President's Message

 I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing holiday season and that 2026 is off to a great start. Whether the new year has brought you snow days or just the usual Central Ohio gray, I trust you're settling back into the rhythm of work and looking ahead to what promises to be an eventful year for our Section.

January was a busy month. On January 20, members gathered at the Baker Center at Ohio University for the OSU and OU Student Chapter Dinner. Leaders from both student groups shared their 2025 accomplishments and plans for the year ahead, while professionals from CTL Engineering delivered presentations on lead water service line replacements, mass concrete and post-tensioned concrete, and the I-70/71 Downtown Ramp Up projects. Thank you to CTL Engineering and Ohio University for their support. Later in the month, our tour of the Advanced Drainage Systems Engineering and Technology Center in Hilliard was a tremendous success. The 110,000-square-foot facility, the largest stormwater engineering center in the world, offered an impressive look at state-of-the-art laboratories in material science, automation, and controls. Many thanks to ADS for hosting us and for their sponsorship of the happy hour at Crooked Can Brewery that followed.

Looking ahead to this month, mark your calendars for the E-Week Luncheon on February 25 at Villa Milano in Columbus. Engineering deans from universities across Ohio will share insights into their programs, emerging academic priorities, and how they are preparing graduates to meet evolving industry needs. Our Section is proud to be a sponsor of this event, we hope to see you there.

On February 28, we host our 10th Annual STEM Expo at The Point at Otterbein University. This free event brings hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and math to students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Last year we welcomed over 310 students and featured nearly 25 activities from building race cars out of food items to battling robots to seeing a real human brain. It remains one of our most rewarding outreach efforts, and I encourage you to spread the word.

Finally, I'm excited to announce that we will be voting on proposed revisions to our Section's constitution and bylaws. These foundational documents have not been updated in over two decades and are due for a thorough refresh. The revised documents will be posted to our website early this month for your review. Voting will open on March 2 and close on March 16, with a proposed effective date of July 1, 2026. Your participation in this process is essential, and I look forward to your engagement.

There is much to look forward to in 2026. With strong attendance at our events, meaningful outreach to the next generation, and important governance updates on the horizon, I'm confident this will be another year of growth and impact for the ASCE Central Ohio Section. Thank you for your continued involvement, it's what makes this organization thrive.

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2026 Engineers Week Luncheon

Transform the Future - Bridging Academia & Industry

Join us in celebrating Engineer’s Week 2026!
Wednesday,  February 25, 2026

Hear directly from Engineering Deans from across Ohio’s universities as they share insight into their programs and how they are preparing the next generation of engineers and responding to the evolving industry needs and technologies. This session offers a look at the future of engineering programs, emerging academic priorities, opportunities for collaboration, and how universities are equipping graduates to succeed. Gain valuable insight into the future of engineering and how you can help shape it.

Panel Discussion with moderator + audience Q&A

Panel Speakers:
David Juedes, PhD, Associate Dean of Academics, Ohio University
David Tomasko, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Projects and Student Services, College of Engineering, Ohio State University
Gül Kremer, PhD, Dean of the School of Engineering, University of Dayton
JD Yoder, PhD, Dean of TJ Smull College of Engineering, Ohio Northern University

Registration

Register using the "Register Now" link. Deadline for registration is Friday, Febrary 13 at 5:00 PM. Advanced registration and payment is required.

Sponsorships

Engineers Week Sponsorship Link

The professional organizations coordinating the Central Ohio Engineers Week  Luncheon need your help. Your donation will help support the cost of the luncheon and enable select high school and college students interested in engineering to attend the event at no charge. As a sponsor of the engineering profession, your aid will help make the Central Ohio Engineers Week Luncheon a great success! 

Sponsorship Levels

PLATINUM - SOLD

• Thank you Crawford, Murphy & Tilly!
• $1000
• Limited to only one sponsor at this level
• 8 registrations for luncheon (Reserved table) 
• Present the speakers during the program. 
• Logo on event slideshow with Platinum Level recognition. 
• Verbal recognition of Platinum Level sponsorship at beginning of event. 
• Exhibitor booth space at event, if desired. 
  
  

GOLD

• $550
• 5 registrations for luncheon. 
• Logo on event slideshow with Gold Level recognition. 
• Verbal recognition of Gold Level sponsorship at beginning of event. 
• Exhibitor booth space at event, if desired. 
  
  

SILVER

• $300
• 3 registrations for luncheon. 
• Logo on event slideshow with Silver Level recognition. 
• Exhibitor booth space at event, if desired . 
   

BRONZE

• $150
• 1 registration for luncheon. 
• Logo on event slideshow with Bronze Level recognition. 
  
  

ADDITIONAL/ALTERNATE DONATION

• Donate amount of your choosing.
  
  

Thank you for your generosity towards the Central Ohio Engineer’s Week Luncheon. 

To arrange a sponsorship, please use the link below and pay online or contact Carlos Vazquez. 
Engineers Week Sponsorship Link

To pay via check, please make check payable to:
ASCE – Central Ohio Section
and send the check to:
Carlos Vazquez, PE, P.Eng
American Society of Civil Engineers - Central Ohio Section
WD Partners
7007 Discovery Blvd
Dublin, OH 43017

If paying by check please email names, email addresses, and number of registrations to [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Tickets

$45.00 Luncheon

$550.00 EWeek Gold Sponsorship

$300.00 EWeek Silver Sponsorship

$150.00 EWeek Bronze Sponsorship

$0.00 EWeek Donation

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T.H. Wu Distinguished Lecture

Geoprofessionals as Leaders in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

February 27, 2026
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Climate conditions around the U.S., including in the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley (ORV) regions, are changing as a result of atmospheric warming primarily due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and the resultant trapping of infrared radiation. Societies are responding individually and collectively through a wide range of mitigation and adaptation initiatives. Much more will need to be done over the coming decades.

This lecture begins with a brief review of current and projected climate change impacts to U.S. communities, infrastructure, and natural resources, including in the Great Lakes and ORV regions. The lecture then describes areas of opportunity for geoprofessionals, and more broadly all civil and environmental engineers (CEEs), to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Several project examples will be described. The lecture will show that geoprofessionals (and more broadly all types of CEEs) have a large and vital role to play in these efforts, one that will last for decades. The engineering response to climate change will create substantial opportunities for our profession but also a responsibility as CEE leaders to contribute to solutions.

Rudolph Bonaparte, PhD, PE, D.GE, F.ASCE, NAE
Senior Prinicipal Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants

Rudolph (Rudy) Bonaparte is a Senior Principal at Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. Previously, he served as President and CEO of the firm for 20 years and as Board Chairman for 14 years. He is also a part-time Professor-of-the-Practice in the CEE School at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1977 from the University of Texas at Austin, and M.S. (1978) and Ph.D. (1981) degrees in Geotechnical Engineering, from the University of California, Berkeley. His professional practice is in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, with a focus on analysis and design related to slope stability and earth retaining structures, dams and levees, environmental cleanups for contaminated sites and waterways, and land disposal facilities for municipal, industrial, hazardous and radioactive wastes. He is a registered professional engineer in Ohio and 20 other states and an author of more than 75 peer-reviewed technical papers, government research reports, and technical guidance documents. He is a recipient of the ASCE Terzaghi Lecture Award (2018), ASCE OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award in Design (2016), ASCE James R. Croes Medal (2000), and other professional recognitions. He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2007.

Where

Lecture will be held in Room 130 CBEC (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), 151 Woodruff Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210

CBEC Information: https://www.osu.edu/map/building/248
Parking Information:
Tuttle Park Place Parking Garage https://www.osu.edu/map/building/088
Lane Ave Parking Garage https://www.osu.edu/map/building/159

RSVP

Please go to this webpage to register for the in-person event.
If you can't attend in person and would like to watch on a Zoom webinar, please register using this link.

PDHs are available for this lecture. 1 hour for online webinar and 2 hours for in person.

All attendees are invited to a networking reception immediately following the presentation.

The T.H. Wu Distinguished Lecture is a signature event in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering. Presented yearly, the lecture features prominent scholars and practioners in the field of geotechnical engineering. The lecture is held in memory of Dr. Tien H. Wu, professor emeritus and former chair of CEGE. The T.H. Wu Fund, endowed on June 24, 2011, promotes excellence in civil engineering by way of lectures by eminent practitioners and academics in the profession.

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STEM Expo

February 28, 2026
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

The Point at Otterbein University
60 Collegeview Road
Westerville, OH 43081

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is hosting its 10th Annual Central Ohio STEM Expo, which is a free educational outreach event for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade that will feature fun, interactive activities and exhibits in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields. Last year's event welcomed over 310 students and featured nearly 25 different activities presented by local professional organizations, universities, and university student groups, consulting firms, non-profits, and STEM related companies. Student participants built race cars out of food items, battled robots, modeled buildings, saw concrete float, saw a real human brain, and interacted in many more enriching and intriguing activities.

Detailed information can be found on our website (https://www.centralohiostemexpo.org/). Check us out on social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CentralOhioStemExpo) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/asce_centralohiostemexpo/).

Pre-Registration for Students
Please visit the Google Form to RSVP for this event. Pre-registration is encouraged but registration will also be available the day of the event.

Interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor? Please purchase a sponsorship on our website or contact us at [email protected] for information to pay by check. Be sure to email us your company logo so you can be recognized!

Interested in becoming an Activity Exhibitor? Sign up is available through our website: https://www.centralohiostemexpo.org/exhibitor. 

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Social Media

Follow Us on Twitter @ASCE_CentralOH

Instagram @centralohioasce 

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXvcsB9wZiDFecSacWVOHIw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/central-ohio-asce

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