I hope you and your loved ones are staying cool in the brutal heat this summer. The storms are strange this year. I am somewhat baffled at the randomness, but I always enjoy a good thunderstorm.
When you think about how much time we spend with our co-workers, it is very rewarding (from the perspective of your professional life) to work with people you like and know really well. I encourage you, especially the younger members starting off in the “real” working world, to take chances getting to know your co-workers.
The past 3 or 4 years have been filled with Teams meetings and working from home. I think it is time to put that behind us and start collaborating and meeting in person. I find that in-person client/agency meetings are key to project success. It is easy to hold on to your opinions and hard to defend design over email and on Teams with your cameral turned off but it takes on a whole other tone when you are sitting across from one another.
If you were able to attend the Florida Section Annual Conference last month, you certainly know what I mean. I enjoyed what I learned more than ever this year, but who I met and those I got to know better was even more rewarding. We are looking forward to several events, so scroll down and browse them, especially the Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament!
Respectfully,
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Tonya S. Mellen, PE
ASCE Florida Section East Central Branch President
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This issue
- Environmental & Water Resources Institute
- Structural Engineering Institute
- Sustainability Committee
- Education Committee
- Younger Member Forum
- Student Chapter Activities
- Employment Opportunities
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ENVIRONMENTAL & WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE |
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SR-A1A Tidal Flooding Study Technical Luncheon
Date
Thursday, August 17th, 2023
Time
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Location
Central Florida Expressway Authority - 4974 ORL Tower Road Orlando, FL 32807
Description: FDOT has experienced tidal flooding along and adjacent to SR-A1A in Hollywood, Florida, specifically from the southbound flyover from Hallandale Beach Boulevard to just north of Dania Beach Boulevard. In response, flap gates and backflow valves were installed at various locations throughout the corridor to alleviate most of the tidal flooding associated with backflow through storm sewers on adjacent side streets. However, these have caused rainfall flooding during high tides as the head to open the flap gate extends above the side street grate elevations. David Boyer, PE, CFM, will be delivering a 50-minute presentation that focuses on existing conditions review of the study area, potential alternatives, and next steps to address the SR-A1A tidal and rainfall flooding. Ten minutes will be reserved after the presentation for Q&A. This session is approved for 1.0 PDH per ASCE Florida Section.
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If you are interested in attending the EWRI Committee meeting, please contact Sue Woodbery at swoodbery@gmail.com. |
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STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING INSTITUTE |
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The SEI tour of Durastress on July 20, 2023, was a success, thank you to all of the attendees. The group got a tour of the Durastress Precasting facility including the QA/QC facility. The group got the opportunity to see Florida I-Beams at various stages of forming and casting.
Advance notice: SEI presentation by Alexander Caso of Volkert, September 19. Topic: The NASA Causeway Bridge.
If you have any questions, or comments about SEI or would like to join the institute, please contact Michael Olka at mike.olka@lakecountyfl.gov
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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
The Sustainability Committee’s core mission and function are to organize and facilitate outreach opportunities allowing the members of the East Central Branch to stay informed and promote sustainable engineering practices. Below are some upcoming events and interesting reads recommended by the committee.
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Upcoming Events
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September 5th through 8th – The Florida Schools Plant Management Association’s (FSPMA) Annual Conference provides continuing education to K-12 Schools, Colleges, and University support staff. This year the Florida Department of Education will be providing board-approved CEUs for Architects and Engineers on Advanced State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF). For more information on the FSPMA, the 2023 Tentative Conference Schedule, and Attendee Registration, please see https://www.fspma.net/.
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September 23rd – Fix It! Don’t Pitch It!: You are invited to join Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) at the next Fix It! Don’t Pitch It! A FREE community event on Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex, Oak Room B
99 E. Marks Street, Orlando FL 32803
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Volunteer Opportunity
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Save the Date – September 23rd – 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. - National Public Lands Day 2023. The Sustainability Committee and EWRI invite you to join us and the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (OCEPD) to celebrate National Public Lands Day on September 23 from 9 to 11 a.m. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. This year, volunteers will assist with invasive plant removal near Savage Christmas Creek Preserve in Christmas, Florida. The event will be a family-friendly project that is great for small groups, scouts, and students seeking volunteer hours! Limited spots are available, send an email for more information or to register for the event.
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Central Florida RECON (CFR) Waterway Cleanup Fleet – CFR RECON is a group of friends and concerned citizens protecting Central Florida’s surface waters and natural environment by removing trash and debris from lakes, rivers, and streams. All those who enjoy canoeing and kayaking and would have a couple of hours are welcome to join upcoming events! The RECON fleet is growing and currently has 9 kayaks available to use at events. Shoreline volunteers are also welcome if you feel the urge to walk instead of being on the water. Click the link to check out upcoming events! Click here to view all RECON events on Meetup. Click here to view the Facebook page.
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Other News / Resources
City of Orlando - Office of Sustainability & Resiliency
The Green Works Orlando initiative was launched in 2007 with a commitment to sustainability and goals to enhance the quality of life and well-being, generate diverse economic growth, and create equitable access to resources and services for the entire Orlando Community. The Office of Sustainability & Resilience has several Sustainability Focus Areas, Services, and Initiatives. Click here to learn about the Sustainability Services available for Orlando residents.
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If you would like to join the ECB Sustainability Committee, please reach out to our Committee Chair Steve Sommerfeldt. The committee typically meets (virtually) on the last Tuesday of the month during lunch to plan out future activities and ideas related to sustainability. We welcome any new and/or seasoned individuals interested.
Want to hear more? Join the Sustainability Committee mailing list today!
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EDUCATION COMMITTEE
(K-12 OUTREACH)
Advance planning for the Creativity Fair to take place at the Odyssey of the Mind State competition on March 29, 2024, from noon to 5 pm. The committee is in need of people interested in planning and creating exhibitions and activities for students and their families from around the state. ASCE ECB is tasked with creating approximately 20 stations/activities. Please contact Mike Olka if you would like to join the planning meeting in August.
The ASCE ECB Education Committee received nominations for 11 local educators who support STEM in our local schools. Three teachers have been selected for the awards, please see below for the nominations for our three winners.
Amanda Ferguson at Arbor Ridge K-8 School
Amanda Ferguson is an exemplary teacher at Arbor Ridge K-8 School. Her passion for STEM education intersects with her interest in sustainability and the environment. Amanda has used these as driving forces to teach her students inside and outside the classroom. In addition to teaching her 2nd Grade class, she leads the Arbor Ridge Green Team, which has earned her school recognition from the FL Dept of Education (Green Apple Award) and the US Dept of Education (Green Ribbon Award). She also helped create and lead “Club SERVE” at her school - focused on Students Engaging in Recycling, Volunteering, and the Environment. Using the Green Team and Club SERVE, Amanda has started several STEM initiatives, including focuses on educational gardening (like traditional raised beds, hydroponic systems, and pollinator sanctuaries), composting, aquaponics, recycling, water conservation, and energy conservation. These initiatives not only help educate students in meaningful ways but also bring environmental lessons to the forefront in STEM and provide hands-on learning experiences for her students and the school at large. Thanks to her work on these programs, Amanda was awarded the Sustainability Champion designation by Orange County Public Schools in 2023. She continues to bolster her teaching abilities by attending professional development seminars with internal and external groups, attending workshops on STEM education, and pursuing her Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Sustainability at UCF. Amanda has gone above and beyond to advocate for educating students on the importance of STEM from an early age and dedicated her time to developing lessons and activities that draw her students in and engage them in the STEM curriculum. Thanks to her work, many students now have a greater appreciation for STEM education and will hopefully go on to serve their communities using these skills.
Tisha Greek at Red Bug Elementary School
Tisha Greek is an amazing former Teacher of the Year and current STEM Lab teacher at Red Bug Elementary School. In her role, she exposes K-5 students to hydroponics, robotics, coding, computer science, and STEM challenges where they use and implement Engineering and Design Practices. This summer at Red Bug she is the director for Camp Invention where she will provide opportunities for open-ended, hands-on exploration of science, technology, and engineering. She is also a published curriculum writer for CPALMS and a facilitator for the 2-week Summer 2023 CPALMS Professional Development Immersive Experience for K-12 teachers in coding with Scratch to help teachers from around the state to expand their pedagogy and content knowledge in Robotics and Coding.
Ashley Hollern at Windermere Prep School
Ashley is a dedicated, creative educator that strives to empower her students through experiential learning opportunities in the classroom and beyond! She works with middle school and 9th-grade biology students and challenges them to think beyond standardized lessons. She recently had her students create an experiment in which they created various substrates on which to grow algae. They focused the resale arch on finding ways to help “good” algae outcompete harmful blooms. The students were guided by Ashley as they used their individual talents to collaborate. Their efforts ended up with the project winning the EarthEcho OurEcho Challenge. She has taken students to Costa Rica to give them firsthand experience in relation to sustainability. She works to help inspire other teachers and connect them with resources and experiences that will elevate the classroom experience. She is always promoting her students to engage with topics in an authentic way that will provide them with lasting connections to the topics they learn about in her class and beyond. She teaches the NASA Endeavor class to educators knowing that it will provide students with additional opportunities to engage in STEM-related activities. Her teaching practices help her students connect what they are learning in relation to real-world applications. Her educational practices help students also make connections to the ways one topic can affect varying perspectives. This allows her students to gain a better overall understanding of the connections that exist worldwide while also fostering collaboration to achieve a common goal. I can't think of a better teacher to nominate for this role.
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ASCE putting civil engineering back on the big screen with Cities of the Future film
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The film is to be released in October 2023 |
Trailer for Cities of the Future
ASCE Future World Vision
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If you have any questions, or comments about K-12 Outreach or would like to join the committee, please contact Michael Olka molka@lakecountyfl.gov
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E-Week 2024
Advance Notice for the 2024 E-Week events:
Looking for motivated ASCE members who would like to help plan the E-Week 2024 events including a formal awards ceremony.
If you have any questions, or comments about E-Week or would like to join the committee, please contact Michael Olka at molka@lakecountyfl.gov
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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE
Advance Notice for a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion event:
Location
Lake County Agricultural Extension Office in Tavares, FL
Schedule
Fall 2023
Agenda
4-8 hour seminar on ADA accessibility for both roadways and buildings
Brad Bradley (FDOT) & Carey Shepard (FDOT) will present on roadway pedestrian facility accessibility criteria and legal issues w/ robust Q&A.
Tentatively Scott Cannard will present building accessibility requirements.
If you have any questions, or comments about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or would like to join the committee, please contact Michael Olka at molka@lakecountyfl.gov
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YOUNGER MEMBER FORUM
The goal of the ASCE Younger Member Forum (YMF) is to promote professional development among young engineers. We are keeping busy during the holiday season and we hope you will join us for one of our upcoming events!
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Our officer board elections are taking place this month! If you are interested in joining our board, please use the form below to get more information and sign up for our info list. |
Ready for spooky season? We will be having a YMF meetup at Halloween Horror Nights! Tickets are not included. Use the QR code to join our Whatsapp group for meetup info. |
UCF Alumni Tailgate
“Save the Date! Join ASCE YMF on September 16th for our UCF Alumni Tailgate Event! More information coming soon.”
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Rinker Materials Tour
“Join ASCE YMF for a tour of the Rinker Materials Concrete Pipe and Box Plant! Learn how precast concrete pipes and box culverts are made. Lunch is included in the $10 registration fee and you will earn 2 PDHs. This event is open to all ASCE YMF members here in Central Florida!”
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Event Recap
We had a great turnout at the FL Section Conference! YMF hosted a pub crawl, which brought together young engineers from all over FL for a night of fun and networking!
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We partnered with the Gainesville YMG for a fun day of enjoying nature with a kayak trip and cookout. This was a great opportunity to meet members from a nearby group and build new connections, and we were even joined by our new FL Section President Kathy! |
Last month we joined the UCF Student Chapter at their shop to get to know the new officers! |
Last week we hosted our annual school supply drive! We donated 385 school supply items to A Gift for Teaching. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated!
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SAVING THE DAY, PAVING THE WAY
Support ASCE Florida Section's Unprecedented Hosting
of the 2024 ASCE Southeast Student Symposium
We're thrilled to announce the 2024 ASCE Southeast Student Symposium, hosted by the ASCE Florida Section. This dynamic event will showcase the incredible talent and innovative spirit of over 600 collegiate civil engineering students from 19 esteemed universities across Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico. Beyond the competitions and academic showcases, this event is an unmatched platform for businesses to gain visibility and directly connect with the future trailblazers of engineering. And here's where you come in: we invite you to be part of this transformative experience by becoming a sponsor. By sponsoring, you're not just placing your brand at the forefront, but you're also investing in the next generation of engineering talent. Plus, with our tax-deductible benefits as a 501c3, and a range of sponsorship tiers tailored to your needs, there's an opportunity for every business to contribute. Let's drive innovation and nurture potential, together. Dive in, and let's make waves in the world of engineering!
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August Update
Last month was filled with events that allowed students from our section to network with industry professionals and solidify relationships in preparation for this upcoming conference. The month kick-started with our first meeting of the year with two university professors and officers to address logistics between the club and the university, and how the university can assist us with the conference. Our current President, Vice President, and Conference Chair attended the ASCE Florida Annual Conference. This opportunity allowed them to network with many ASCE members across Florida and to discuss the upcoming conference. Additionally, future conference competition captains and officers met with our new practitioner advisor for dinner at Azteca de Oro to introduce ourselves and establish connections that will help us perform at a higher level at the conference. The following day our practitioner advisor and the ECB YMF section joined us at our shop for a social with outdoor games and prizes. Throughout the month, we also had officers take over our chapter’s Instagram to show the day in their lives at their summer internships. This allowed future/current members to see what different areas of civil engineering look like when in the workforce as an intern.
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Environmental or Water Resources Engineer
Drummond Carpenter’s Florida practice is expanding, and we are looking for a talented Environmental or Water Resources Staff Professional to join our firm at our Orlando office. Ideal candidates will have core capabilities needed to provide innovative environmental solutions to assist our municipal, state, and federal clients in areas such as stormwater management, infrastructure design, green infrastructure, water quality studies, ecological studies, flood mitigation strategies, watershed management, environmental permitting, surface water monitoring, and TMDL support.
Position Activities:
- Performing civil and water resources design and analyses
- Developing and peer reviewing hydrologic and hydraulic studies
- Conceptualizing and implementing green stormwater infrastructure solutions for the built environment
- Developing hydrologic and hydraulic models from a range of open source and proprietary software
- Developing water quantity and water quality transport models
- Floodplain mapping
- Urban stormwater water quality monitoring
- Field investigations and sampling
- Construction oversight and administration
- Overseeing the development of construction documents
- Climate change adaptation and resiliency planning
- Geographic Information System (GIS) database design, mapping, and coding
Qualifications:
- At least 2 years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. (required)
- Experience with surface water or groundwater modeling and design software tools such as GIS (ESRI products, QGIS), Autodesk products, ICPR, EPA-SWMM, HEC-RAS, MODFLOW, (preferred)
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)
Benefits:
- Excellent healthcare benefits
- Paid maternity and paternity leave
- Open PTO policy
- 401k with company match
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Lake County Florida is seeking applicants for an Engineer I position with the Public Works Department. The Public Works Department is located at 350 N. Sinclair Ave. Tavares, FL 32778.
Engineer I
Posting Number: 23-03-10-3040
Pay Grade: 22N
Hourly Rate: $25.12 - $40.30
Public Works
Engineering
Design Engineering
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
Job Summary:
Performs advanced engineering work in the preparation of construction plans, specifications, and engineering reports in support of the County’s capital improvement program. Performs and reviews the engineering design for projects under the supervision of a professional engineer. Interacts with citizens to address requests and complaints. Provides construction engineering inspection support on County and developer projects. Provides support for County’s wastewater program. Responds to special engineering-related concerns. This position may be required to assist with emergency support functions in the event of a declared emergency and/or any other emergency duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered. Requires a bachelor’s Degree in civil engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, or a closely related field. Auto CAD 3D experience preferred. Requires one year of related experience or participation in a related internship. Requires a valid Florida driver’s license.
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Engineer II
THIS IS A REPOST. PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT REAPPLY.
EMERGENCY STATUS*: REQUIRED TO REPORT
[*IF REQUIRED TO REPORT: Must report to work for duty outside normally scheduled work hours in response to natural disasters, emergencies, or critical incidents as determined by City Administration.]
Performs difficult professional work related to the management, design, review, construction, and inspection of public works and development projects; does related work as required. Work is performed under general supervision. Considerable independent judgment and initiative are required in performing assigned tasks thoroughly and without error. Considerable tact and courtesy are required in frequent contact with applicants, developers, contractors, consultants, department managers, the department director, division staff, other department staff, other City departments, City officials, other governmental agencies, and the public. Reports to designated supervisor dependent on position assignment in Utilities or Roads/Stormwater.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.
- Performs project management for City capital projects to include the development of project scope, budget, and project schedule from conception through final construction.
- Develops, or assists with the development, and implementation of current, long-range, and/or other department planning projects.
- Manages City construction projects including, but not limited to, water, sewer, and drainage system(s), roadways, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.
- Prepares presentations, as needed; attends meetings to inform citizens and/or City officials about water, wastewater, stormwater, reclaimed water, and transportation-related City projects.
- Reviews development project drawings and reports to ensure compliance with engineering standards.
- Attends pre-application and preconstruction meetings.
- Calculates utility impact fees for development projects and building permits.
- Reviews capital improvement project design drawings and reports, prepares contract documents and facilitates the bidding process.
- Prepares utility capacity letters and creates utility tie-in maps for consultants, developers, and the general public; drafts maps using the digital mapping application currently in use by the Engineering Division; drafts engineering drawings using the appropriate computer-aided design software application as needed; updates the City Utility Map when required.
- Participates in different field inspections (e.g., utility, stormwater, construction) as necessary.
- Prepares engineering drawings, maintains records and files, and responds to citizens’ questions and concerns.
- Coordinates and prepares permit requests for City construction projects to send to the appropriate authoritative agency, such as the St Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and other County and State agencies.
- Coordinates and directs City consultants.
- Assists in the selection of consultants and contractors for various City projects ranging from system surveys to system design, to system construction.
- Develops or assists with the development of engineering design standards.
- Assists the emergency management team as necessary during an emergency event such as a hurricane, tornado, etc.
- Attends meetings to inform citizens of particular City projects.
- Performs related tasks as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in civil engineering or related field is required. Engineer in Training (EIT) certification is also required. Must possess a minimum of four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in civil engineering or a related field. An equivalent combination of training, education, and experience may be considered.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid driver's license (must obtain a Florida driver's license within 30 days of employment) is required. May be required to respond to emergency calls and serve on the City Emergency Management team.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Thorough knowledge of modern principles and practices of civil engineering;
- Thorough knowledge of civil design, construction, maintenance, and cost estimating;
- Thorough knowledge of land and engineering survey systems, methods, and techniques;
- Ability to prepare technical reports pertaining to construction projects;
- Thorough knowledge of professional techniques related to the review of development and construction plans, construction, and capital project management;
- Ability to prepare technical reports;
- Ability to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information;
- Ability to prepare and present technical information clearly and in an interesting manner to lay groups and the public;
- Ability to manage projects and appropriate priorities;
- Ability to effectively coordinate with other departments;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, city officials, consultants, and the general public;
- Ability to operate modern office equipment such as a personal computer, calculator, fax machine, copy machine, and telephone.
The City of Oviedo Public Works Department is responsible for developing, providing, and maintaining essential infrastructure throughout the City of Oviedo. The Department is divided into three Divisions: Engineering, Operations, and Utilities. The Engineering Division is responsible for the design and construction administration of all Capital Improvement Projects. The Operations Division is responsible for the construction and maintenance of City roadways, sidewalks, and stormwater facilities, as well as provides fleet services for all City vehicles. The Utilities Division is responsible for all plant operations and distribution systems that provide quality potable water, reclaimed water, and sanitary sewer service to the City.
The City of Oviedo Public Works Department is located at 400 Alexandria Blvd, Oviedo, Florida 32765.
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Sincerely,
Khanh Olka, P.E.
Communications Chair
ASCE East Central Branch
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