Board Embraces Member Value Opportunities Kwame Agyare, P.E., M.ASCE, your Region 9 Director, is a member of the San Francisco Section.  Kwame represented you at the July 13-14 Board meeting in Charleston, SC. Charleston, SC, is beautiful – if a little hot and humid – in July, and it was the perfect backdrop for a highly productive summer Board meeting. President Kristina Swallow has emphasized communication and conversation this year. Each Board meeting has featured a deep dive into one of the three elements of ASCE’s mission. This time, the theme was delivering member value. To that end, the Board heard from a panel representing geographic regions, committees, and technical groups and members, each bringing their own point of view on the issue. Sarah Sladek, noted author, strategist, and consultant, led a discussion with the Board about changing workforce demographics, evolving member expectations, and strategies for engaging with younger generations. We’ll hear more about that at our January meeting. (See story in ASCE News.)  Highlights of the Board meeting Jim Newsome III, president and CEO of South Carolina Ports Authority, gave a presentation to the Board about how his organization is committed to sustainability and resilience concepts. The Board approved an operating budget for fiscal year 2019 for the Society and its affiliates. The Board approved the recommendations of the Task Committee on Raise the Bar Rebranding as ASCE continues to hone its messaging and strategy around issues of education, licensure and continued professional development. The Board also enjoyed a technical tour of the Boeing South Carolina assembly site for commercial airplanes. It was fascinating to see Boeing’s drive toward more innovative processes and materials, giving our group plenty of inspiration as we continue to lead ASCE and the civil engineering profession into the future. The next Board meeting is scheduled for October, in Denver, in conjunction with the ASCE 2018 Convention. To share your views or provide ideas on how ASCE can better serve its members and the profession, please email Kwame.

July 27, 2018 Region 9 Director's Report