ASCE Houston Younger Members Lead June Branch Meeting
October 2026
Author: Negar Saraei PE and Oreoluwa Adedapo PE
On June 16, 2026, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Houston Branch held its monthly Branch Meeting at The Ballroom at Tanglewood, placing its Younger Member Committee in the spotlight. The annual Younger Member-led meeting celebrated the leadership, dedication, and enthusiasm of emerging civil engineering professionals while bringing together industry leaders, public agency representatives, students, and ASCE members for technical presentations, networking, and branch updates.
The annual initiative gives professionals under the age of 35 an opportunity to lead a major Branch event, develop public speaking and organizational skills, showcase their technical expertise, and gain firsthand experience in professional society leadership. By placing Younger Members at the forefront of the meeting, ASCE Houston demonstrates its commitment to developing the next generation of civil engineering leaders.
Empowering the Next Generation of Civil Engineering Leaders
Each June, the ASCE Houston Younger Member Committee takes the lead in organizing and conducting the Branch Meeting. From inviting the keynote and technical speakers to prepare the agenda, delivering announcements, and facilitating the program, the Younger Member Committee assumes responsibility for all aspects of the meeting. This hands-on experience provides a behind-the-scenes look at the coordination, communication, and leadership required to run a successful ASCE Branch Meeting.
The planning and coordination began well before attendees arrived. Volunteers prepared the venue, tested audiovisual equipment, organized registration, and welcomed guests, demonstrating the teamwork and attention to detail essential to successful event management.
Beyond organizing an annual meeting, this initiative provides Younger Members with valuable opportunities to strengthen their public speaking, leadership, event planning, and professional communication skills. By taking responsibility for the meeting from start to finish, participants gain firsthand insight into the behind-the-scenes work required to lead a professional organization and deliver a successful branch program.
ASCE Houston has also made a deliberate effort in recent years to make sure both keynote and technical speakers for this meeting are professionals under the age of 35. The Branch uses this annual event to elevate emerging voices, showcase their expertise, and create opportunities for early-career engineers to share their knowledge with the broader civil engineering community.
Technical Presentations Highlight Innovation and Resilience
The June meeting featured a technical session before the meeting and a keynote speaker during lunch. Both presentations explored innovative approaches to infrastructure engineering and construction.
Dr. Sohaib Alahmed, a Coastal Engineer with Anchor QEA, delivered the technical presentation on engineering resilient coasts and the future of shoreline protection. His presentation highlighted the importance of addressing coastal challenges through engineering solutions that support infrastructure resilience and respond to evolving shoreline conditions.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Ifeanyi Okpala, PMP, Construction Manager with ExxonMobil Beaumont. He discussed Proxxima, an innovative material being explored for applications in concrete pavement and reinforcement. The presentation introduced attendees to emerging material technologies and their potential role in advancing concrete pavement construction.
Together, the presentations provided attendees with opportunities to learn about developments in coastal engineering and innovative construction materials while engaging with professionals who are contributing to the future of the civil engineering industry.
Recognizing Younger Member Leadership
The success of the annual Branch Meeting reflects the collective efforts of the ASCE Houston Younger Member Committee and its dedicated volunteers. This year’s Younger Member Chairs are:
- Carolina Patino — Younger Members Forum Chair
- Negar Saraei — Younger Member Social Activities Chair
- Alexander Carranza — Younger Member Sandcastle Co-Chair
- Kyle Spinks — Younger Member Technical Activities Chair
- Jason Thompson — Younger Member Sandcastle Co-Chair
- Tyra Patterson — Younger Member Community Service Chair
- Clay Buhler — Mentorship Program Co-Chair
- Ahmed Albarwani — Younger Member Fundraising Co-Chair
- Akshay Dumbre — Mentorship Program Co-Chair
- Palisha Sthapit — Younger Member Fundraising Co-Chair
Their involvement reflects the breadth of opportunities available through ASCE Houston, from technical programming and mentorship to community service, fundraising, and social engagement. These leadership roles allow members to contribute meaningfully to the profession while developing the skills and relationships that support long-term career growth.
Investing in the Future of the Profession
The annual Younger Member-led Branch Meeting remains an important tradition for ASCE Houston, demonstrating the value of giving emerging professionals meaningful opportunities to lead. By entrusting Younger Members with the planning and execution of a major branch event, ASCE Houston fosters leadership development, encourages professional engagement, and strengthens connections across the civil engineering community.
The June 16 meeting was a testament to what can be accomplished through collaboration, volunteerism, and a shared commitment to advancing the profession. As these emerging leaders continue to take on greater responsibilities within ASCE, they are helping build a stronger, more connected civil engineering community for the future.
