
Location: Brandermill Country Club
When: May 14th, 12pm Lunch and Registration; 1:00 PM shotgun start

Job Postings
Sponsor of the Month

Cost: $125 per person, $500 per team

Team Entry Includes:
18 Holes of Golf with Cart & Range Balls
Tournament Lunch
Awards Dinner
Cold Beverages on Course
Individual & Team Awards
Closest-to-Pin Contest
Longest Drive Contest
Putting Contest & Driving Range Contest
Thank You Golf Tournament Sponsors!

Meet the Board

and Chair
Members!
Click here for our
bio's and contact
information
President - Brooke
Jackson
President Elect - Ashley
Johnson, P.E.
Vice President
- Jonathan Oliver
Secretary/Treasurer Shannon Kerrigan

Past President - Austin

Clarke, P.E.
Communications Chair
- Melanie Leckey, P.E.
Education Outreach
Chairs - Justin Watson
& Ryan Abalos
Government Relations
Chair - Loai El-Gazairly
Membership Chair
- Jeremy Craft
Website Chair - Kevin
O'Neill, P.E.
Young Member Chair Chris Friend & Carolyn
Desrochers

Connect with
ASCE Richmond
on our
LinkedIN Page!

Exciting Upcoming Events and PDH Opportunities!

June Branch Meeting - Adam Matteo, PE of the Virginia
Department of Transportation (VDOT)

As Assistant State Structure

and Bridge Engineer for Bridge
Maintenance Mr. Matteo is
responsible for planning,
budgeting and establishing
policy for the maintenance of
over 19,000 of Virginia's
highway bridges and large
culverts. He has 29 years of
engineering experience in structural design, bridge maintenance and
construction management. Before joining VDOT he worked as an
engineering consultant, where he was responsible for the management of an
office that performed bridge design, bridge inspection and bridge
maintenance services in the mid-Atlantic region.
When: Wednesday, June 3rd 2015, 6:15 - 7:30 PM
*Food will be served at 6:15 PM with presentation to start at 6:30 PM.
Subject: Personal Rapid Transit - A Low-Cost Way to Provide
Connectivity in Populated Areas
Location: The Science Museum of Virginia
More Information: New technological developments have made possible
the long-held dream of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). PRT systems allow
users to leave at will to any destination of their choosing on a network using
small, self-guided vehicles. These systems are now being built and
planned in more locations than ever. The author presents information about
existing systems and a concept for a new system that can be built in

harmony with existing urban, suburban and rural environments.

Utilizing existing technologies, the lightweight network would supplement
other existing modes of transportation and could provide the following
advantages:

Shorter trip times in urban, suburban and rural areas

Ability for passengers to leave at will

Self-driving vehicles

Improved safety

Low cost to construct

Low environmental impact (stormwater management and disturbance

of habitat)

Low fuel cost per mile/reduced emissions

Low vehicle maintenance cost per mile

Shorter construction schedules

Ability to fit into existing urban and suburban environments

Expandability based on demand and interest

Lower maintenance cost

Come and see a vision for the future of a new mode of transportation that
could allow us to get where we need to go quickly.
Contact Jon Oliver by phone at 804-672-4723 or by email at
jonathan.oliver@kimley-horn.com for more information. Please register
on our website.

Education Outreach News

Virginia's Student Conference
.
On a mild, overcast April weekend, the screams and chants of students
took over the Town of Lexington, VA. Bewildered and intrigued looks came
from rescue divers, tourists and locals as concrete canoes were launched
and steel bridges erected. The 2015 ASCE Virginia Student Conference
was held on April 9-11 at the campus of Virginia Military Institute in
Lexington, Va.
All fourteen schools were in attendance. There was an overwhelming
attendance in the national AISC Steel Bridge and the National Concrete
Canoe Competitions. Steel Bridge has 12 bridges entered into competition,
while only 2 bridges making it through to the end to compete at Nationals in
Kansas City. Nine Concrete Canoes competed. Virginia Tech and George
Mason will be representing the Virginias Conference at the Steel Bridge
Competition in Kansas City. Fairmont State University won concrete canoe
for the twelve year in a row and will be attending the national concrete
canoe competition at Clemson University. Winners for the other

competitions are noted below. The 2016 Virginias Student Conference will
be held in Washington, DC at The George Washington University.
Excerpt from the ASCE Virginia Section Website, please visit site for more
information (http://ascevirginia.org/virginias-student-conference-2015/).

Younger Member News

Younger Member Forum

Left to Right: Trip Phaup (Vice President at Johnson, Mirmiran, and

Thompson, Inc), Scott Smedley, (Director of Environmental Engineering at
Chesterfield County), Kurt Cooper, (Retired Senior Vice President from
Kimley-Horn), Jeff McKay (Associate at A. Morton Thomas)
The Younger Member Group held a panelist event in the VDOT Auditorium
in downtown Richmond on April 28, 2015. The four distinguished panelists
were all senior level members in the industry from different sectors of Civil
Engineering. The panelists included Kurt Cooper, recently retired from
Kimley-Horn and Associates with 30 years of experience in water resources
and land development; Jeff McKay, an associate at AMT with 21 years of
experience with highway management and land development; Trip Phaup, a
vice president at JMT with 24+ years of experience in structural
engineering; and Scott Smedley, a Director of Environmental Engineering at
Chesterfield County with 25 years of experience.
Each panelist answered several general questions discussing their
background, work/life balance, steps they've made in their career paths
(and why they made them), and any advice they had to offer. Some of the
advice included going out into the field as much as possible, be willing to
try new things and diversify, and work hard but still have patience with your
career. One of the biggest rookie mistakes they noted was making too
many assumptions while not asking enough questions. Questions were also
posed from the audience and included a question regarding how often to
change jobs (okay early in career but start to settle with companies later on)

and when each panelist started making the mental transition to more of a
managerial role (generally 7-9 years in).
The event was very well attended, so we would like to thank everyone who
was able to make it as well as our four panelists for ensuring the event's
success. If you have any comments or suggestions for future events
please feel free to reach out to either Carolyn Desrochers
(carolyn.desrochers@atkinsglobal.com) or Chris Friend (cfriend@jmt.com).

National ASCE Events

Region 4 - ASCE 2015 Spring and Summer Continuing
Education Seminars and Workshops
Geographic Services is proud to announce the Continuing Education
schedule of seminars and workshops for spring and summer scheduled in
your geographic area. These seminars/workshops have been produced by
ASCE's Continuing Education Department.
More Information can be found at: http://www.asce.org/continuingeducation-calendar/

Seismic Loads for Buildings and Other

May 21-22,

Nashville,

Structures

2015

TN

How to Start, Build, and Run a Forensic

May 28-29,

Alexandria,

Engineering Practice

2015

VA

Soil and Rock Slope Stability

June 11-12,

Charleston,

2015

SC

June 25-26,

Washington,

2015

D.C.

July 16-17,

Charlotte,

2015

NC

Design of Lateral Force-Resisting Systems

July 23-24,

Indianapolis,

Using the 2012 International Building Code

2015

IN

Leadership Development for the Engineer

Earthquake-Induced Ground Motions

Seismic Analysis of Structures and Equipment - July 30-31,

Washington,

NEW

D.C.

2015

Seismic Analysis of Structures and Equipment - September

Charleston,

NEW

10-11, 2015 SC

Pumping Systems Design for Civil Engineers

September
24-25, 2015

Job Posting

Fairfax, VA

Interested in posting a job listing in this newsletter to reach the local

engineering community? There's also the option to purchase a
package deal and have your job posting listed in our newsletter as
well as on our website, which is where all of our event registration is
funneled through. Email Melanie at mleckey@dewberry.com for more
information!

Thanks to our Sponsors this Month!

Interested in advertising in this newsletter and being seen by

hundreds of local engineers and companies within the Greater
Richmond Area? Email Melanie at mleckey@dewberry.com for more
information!

If you have any comments regarding this newsletter, please don't hesitate
to contact me at mleckey@dewberry.com.
Thanks!
Melanie Leckey
ASCE Richmond Branch Communications Chair