ASCE Houston’s Branch Career Fair Prep Event Recap
Preparing Tomorrow’s Professionals for Success
February 2026
Author: Osvaldo Diaz
Students gathered for our annual Student Career Fair Prep event — an engaging program designed to help future professionals sharpen their skills and gain insights into career readiness before attending upcoming career fairs. The event brought together driven students and industry professionals to learn, connect, and grow.
Resume Reviews & Professional Development
The event kicked off with an interactive resume review session, where students received personalized feedback on their resumes from knowledgeable reviewers. Participants were able to strengthen their resumes with practical tips on formatting, wording, and highlighting key accomplishments — giving them a competitive edge as they prepare for career fair conversations and internship/job applications.
Following the resume reviews, attendees were treated to a professionalism presentation by Ron Reichert. Ron offered thoughtful guidance on workplace etiquette, effective communication, and how to make strong first impressions at networking events and interviews. His presentation equipped students with actionable strategies to project confidence and professionalism in every interaction.
Resume reviewers:
- Gilbert Portillo, PE, CFM – Managing Engineer at COH
- LeAnne Napolillo, PE – VP. Program Manager at HNTB
- Johnny Kim, PE, CFM – Water Resources Team Lead at Halff
- Stephen Hrncir, PE – Sr. VP. at HNTB
- Oreoluwa Adedapo, PE, P.ENG – Engineer GFT
- Moh Mashkur, PE – Traffic & ITS Engineer at AECOM
- Youssaira Belmokadem, PE – Bridge Project Engineer/Project Manager at GFT
- Harry Nguyen, PhD, PE – Sr. Engineer at UES
- Joseph Contreras – Engineer III at LAN
Professionalism Presenter
- Ron Reichert – Technical Marketing at AmeriTex Pipe & Products
Insights from Industry Leaders: Panel Session
The highlight of the event was an insightful career preparation panel session featuring a diverse group of panelists representing different industries and career paths:
- Alex Carranza, EIT – Structural EIT at EHRA
- Hector Rubio, EIT – Civil Engineer at J. Morales
- Gilbert Portillo, PE, CFM – Managing Engineer at COH
- Lauren Blaik, PE – Sr. Project Manager at T. Baker Smith
Our panelists shared candid stories about their own career journeys, discussed what recruiters look for at career fairs, and offered advice on navigating early career challenges. Students asked questions about interview tips, networking strategies, and how to follow up effectively after connecting with employers. The session provided valuable perspectives that resonated with attendees at all stages of their academic and professional paths.
Student Symposium Preview
Adding to the excitement of the afternoon, Alexa Nichols provided an overview of the upcoming ASCE Student Symposium. She shared key details about the event schedule, competitions, networking opportunities, and ways students can get involved. Her session highlighted the value of participating in symposium activities—not only for technical growth, but also for leadership development and professional networking.
Behind the Scenes Support
Events like this are made possible by dedicated volunteers who work behind the scenes heloing with checking in students and ordering dinners. A special thank you to them!
- Allison Youssef – Civil Engineer at BGE
- Moh Mashkur, PE – Traffic & ITS Engineer at AECOM
Key Takeaways & Student Engagement
Throughout the event, professionals emphasized the importance of:
- Crafting tailored resumes that speak to specific roles
- Professionalism do’s and don’ts
- Nailing career fairs and interviews
- Leveraging networking opportunities to build long-term professional relationships
Students were actively engaged during Q&A segments, expressing appreciation for the real-world advice and encouragement from the panelists.
Looking Ahead
The Student Career Fair Prep event successfully equipped participants with practical tools, confidence, and connections to excel at upcoming career fairs and beyond. Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make this event a meaningful step toward career readiness.
We look forward to supporting students as they continue to navigate their career journeys with purpose and professionalism.
