A Note from the Incoming President

by Lou Cohn, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE
Incoming President, Transportation and Development Institute of the ASCE

October 1 is just around the corner.  On that date, major changes will take place on the T&DI Board of Governors.  Our current president, Eva Lerner-Lam, will hand the gavel to me, and take her place on the role of past-presidents.  Therefore, I would like to thank Eva for her truly outstanding service to the Institute.  She became the first leader of any major ASCE organizational unit to serve as president while residing in a foreign land.  As you may know, Eva resides in Beijing, China most of the year.  Despite the great distance, she has been a very hands-on leader for T&DI, making many trips back for meetings and leading all of our teleconferences.  The others of us on the Board of Governors have found Eva to be a visionary with boundless energy, who constantly challenges us to think and stay ahead of the curve.  I am grateful that she will continue to serve in a leadership role, as she takes on the task of opening more opportunities for us in China and around the world.  Thank you Eva for your exemplary service!

We also say goodbye to three Board members whose four year terms end on October 1.   Dr. Bob Stephens completes his term, after serving with great distinction in the elected offices.  Bob was President of the Board during my first year, and I learned a great many things from him.  His experience and wisdom will be sorely missed, but I know where to find him, and will seek his help often in the next year.  Fortunately, another Denver resident, Matt McDole, takes his spot as the new elected member of the Board.

Larry Mugler also leaves the Board, after serving wonderfully for the past four years as the Administrative Activities Division ExCom appointee.  I have found Larry to be one of the most willing and able volunteers that I have run across in ASCE, and we will certainly miss his positive involvement on Board.  However, he remains available to serve when needed, which will be often.  Even though we will miss Larry on the Board, the good news is that his replacement, Tom McGean, is a proven leader who will serve admirably.

Last but certainly not least, Dr. Mike Walton completes his term as the presidentially-appointed Governor.  This is an especially important assignment, because this Governor not only represents the interests of the ASCE Board of Direction, but also must be of such stature in the profession that “when he talks, people listen”.  Everyone in the transportation field knows that Mike is one of the true superstars who enjoys great respect worldwide.  Mike has been a wonderful colleague and friend to those of us on the Board, and he will be sorely missed.  Thankfully, another superstar has been appointed to take his place, Dr. Chris Hendrickson from Carnegie-Mellon University.  Chris is a great friend and longtime servant to ASCE, and he will be a worthy successor to Mike Walton.

With these new Board members in place, along with continuing Governors Marsha Anderson-Bomar and Vice President Kam Movassaghi, we should have another great year.  I look forward to serving with this outstanding group of ASCE volunteers and our excellent staff – Jon Esslinger, Andrea Baker, and Rob Bowman.  It should be fun!