Jason Dixson Photography The word of the day? Together.
Carol Haddock accepted the gavel as ASCE 2027 president at the annual business meeting, Oct. 17, in front of a room of Society leaders in ASCE headquarters, and – if you were counting – she used the word, “together,” 17 times in her introductory speech.
“‘Together’ doesn’t mean we are clones of each other; ‘together’ doesn’t mean we’re always in agreement,” Haddock said. “‘Together’ means we include all of the different and amazing people that we are. All of us. It takes everyone within ASCE providing their own unique contributions while working together for us to achieve our mission. …
“Now is the time to be bold and for us to take bold actions.”
Haddock, P.E., MPA, F.ASCE, is the director of public works for the City of Baytown, Texas, and a professor-in-the-practice at Rice University. She previously served as the director of Houston’s Department of Public Works, the first woman to oversee the largest public works agency in the United States. In that role, she led a team of over 4,000 employees responsible for vital services such as water, wastewater, streets, stormwater, and permitting in Houston. She played a key role in long-term planning and managing capital projects during her time serving Houstonians.
Haddock’s ASCE roots are deep. She joined the Society as a student member in 1988, rising through the ranks to leadership roles in the Houston Branch and Texas Section and then the ASCE Board of Direction.
“ASCE is where I’ve made some of my best lifelong friends,” Haddock said. “It’s where I’ve had some of the amazing opportunities that have allowed me to advance in my career.
“I’ve gotten so much more out of ASCE than I’ve ever put it in. So it’s just been woven into the fabric of my journey.”
Typically part of the ASCE Convention schedule, the board induction ceremony was a little bit different this year. With the annual conference cycle on pause this fall as the organization prepares for ASCE2027: The Infrastructure and Engineering Experience, March 1-5, in Philadelphia, ASCE instead hosted the business meeting in Reston, Virginia, in connection with the Board of Direction meeting and the Presidents and Governors Forum.
Rossana D’Antonio, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE, was inducted as the new ASCE president-elect.
Haddock inherits the presidential chair from Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, H.ITE, NAE, F.ASCE, who now moves to the ASCE past president role, as Feniosky Peña-Mora, Sc.D., P.E., NAS, CCM, F.CIOB, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE, completes his three-year term as a presidential officer.
The business meeting also included the swearing in of new board members:
- At-Large Society Director – Lauren Swett P.E., F.ASCE
- Technical Region Society Director – Shirley E. Clark, Ph.D., P.E., BC.WRE, ENV SP, F.EWRI, F.ASCE
- Region 1 Society Director – Danielle H. Spicer, P.E., LEED AP, ENV SP, M.ASCE
- Region 5 Society Director – Anthony L. Palmer, P.E., M.ASCE
- Region 9 Society Director – Jeffrey M. Cooper, P.E., M.ASCE
… and the official farewell to board members who completed their three-year terms:
- At-Large Society Director – Isamar Escobar, P.E., M.ASCE
- Technical Region Society Director – LeAnne Napolillo, P.E., F.ASCE
- Region 1 Society Director – Bradley A. Kubiak, P.E., M.ASCE
- Region 5 Society Director - Sarah Matin, P.E., M.ASCE
- Region 9 Society Director – Yazdan T. Emrani, P.E., M.ASCE
“The opportunity to serve the members of ASCE, to represent ASCE, and all that comes with it in the role of president – I am beyond grateful,” said Anderson Bomar from the stage as she officially completed her presidency. “My life has been enriched, and I hope that the touches that I have made are forever touches, and that the members that I've had a chance to meet become lifelong members, as many of you are, with this great organization.”
