Happy 2025 and a Year (and Three Months) In Review!

 

Happy 2025 and a Year (and Three Months) In Review! By Yazdan T. Emrani, P.E., M.ASCE ASCE Region 9 Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year! It seems like it was only yesterday when I stepped into the role of Region 9 Director, but it has been over a year, and a lot has happened during that time. Let’s take a little time to reflect on some highlights.

 

A Year in Review

 

October 2023 started with a bang at ASCE’s annual conference in Chicago, where I was officially sworn in as your Director and a member of the Board of Direction. Region 9 also welcomed two new governors: John Rogers, representing the Los Angeles Section, and Elizabeth Bialek, as our new Governor-at-Large. We bid farewell to outgoing governors Tapas Dutta and Christine Rice. Tapas did an excellent job representing the Los Angeles Section, and Christine was a strong voice for younger members as one of our two at-large governors. Fortunately, both have continued their involvement with the board, with Tapas chairing the Nominating Committee and Christine continuing as Chair of the Awards Committee. Additionally, Ken Rosenfield completed his term as Region 9 Director. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Tapas, Christine, and Ken for their outstanding service to Region 9.

 

Events and Activities

 

The 2023-2024 year was packed with activities. I had the privilege of participating in numerous section and branch events, from Orange County’s Life Member Forum last March to the LA Section’s Installation and Awards Celebration in October—and much more in between! Notable events included:

 

Washington, D.C. Fly-In: Last March, Region 9 had one of the largest representations of members for a series of impactful meetings with congressional members and their staff.

 

Region 9 Legislative Day Visit: In May, nearly 75 Region 9 members traveled to Sacramento for one-on-one meetings with assembly members and senators.

 

Meanwhile, the Region 9/Sacramento Section Planning Committee was hard at work organizing the 2024 California Infrastructure Symposium (CAIS), held at the end of March in Sacramento. The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers and topics, receiving excellent feedback from attendees.

 

Challenges and Resilience

 

ASCE’s 2024 annual convention in Tampa Bay faced an unexpected challenge with Hurricane Milton. Despite hopes that Hurricane Helene’s earlier passage would mark the end of the season’s disruptions, Milton’s arrival forced the cancellation of all events, including the convention. This created significant travel hurdles for attendees, some of whom had to drive north to Georgia or South Carolina to find flights home. While disappointing, resilience prevailed, and several canceled events, including the Opal Awards, have been rescheduled for the upcoming MRLC in San Diego during the week of January 13, 2025.

 

Leadership Transitions

 

In October 2024, two more Region 9 governors completed their terms: Vice Chair and Governor-at-Large Kathereen Shinkai, and San Diego Section Governor Patricia McColl. Both performed outstandingly and have continued their involvement with ASCE—Patricia as Region 9’s Membership Chair and Kathereen as an active participant in the Membership Committee. We also welcomed new governors Rami Selim as Governor-at-Large and Craig Shannon as San Diego Section Governor.

 

Historical Designations

 

Region 9 celebrated two major historical milestones under the leadership of Chuck Spinks, Chair of the History and Heritage Committee. With efforts from the San Francisco and LA Sections, the Lower Crystal Springs Dam in San Mateo County and the Morris Dam in Los Angeles County were designated as National Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks. The Lower Crystal Springs Dam, completed in 1890, is a cornerstone of a water system serving over one million people in the Bay Area. The Morris Dam, a concrete gravity dam completed in 1934, is a vital component of the San Gabriel River’s infrastructure.

 

Looking Ahead

 

The Region 9/LA Section Planning Committee is actively developing the program for the 2025 CAIS and Region 9 Awards, scheduled for April 24-25 in Long Beach. The symposium will feature sessions on Transportation, Water, and Sustainability.

 

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Region 9 Legislative Day visit, currently scheduled for June 4, 2025.

 

Last, but certainly not least, Region 9 has embarked on updating the 2019 California Infrastructure Report Card (CAIRC). This comprehensive effort, involving over 100 volunteers from public and private sectors, covers 17 infrastructure categories and is slated for completion in October 2025.

 

Get Involved

 

There’s much more to come in the year ahead, and I encourage everyone to stay engaged with your local branch, sections, and Region 9. We have opportunities to get involved with various committees, as well as volunteer opportunities as committee chair. If you’re interested, please reach out to me or any of the governors on the board. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback!

 

Here’s to another year of progress and collaboration. Let’s make it a great one together!