Highlights from Texas CECON 2024 — A Conference to Raise the Grade of Our Industry

January 2025

By Stephen Archer PE (Ferguson), CECON 2025 Senior Planning Committee Co-Chair

This September in Frisco, almost 700 members of the civil engineering community gathered to celebrate the future of civil engineering at the Texas Civil Engineering Conference (CECON). The 3-day event, organized by dedicated volunteers and ASCE Texas staff members, allows engineers to develop professionally, build business relationships, and engage in peer-to-peer technical exchange.

Roughly 11 years ago, several Texas Section Leaders had a vision when starting this engineering Conference. That vision was to provide a conference that covered the breadth and depth of Civil Engineering. I am excited to say that 11 years later, we achieved that goal as we partnered with four ASCE Texas Institutes Chapters, the Geotechnical Institute (GI), the Structural Institute (SEI), the Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI), and the Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI). CECON was able to structure a program for professional development tracks for their members and those specialties.

Hosted at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel & Convention Center, CECON 2024 provided a way for design consultants, contractors, manufacturers, agencies, students, and other professionals to relax, catch up with their peers and colleagues, brush up on their technical knowledge, and gain essential knowledge to raise awareness and attract future engineers to choose Civil engineering.

Attendees expressed their delight with this year’s event, highlighting how it exceeded all expectations in every aspect. From the thoughtfully curated programming content to the impressive lineup of exhibitors and engaging speakers, the conference showcased an exceptional level of quality and professionalism. On behalf of the Planning Committee, Thank You all for attending and for helping to push our industry forward into the future.

On behalf of the ASCE Texas CECON Planning Committee, we would like to thank all our event supporters, sponsors, industry partners, and exhibitors. Your support of our community and profession is appreciated and invaluable to our success.

Raising the Grade

The 2024 theme, “Raising the Grade”, focuses on critical questions shaping the future of Civil Engineering. With the next ASCE Infrastructure Report Card set for release in 2025, our nation’s infrastructure remains a pressing concern. How can we contribute to improving this assessment and address the urgent “needs improvement” designation as a profession? This theme also invites us to explore solutions for one of the industry’s pressing challenges: attracting and retaining young talent. With interest in Civil Engineering stagnating nationwide, how can we elevate our profession and create a compelling future for the next generation of engineers?

Finally, as emerging technologies like artificial intelligence revolutionize industries at an unprecedented pace, how can we leverage these innovations to drive progress and “Raise the Grade” in every facet of Civil Engineering? This year’s theme challenges us to reflect, innovate, and act to build a stronger, more sustainable future.

Before the opening ceremony, the conference began with dedicated time to spotlight the exhibitors. These exhibitions play a vital role in making the event a success, enabling our team to deliver the high-quality experience that defines this conference and supports our community. The CECON 2024 opening ceremony began with the opening keynote speakers, Marsha Anderson Bomar, AICP, ENV SP, F.ITE, F.ASCE and COL Aaron Thomas Hill Jr, PhD, PE, PMP, F.ASCE. Marsha is the incoming President Elect for ASCE and interim commissioner of the City of Atlanta, Department of Transportation. It was only fitting that we started this conference by having Marsha give a presentation on the ASCE’s Future World Vision project. COL Aaron Thomas Hill continued the keynote with how West Point Academy is doing its best to bridge the gap between students and professional engineers.

UNIQUE CONFERENCE OFFERINGS

The second keynote of the conference was a unique presentation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Association. This presentation was provided by Carl Johnson PE, TxDOT Director of District Operations, and Carl Highsmith, FHDA Director of District Operations, offering attendees an exclusive glimpse into the ongoing efforts to enhance Texas highways. The keynote explored how TxDOT and FHWA are addressing Texas’ transportation challenges through collaboration and innovation. Highlights included updates on major highway projects, traffic optimization strategies, and sustainable practices shaping future developments. Attendees gained valuable insights into how these agencies are working together to meet the state’s growing infrastructure needs.

Following the transportation keynote culminated in a TxDOT Panel Discussion. Panelists included Ceason Clemens PE (Deputy District Engineer TxDOT – Dallas), Tucker Ferguson PE (Deputy District Engineer TxDOT – Austin), Stanley Swiatek PE (District Engineer TxDOT – Waco), and Noel Paramanantham PE (District Engineer TxDOT – Paris). Sean Merrell PE, PTOE served as moderator for this informative discussion about the insights of what it means to lead and grow the different TxDOT Districts in Texas. The rest of the afternoon held breakout sessions, which included the specialty tracks curated by the members of the partner ASCE Texas Institute Chapters.

Wednesday evening, attendees were treated to a fun “Raise the Roof” evening social at Riders Field at Roughriders Stadium, sponsored by Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI). Attendees and families joined in the activities, including batting practices, playing catch, playing basketball, and enjoying the perfect weather with a Tex-Mex buffet. This evening was a highlight for many conferencegoers and their families.

As with the previous day, Thursday morning began with coffee with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), providing an excellent opportunity for attendees to connect with agency leaders and discuss key initiatives. Brooke T. Paup, Chairwoman, and Reem Zoun PE, CFM, ENV SP, Director of Flood Planning, helped reintroduce the Texas Flood Plan to attendees. The Texas Flood Plan represents a pivotal effort by TWDB, which has been tasked with delivering the state’s first-ever comprehensive flood management strategy to the legislature. Paup and Zoun highlighted the importance of the plan in enhancing flood resilience across Texas, focusing on protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure.

After a short break, the conference resumed with the much-anticipated River Water Authority Panel marking the inaugural discussion of its kind at the event. Moderated by John Mudd PE, the panel featured an impressive lineup of leaders from three major Texas river authorities: Matthew Jalbert PE (Trinity), Aubrey Spear PE (San Jacinto), and David Collinsworth (Brazos). The panel delved into a range of pressing topics related to water resource management, infrastructure challenges, and future planning efforts across the state’s river basins. Each panelist brought a unique perspective based on their respective authority’s jurisdiction and operational scope.

During lunch, attendees were treated to an engaging academic keynote presentation by Jean-Louis Briaud PhD, PE who shared insights on strategies to retain and attract the next generation of professionals to the field of civil engineering. His talk emphasized the importance of fostering innovation, diversity, and mentorship within academic institutions to address the growing demand for talent in the engineering sector. Following the keynote, CECON hosted the highly anticipated Raising the Grade in Academia Panel, which included Wayne Swafford PE as the moderator and panelist Andrea Herrera Moreno (TAME), Janille Smith-Colin PhD, PE, M.ASCE (SMU), Norma Jean Mattei PhD, PE (UNO), and Robert B. Gilbert PhD, PE, D.GE, NAE (UT Austin). The panelists engaged in a robust discussion about the evolving needs of students and how academic programs can adapt to better prepare graduates for an ever-changing professional landscape. They also explored actionable strategies to enhance recruitment efforts, including targeted outreach to underrepresented communities, providing hands-on learning experiences, and emphasizing the societal impact of civil engineering careers.

The afternoon was packed with breakout sessions covering a vast array of topics including Managing Water in River and Reservoir Systems presentedby Ralph Wurbs Ph.D., PE, Hon.D.WRE, F.ASCE (TAMU), Sustainable Pipeline Design and the ENVISION Rating System presented by John Simpson (McWane Ductile), and The Use of AI Technology for Mapping Utilities at Scale presented by Raz Ezra (4M Analytics).

Following these highly informative sessions, attendees had the opportunity to earn additional continuing education credits through technical presentations before transitioning to a more relaxed atmosphere. Our second Happy Hour gave attendees a chance to network and mingle with colleagues and industry supporters in a relaxed setting before taking their seats again to listen to a fun, motivational Keynote message from Shayla Rivera, Comedian, and Aerospace Engineer.

HONORING OUTSTANDING CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS & LEADERS

Thursday concluded with the eagerly anticipated ASCE Texas Section Annual Awards Ceremony and Roaring ‘20s Casino Night Gala. A packed room of attendees supported and celebrated the 2024 ASCE Texas Section annual award recipients for their outstanding achievements and excellence in the field. Planned by the ASCE Texas Section Younger Member Committee, this year’s gala had everyone feeling like winners with several casino table games to choose from and a variety of prizes as payouts!

ASCE 2024 President Kimberly Cornett PE, CFM, F.ASCE and Honors Committee Chair Michael Gurka PE emceed the Awards Ceremony, honoring the following award recipients:

• Government Civil Engineer Award: Fernando Quintanilla Jr
• Professional Service to Students Award: Kimberly Cornett PE, CFM, F.ASCE
• History & Heritage Award: Cody Wright EIT
• Professional Service Award: W. Jeff Williams PE
• Professional Service Award: James Williams PhD, PE, F.ASCE
• Service to People Award: Carol E. Haddock PE, F.ASCE
• John A. Focht Jr. Citizen Engineer Award: Nancy S. Cline PE, F.ASCE
• Award of Honor: David Matocha
• Young Civil Engineer Award: Alexa Nichols PE, CFM, ENV SP
• Outstanding Civil Engineer Student Award: Montsserrat Najera
• Texas OCEA Award: Bois d’Arc Lake Program (North Texas Municipal Water District and Freese and Nichols)
• Texas OCEA Award of Merit: Memorial Park Connector (City of Houston and Ardurra Group) & I-35 Waco Project (BGE, Inc., and TxDOT)

SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION

The third and final day of CECON 2024 kicked off on a high note with a morning packed full of well-attended Ethics keynote by Michael Sims PE and breakout sessions, continuing to include specialty tracks by our partnering Institutes. Friday’s sessions included technical and industry best practice topics like Performance-Based Design Framework for CFRP Retrofitted Bridge Piers Subjected to Vehicular Collision presented by Sujan Subedi (UTA), Dam Safety Toolbox presented by Melinda Luna PE, CFM, F.ASCE (TRC Engineers), and Utilizing Geophysical Investigation along with Conventional Drilling for Seepage Assessment and Slope Failure in Earthen Levee presented by Jubir Hossain PhD, PE (HTS Inc. Consultants)

The combined ASCE Texas Section Business Meeting and Luncheon on the “State of Our Community” was presented by ASCE & Texas Section Leaders including Jenni Peters CAE (ASCE Texas Section Executive Director), Kimberly Cornett PE, CFM (ASCE Texas Section President 2024) and Mark Boyd PhD, PE (ASCE Incoming Texas Section President 2025).

What better way to bring home our theme, “Raising the Grade”, than by having our final Keynote of the conference, Dr. David Daniel PE, President Emeritus of the University of Texas at Dallas, commence the inaugural Texas Civil Engineering Foundation (TCEF) Leadership Series with an inspiring presentation that embodied the essence of visionary leadership. This presentation is built on the insights from the Texas Infrastructure Report Card, which identifies “Lead with Vision” as the first critical step to improving infrastructure grades in Texas. His presentation explored key themes, including the importance of career choices and how professional service, such as involvement with ASCE, serves as an invaluable training ground for leadership.

A guided tour of the Frisco Reclaimed Water Pump Station by the City of Frisco concluded the conference. This behind-the-scenes experience offered attendees a firsthand look at one of the region’s most innovative water infrastructure projects. Participants were introduced to the facility’s advanced systems and processes, designed to maximize the reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and industrial use.

CECON would not be possible without the countless volunteer hours invested in by the dedicated CECON Planning Committee. We are grateful to everyone who participated, making their planning efforts all worthwhile!

LOOKING FORWARD

ASCE Texas Section’s CECON Planning Committee strives to make each year better than the last, incorporating lessons learned and best practices discovered the year before. The Committee has already begun planning for CECON 2025: “Breaking Barriers”. We look forward to seeing you in San Marcos, Texas, September 17-19, 2025!