AUGUST 2023

AAa/e CELEBRATES

THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL WATER/WASTEWATER SECTOR EVENT, FOCUSING ON PATHS TO LEADERSHIP!

On July 20th, AAa/e hosted Water Leaders to engage in an important dialogue to discuss the AAPI perspective in the AEC industry. Thank you to Shivaji Deshmukh (Inland Empire Utilities Agency) for moderating this impressive panel which included Deven Upadhyay (Metropolitan Water District of Southern California), Eros Yong (Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) Wastewater Treatment Agency), Sunny Wang (City of Santa Monica), and Phuong Watson (Water Replenishment District).

A big thanks to our Spotlight Sponsors Brown and Caldwell and Water Replenishment District. Steve Hirai AAa/e board member facilitated the program.

Check out the Event Photo Gallery! 

THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL MASTER SERIES EVENT, FOCUSING ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP: STORIES OF STARTING FROM SCRATCH

On August 3rd, AAa/e hosted three members of our small business firms to share stories on how they started their firms. Thank you to Saik-Choon Poh (DRP Engineering Inc.), Jill Kumamoto (Cigol Architecture), and Luoya Tu (Archimorphic) for their insights and Raymond Tan (DRP Engineering Inc.) for moderating.

Check out the Event Photo Gallery!

Be sure to catch the next Master Series event in December!

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

METRO #1: CONNECTING PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES & WORLD CLASS ATHLETES IN AN INTEGRATED NETWORK – AUGUST 15

LA Metro is playing a vital role in Los Angeles County and beyond. From West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor and the North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Project, Metro continues to have ambitious plans for the future of LA County residents. When 71% of Los Angeles voters approved Measure M in 2016, they gave a green light to a fourth countywide sales tax to reinvest revenues back into the local infrastructure and transportation system. Come learn about Metro’s progress toward Measure M program delivery and upcoming bidding opportunities.

Moderator:

• Jose de Jesus Martinez, Pacific Practice Leader, Transit & Rail, Stantec

Panelists:

• Julie Owen, Senior Executive Officer, Project Management Oversight, LA Metro
• Mark Van Gessel, Deputy Executive Officer, LA Metro
• Tim Lindholm, Deputy Chief Program Management Officer, LA Metro
• Brad Owen, Executive Officer, Program Management, LA Metro

Date & Time: Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 11:30am - 1:30pm

Cost: Members: $90 | Non-Members: $130 | Student Members: $15 | Student Non-Members: $25

Sponsorship: $500 | $800 | $1,500

Location: City Club Los Angeles

555 S. Flower Street, 51st Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Registration: Click Here

We would like to thank our event sponsors, including Stantec, HNTB, KTJV, Mott Macdonald, and Southland Civil Engineering & Survey, LLP! Click here to sponsor the event!

CALENDAR LOOK-AHEAD

AAa/e EVENTS

• September 7 - OC Mixer (Location: TBD)
• September 19 - Metro Program #2 (Location: TBD)
• November 16 - Industry Insights: Architectural Forecast (Virtual)

A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATION

AAa/e 45TH ANNUAL AWARD BANQUET ON OCTOBER 5, 2023! 

JOIN THE AAa/e BOOK CLUB

Register at: 2023 AAa/e Book Club Event Registration

AAa/e INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:

MEMBER FIRMS, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

AAa/e is looking to restart our internship program in 2024. To better cater to our member firms & address our community, we would like your feedback to understand what may be beneficial to our members. Please fill in the survey in below link:

AAa/e Internship Program Interest Survey

On behalf of our Internship Committee, Thank you for your feedback! If you would like to join the committee, we are always looking to add more volunteers as we plan to launch this program in 2024.

BECOME AN ACE MENTOR!

Register for ACE Mentor Mixer events on August 10 and August 17 here and here! Question? Email Anne Ettley at anne@acementorla.org. 

CORPORATE SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT

AAa/e appreciates the support of VCA Engineers, Inc. 

VCA Engineers, Inc. (VCA) established in 2003, is a client-focused, services-oriented Civil and Structural Engineering firm that has worked on over 2800 projects across Southern California and is located in the City of Alhambra and Irvine, California. VCA is committed to providing superior services, quality work and technical excellence in a wide variety of civil and structural engineering design services.

Virgil C. Aoanan, P.E., S.E., QSD, ENV S.P., Principal of VCA Engineers, Inc. is a California, New York and Washington state licensed Civil and Structural Engineer. He has over 38 years of hands-on experience in civil and structural engineering related to planning, design, management and construction of educational, airports, municipal, transportation, commercial, manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, institutional, recreation and military facilities and specializes in storm-water management. He has prepared and executed engineering construction documents in multiple capacities as project manager, project engineer, lead engineer, design engineer and construction engineer in both disciplines. 

Young K. Nam, P.E., S.E., Principal of VCA Engineers, Inc. is a California licensed Civil and Structural Engineer with over 30 years of experience. He has designed and directed large, complex projects including new construction, historic renovations, additions and seismic upgrades and retrofits both nationally and internationally. He specializes in seismic and wind lateral load resisting system designs, seismic evaluation, seismic assessment and structural retrofits. He has been project manager and project principal on education, commercial, high-rise, healthcare, institutional, recreation, military, cultural and sports facilities projects. 

Both Virgil and Young, are active members of AAa/e and SEAOSC (Structural Engineers Association of Southern California). We've always heard that great things are accomplished when people work together. Sometimes two people come together and form dynamic duos - Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were a dynamic duo, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were a dynamic duo, and perhaps the greatest dynamic duo of all time, Virgil and Young - a stronger team together than alone, producing great results. For more information, please visit the firm's website: www.vcaeng.com

AAa/e WELCOMES OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

A big welcome to all the new members who joined in the last month!

Associate Membership

Grace Hayashi, Ayres Associates

Mye Luna, Citadel CPM, Inc.

Paula Stamp, Clayco

Ethan Wang, Southland Civil Engineering & Survey LLP

Corporate Membership

Steve Hong, Steve K Hong Architect, Inc.

Michael Chang, AC Martin

General Membership

Christopher Diaz, Diaz Yourman & Associates

Kandice Nguyen, AYCE, Inc.

Ruoren Yu, CDM Smith

Gov’t/Institutional Membership/ Public and Private Agency Owners

Chander Letulle, Jurupa Community Service District

Student/Recent Graduate Membership

Snow Settembre, Trumbull High School

Emma Susilo, Mira Costa High School 

INTRODUCING NEW BENEFITS FOR AAa/e MEMBERS

Join AAa/e! All members will enjoy the following & much more:

• Discounts to AAa/e Special Events and VIP Receptions
• Access to MBE/SBE Business Opportunities & Program Presentations 
• Individual and Firm Listing in the AAa/e Member’s Directory
• Networking Opportunities and Personal Growth

AAa/e IS ON LINKEDIN

STAY CONNECTED WITH AAA/E

Connect with us on LinkedIn! Stay up to date with events on our site.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaaesc

POST YOUR JOBS HERE

AAA/E OFFERS A FREE JOB PORTAL FOR MEMBERS

The Southern California market is booming and firms are actively searching for qualified entry-level and seasoned AEC professionals to service our myriad of public and private sector projects. Did you just land a multi-million contract and need a senior-level Project Manager to take charge? Look no further, the AAa/e Job Portal is your answer! AAa/e members can avoid pricey headhunter fees and post their firms’ open positions on the AAa/e website, for free!

Click here to post your job opening in the AAa/e Job Portal’s online form.