Instructions

Please read through the instructions and candidates below, then cast your vote between June 1 – 30 using the form below. Click on each candidate to view information provided in their nomination packet.

1) All Texas Section subscribing members (subscribing = pays additional Section/Branch dues) in good standing at the grade of life, distinguished, fellow, or member are eligible to vote. While login is not required, you will be asked to provide your ASCE Member ID to verify your Texas Section dues status is current. If you would like to vote via paper ballot, please contact office@texasce.org.

Officer role responsibilities can be found in the Rules of Operation.

2) Per the ASCE Texas Section Rules of Operation, Board-approved election rules are in place. All candidates, members, and organizational entities should adhere to these guidelines before, during, and after the election.

View the Election Guidelines (including campaigning rules

3) All candidates of a contested VP position were given the opportunity to provide brief responses to at least 3 questions posed by a set deadline. A contested‑position questionnaire is only included when one was provided by the candidate. Responses received are being made public for all subscribing Section members to review and consider during voting.

4) For each position, the voter has the option to vote for a candidate, provide a write-in, or abstain.

Abstaining means choosing not to vote for or against a candidate. In parliamentary procedure, abstention isn’t counted as a vote and could affect quorum required for that position. A selection of “Abstain” signals that the voter does not wish to support any candidate nor write in an alternative—often due to conflict of interest or because they prefer not to take a position.

5) The seven elected officers from the 2026 ballot will join the current officers whose term continues on within the 2026-2027 Executive Committee and Board of Direction based on their position. View the current Volunteer Leadership here: ASCE Texas Section Leadership – Meet Our Volunteer Team

2026-2027 Term Slate of Candidates

Listed in alphabetical order by position. Click on the candidate image for more.

Patricia Frayre PE, M.ASCE
  • Patricia Frayre PE |  Houston Branch member
    Patricia Frayre PE |  Houston Branch member
Mark Mann PE, M.ASCE
  • Mark Mann PE | Southeast Texas Branch member
    Mark Mann PE | Southeast Texas Branch member
Cindy Landez PE, M.ASCE
  • Cynthia “Cindy” Landez PE | San Antonio Branch member
    Cynthia “Cindy” Landez PE | San Antonio Branch member
Candidates (select one): Adam Eaton PE, M.ASCE and Fadi Faraj PE, M. ASCE
  • Fadi Faraj PE | Dallas Branch member
    Fadi Faraj PE | Dallas Branch member
  • Adam Eaton PE | Houston Branch member
    Adam Eaton PE | Houston Branch member
Candidates (select one): Mahsa Arastoo PE, M.ASCE and Nick Dayal PE, M.ASCE
  • Mahsa Arastoo PE | Houston Branch member
    Mahsa Arastoo PE | Houston Branch member
  • Nishant “Nick” Dayal PE | Dallas Branch member
    Nishant “Nick” Dayal PE | Dallas Branch member
Candidates (select TWO): Karina Esquivel, M.ASCE and Alejandra Jimenez EIT, M. ASCE
  • Alejandra Jimenez EIT | Houston Branch member
    Alejandra Jimenez EIT | Houston Branch member
  • Karina Esquivel | Dallas Branch member
    Karina Esquivel | Dallas Branch member

Make your voice heard. Cast your votes below:

Ballot will open June 1.

Patricia Frayre PE |  Houston Branch member

Patricia Frayre, founding principal of Frayre Engineering & Consulting, has experience in the management of private and public sector clients for site development, public works projects and program management. With more than 30 years of experience in the general civil engineering professional services industry, her experience includes site development projects and public works infrastructure projects. Her Project Management experience includes multi-phase parks and green spaces construction, street reconstruction projects, pedestrian realm improvements on transit corridors, shared-use pedestrian and bicycle trails, stormwater drainage improvements, and water main and wastewater collection system improvements. Her Program Management experience includes disaster recovery support services.

Ms. Frayre is a contributing member of the community and engaged in various professional organizations and societies, including:

**Financial philanthropy

Texas Department of Transportation Certified (5 categories)

Mark Mann PE | Southeast Texas Branch member

Mark has been active at the local level of the ASCE Southeast Texas Branch helping to rebuild this once inactive group. With support and assistance from the other Branch leaders, the SE Texas Branch has become active and thriving. Mark is also actively involved with Student Chapters and is active with mentorship of the Lamar University Student Chapter. Mark is passionate about retaining students and helping them to transition to the professional level and becoming successful engineers.

With 3 years as a Texas Section officer and countless years as the Section Director/proxy for the SE Texas Branch, Mark has extensive Texas Section Board experience. His notable ASCE experience includes:

Texas Section – Assistant Treasurer 2025-2026

Texas Section – VP Technical Affairs 2024-2025

Texas Section – VP Technical Affairs Elect 2023-2024

SE Branch – Past President 2021

SE Branch – President 2020

SE Branch – President Elect 2019

SE Branch – Secretary 2018

Lamar University Student Chapter – Practitioner Advisor 2017-Present

Cynthia “Cindy” Landez PE | San Antonio Branch member

Cynthia received her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University – Kingsville in 1992. She had a 23-year career at TxDOT where she started in the Pharr District as a summer intern and completed her career at the Design Division in Austin. She has been a Project Manager in Utility Coordination at KCI Technologies for 6 years.

Cynthia has been an active American Society of Civil Engineers Member (ASCE) for numerous years. She became a local-level Board member in 2022, first serving as VP of Membership, then Treasurer, President Elect, to now, as President for the San Antonio Branch. Cindy has also volunteered on Texas Section-level committees.

Cynthia has been an active National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) panel member for the past 20 years at Transportation Research Board (TRB) in Washington DC. She is currently serving on eight panels where she provides guidance on the technical aspects of the research and works towards incorporating into TxDOT’s roadway guidance. This year she was honored to be selected as a member of the TRB Standing Committee on Utilities and Rights of Way (AKL16) for a term of August 16, 2025-April 14, 2028.

Cynthia is active member in Women in Transportation. For 2025, Cynthia became a committee member and presenter of the WTS – Leadership Connections Series. It is a four-class series that focuses on career goals, creating a fractional mentorship network and creating a story/narrative so that we understand where we come from, our experiences and goals, and aspirations and the impact we have from the lessons we learned along the way.

Cynthia has also been the facilitator for the Las Comadres para Las Americas – San Antonio Region since 2016. Las Comadres para Las Americas is a non-profit organization, but in 2024 Cynthia created the 2025 Cooking with Las Comadres Cookbook as a fundraiser to help with the administration costs. Cynthia was also asked to be the Hostess for 2025-2026 Las Comadres Kitchen Series. She will interview chefs while they cook their recipes from the cookbook, videotape the interviews and add them to the Las Comadres YouTube Channel.

Cynthia has been serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Advocate for local foster children since 2021. She has been advocating on behalf of the children who have experienced abuse or neglect and ensuring that the children are safe and that all involved are working towards a permanent home. On her visits with the children and parents, she gathers information, documents findings, and appears in court to advocate for the child’s best interests.

Cynthia has served as an Austin Community Foundation Grant and Scholarship Reviewer since 2022.

Fadi Faraj PE | Dallas Branch member
Candidate Questionnaire

 

Fadi Faraj is the Chief Operating Officer & Partner at TexTerra Engineering, and he holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) from the University of Texas at Austin.

ASCE experience:

 

Candidate alignment with goals outlined in the ASCE Texas Section Strategic Plan:

1. Stewardship & Service: In his roles with the ASCE Dallas Branch, Fadi understands cultivating community and public outreach partnerships, fostering member engagement in their community and local organizations. He led the branch in hosting an event at the Perot Museum showing the “Cities of the Future” movie when it first came out, and invited K-12 students, college students, engineers, and friends of engineers. During his presidency, he led and participated in a stem activity for Frisco ISD that had nearly 300 student participants over 2 days.

2. Professional Development and Leadership: In his roles with the ASCE Dallas Branch, Fadi has contributed to adding two new technical institutes for the Branch: UESI and AEI. Also, he helped organize half day technical sessions for two institutes at a time twice a year during the Monthly meetings. He also facilitated and participated in STEM related activities for students at CECON as part of his role in the Geo-Institute. Thru the Dallas Branch, he supported budgeting and giving $1000 for each student chapter from UTA and SMU to be used for student activities such as the student symposium.

3. Advocating Civil Engineering: Fadi has participated in both the Drive-In and the Fly-In and met with Texas House Representative and Senator office staff to discuss the findings of the Texas Infrastructure Report Card and the US Infrastructure Report Card and provide ASCE’s recommendations.

Adam Eaton PE | Houston Branch member

Adam Eaton is a Senior Project Manager and Resiliency Lead for Ardurra Group in Houston. A subject matter expert in sustainability and resiliency, he is focused on developing and delivering climate-resilient solutions for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. Adam’s previous experience spans the public, private, and non-profit sectors and includes project planning and implementation for flood mitigation and storm drainage improvements, municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment systems, environmental policy and regulatory projects, and international financing for sustainable and energy efficiency projects.

Adam is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas, an Envision Sustainability Professional and Envision Trainer, and a Certified Floodplain Manager. He received a Master of Public Service and Administration from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University. Originally from Michigan, Adam lives in Houston with his wife Stef and their son Adrian.

ASCE Experience:

Texas Section

Houston Branch

Mahsa Arastoo PE | Houston Branch member
Candidate Questionnaire

 

Mahsa Arastoo is the Structures Team Lead and Principal Partner at Aguirre & Fields. Her thirteen years of civil engineering experience includes design of multi-level interchange, direct connectors, urban and rural bridges, pedestrian bridges, overhead sign structures and highway retaining walls. She has extensive experience in developing plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for new structures, phased replacements, widenings, and rehabilitation projects. Mahsa received her B.S. from the University of Tehran and her M.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. She was named the ASCE Houston Branch Young Engineer of the Year in 2021 and Outstanding Young Civil Engineer in the Private sector by ASCE central region (CRYMC) in 2025.

Mahsa currently serves as ASCE Houston Section Director and Board of Directors of the Infrastructure Advancement Institute (IAI). In past years, she has held numerous leadership positions, including Past President, President, President-Elect, V.P Administration, V.P. Technical, Branch Director, and Younger Member Forum Committee Technical Activity Chair with ASCE Houston and Chair and Vice Chair of the Professional Development Committee with IAI. In 2017, she served as the Outreach Chair with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Central Houston Chapter.

ASCE Texas Section

ASCE Houston Branch

Nishant “Nick” Dayal PE | Dallas Branch member

Mr Dayal is managing partner of The Geotech Guys LLC.

ASCE volunteer experience:

Alignment with ASCE Texas Section Strategic Plan Goals:

Leadership and Vision: Nick Dayal has demonstrated strong leadership abilities and a clear vision for advancing the civil engineering profession. As Chair of the TX Geo-Institute (2024–2026) and Vice Chair (2023–2024), he has led initiatives that promote technical excellence and professional growth, such as initiating a geotechnical conference, directly supporting the strategic plan’s goal of leadership within the Texas Section.

Advocacy and Outreach: Nick’s role as IRC Dams Committee Chair (2024–2025) and IRC Bridge Committee Member (2020–2021) highlights his commitment to advocacy and outreach, raising public awareness of civil engineering’s impact and supporting the Section’s influence and visibility. He has also been involved actively in legislative drive-ins.

Professional Development: His service on the TX Section Editorial Committee (2022) and as Vice Chair – Young Member (Austin, 2012–2013) demonstrates his dedication to fostering professional growth among members, supporting initiatives such as continuing education and mentorship, and advancing member learning and career opportunities.

Innovation and Sustainability: Through his leadership in technical committees, Nick has supported innovative practices and sustainable solutions in engineering projects, echoing the strategic goal to encourage sustainability and forward-thinking approaches within the Section.

Collaboration and Diversity: Nick values collaboration across disciplines and promotes diversity and inclusion, as evidenced by his work with various committees and young member groups, which are key elements of the strategic plan’s aim to build a stronger, more diverse professional community.

Alejandra Jimenez EIT | Houston Branch member

Alejandra Jimenez is a Structural Engineer-in-Training at Pape-Dawson Engineers, driven by a passion for creating infrastructure that serves and uplifts every community. As an emerging professional, she is committed to continuous growth and actively seeks mentorship both within her job through project managers, project engineers, as well as with the broader engineering community through her involvement with ASCE.

Alejandra earned her B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rice University in May 2025. During her time at Rice, she served as both Secretary and later President of the ASCE Student Chapter. In these roles, she strengthened the chapter’s connection to industry by establishing the inaugural Alumni Mixer and introducing a Civil Engineering-focused Night with Industry. These events provided students with valuable opportunities to engage with professionals in both relaxed and formal networking environments. Through her leadership, Alejandra emphasized the importance of communication, collaboration, and active participation within a system.

As the Director at Large, Alejandra will ensure clear and consistent communication between Section leaders and the President or President-Elect. Partnering with the second Director-at-Large, she will also help ensure that the Texas Civil Engineer magazine highlights timely, compelling content that showcases the innovation and accomplishments of civil engineering professionals across the state.

ASCE experience includes:

Karina Esquivel | Dallas Branch member

Ms Esquivel is a Water & Wastewater Conveyance Engineer for Jacobs.

ASCE experience includes:

I am committed to supporting the ASCE Texas Section Strategic Plan through active involvement and leadership. My experience spans both the student and professional levels, giving me a unique perspective on the needs of emerging engineers and the professional community. I continue to engage with student initiatives because I believe in nurturing the next generation of civil engineers.

Stewardship & Service: Through roles such as President of ASCE at UTRGV and National Student Ambassador, I have cultivated outreach partnerships and promoted STEM programs. I will continue creating opportunities for mentorship and collaboration between students and professionals.

Professional Development & Leadership: As part of the Frontier Student Symposium Planning and Sponsorship Committees, I have helped organize events that strengthen leadership and professional development. I aim to expand these efforts to provide continuing education and leadership resources for members.

Advocating Civil Engineering: Serving as Bridge Champion Committee Chair and participating in advocacy-related activities through the ASCE Dallas Chapter, I will continue to show the importance to student, professionals, and community practices, and continue to bring awareness.