ACEC Houston

Many thanks to Zaid Abuhamdeh, P.E., PMP®, and Matthew Dorsey for presenting Geopier, a division of CMC, to our Geotechnical Committee today. We enjoyed learning about this ground improvement solution and its applications in our industry. Continued thanks to Sanjeev Sanjeevan, PE, Chair, and Donna Adams, Vice Chair, for leading this committee.

This year's ACEC Houston Emerging Leaders Program is underway after a successful orientation last week. Many thanks to Bob Jones for sharing the history of the organization and to Trevor Moore, P.E., Chair, and Michael Hrncir, Vice Chair, for leading the program.

Welcome to this year's class:
Ethan Condiff, P.E.; BGE, Inc.
Thirumal (Reddy) Edulakanti; HDR
Mostafiz Emtiaz, PE; RRP Consulting Engineers LLC
Paul Evans, P.E.; AECOM
Maire Kelley, P.E.; Walter P Moore
Golam Mohiuddin, P.E., CFM, ENV SP, LGPP; Garver
Masih Mujadidi, P.E., PMP; Huitt-Zollars, Inc.
Nicholas Mumme, P.E.; Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc.
Larry Nguyen, P.E.; Odyssey Engineering Group, LLC
Kamal Qaiser, PE, CFM; Michael Baker International
Hannah Rietveld, P.E.; Kimley-Horn
Fred Signorelli, P.E.; EHRA Engineering
Micah Thoms, PE, MBA; AtkinsRéalis

What a wonderful presentation by Dr. Dawn Buckingham, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office (GLO), at our Chapter Membership Meeting on September 18th! Dr. Buckingham discussed her roles and duties as Texas Land Commissioner and how they impact Houston, Harris County, and the region. The Land Commissioner is vital to Texans recovering from disasters and to the health of our coast. The General Land Office also defends Texas’ rich history, the oil and gas industry, and our national border with Mexico, and serves as the chief steward of 13 million acres of state land. Oil and gas revenue from mineral rights on these lands funds education and many veteran programs. Thank you, Dr. Buckingham, for an informative and entertaining meeting.

Houston Council Member Alejandra Salinas (At-Large Position 4) joined our Government Affairs Committee (GAC) meeting last Friday. Interviewed by Emily Anderson, GAC Chair, Council Member Salinas provided thoughtful, candid answers about her experience on council, her priorities, the budget, and the way forward on the city’s infrastructure challenges. We appreciate her lifetime of service to the community and her willingness to partner with us to efficiently build the best infrastructure possible.

It's easier to come back from a long weekend when your week kicks off with a presentation from Brian Mason, PMP, Director and Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management and Executive Director of Houston TranStar. Many thanks to Brian for sharing a recap of the planning, ex*****on, and lessons learned from hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with our Transportation Committee.

As Texas Land Commissioner, Dr. Buckingham defends Texas’ rich history, the oil and gas industry, and our national border with Mexico, and serves as the chief steward of 13 million acres of state land. The oil and gas revenue generated by mineral rights on these lands funds education and many veteran programs. The Land Commissioner is also vital to Texans recovering from disasters and to the health of our coast. Dr. Buckingham will discuss her roles and duties as Texas Land Commissioner and how they impact Houston, Harris County, and the region.

A warm welcome to our new ACEC member firms: Rashieyeid Engineering, RFC Engineers, and Viewport Engineering LLC. We look forward to working with you to improve the business environment for engineering and design infrastructure for the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

A big thank you to Irma Sanchez, President and CEO of the Westchase District, for joining our Transportation Committee and for a thorough and informative presentation on the district's vision, history, and current projects. She, her team, and contributing constituents have done tremendous work to make the area a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Continued thanks to Raj Basavaraju, Committee Chair, and Jason P. Ellison, Committee Vice Chair, for their leadership.

A big thank you to Glenn Allbritton, Texas Department of Transportation Houston District Engineer, for joining us for our August Chapter Membership Meeting. His presentation was detailed, informative, and entertaining. The information he provided is so valuable to our members, including updates on current projects and guidance on preparing for future work. We value our partnership with TxDOT and look forward to continuing to work with the team to deliver the best transportation infrastructure for the region.