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Home > News > News Detail
11/11/2019
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The Emerging Leaders Alliance held its 12th annual leadership conference November 3-6, 2019, in Falls Church, VA, USA. L-R: Andrew Potter, Aquafin Inc.; Kanette Worlds, ACI Staff Liaison; Keila Lombardozzi, Clark Concrete Contracts LLC., Alvaro Ruiz Emparanza, PhD Candidate at University of Miami; Claire (Qiwei) Nowasell, Lehigh Hanson; Jan Vosahliki, CTL Group; Robert Thomas, Assistant Professor at Clakson University; Pierro Caputo, Aquafin Inc.; Prannoy Suraneni, Assistant Professor at University of Miami; Soundar Balakumara, Virginia Transportation Research Council. Seventy young professionals along with staff liaisons from leading engineering and science-based organizations participated in the two-and-half day conference. Nine of the young professional attendees represented the concrete industry including seven from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and two others, sponsored by Aquafin Inc., a concrete and asphalt repair company based in Maryland. “Attending a professional development workshop on leadership was a great way to improve my management and leadership skills. I am certain that this is true for other young academics as well,” says Prannoy Suraneni, Assistant Professor at University of Miami. “I would highly recommend this conference to others. I have actually already done so, especially those doing post-doctorate degrees.” Returning speakers included Bob Heavers of Priority Management, Rahul Dogra, Vision to Market Ltd., and Brent Darnell of Brent Darnell International. Heavers lead sessions on Becoming an Indispensable Leader and Building Highly Productive Relationships that Matter. Dogra shared insights on Making the Transition From Technical to Management and Global and Virtual Team Leadership. Catherine Wood is a first-time ELA presenter, who discussed strategies for Influencing and Motivating Others and Conflict Management. Darnell closed the conference with Innovation, Creativity, and Problem Solving and an interactive workshop on How to Present Like an Award-Winning Actor. Suraneni further explains, “After attending this training, I am giving more thought to my interaction with people in my research group and other university faculty in terms of social styles in order to ensure that work goes smoothly. One thing I have already implemented is Management by Walking About (MBWA) – I am going to the students’ offices to see what/how they are doing, in addition to having regular scheduled meetings with them.” Applications for next year’s ELA Conference will be available in the spring. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2020. For more information contact Kanette Worlds, Student, Faculty, and Young Professional Activities Coordinator. ELA Partner Organizations: American Concrete Institute (ACI) American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) International Erosion Control Association (IECA) National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME) Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) Learn more about Young Professional Membership.
The Emerging Leaders Alliance held its 12th annual leadership conference November 3-6, 2019, in Falls Church, VA, USA.
L-R: Andrew Potter, Aquafin Inc.; Kanette Worlds, ACI Staff Liaison; Keila Lombardozzi, Clark Concrete Contracts LLC., Alvaro Ruiz Emparanza, PhD Candidate at University of Miami; Claire (Qiwei) Nowasell, Lehigh Hanson; Jan Vosahliki, CTL Group; Robert Thomas, Assistant Professor at Clakson University; Pierro Caputo, Aquafin Inc.; Prannoy Suraneni, Assistant Professor at University of Miami; Soundar Balakumara, Virginia Transportation Research Council.
Seventy young professionals along with staff liaisons from leading engineering and science-based organizations participated in the two-and-half day conference. Nine of the young professional attendees represented the concrete industry including seven from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and two others, sponsored by Aquafin Inc., a concrete and asphalt repair company based in Maryland.
“Attending a professional development workshop on leadership was a great way to improve my management and leadership skills. I am certain that this is true for other young academics as well,” says Prannoy Suraneni, Assistant Professor at University of Miami. “I would highly recommend this conference to others. I have actually already done so, especially those doing post-doctorate degrees.”
Returning speakers included Bob Heavers of Priority Management, Rahul Dogra, Vision to Market Ltd., and Brent Darnell of Brent Darnell International. Heavers lead sessions on Becoming an Indispensable Leader and Building Highly Productive Relationships that Matter. Dogra shared insights on Making the Transition From Technical to Management and Global and Virtual Team Leadership. Catherine Wood is a first-time ELA presenter, who discussed strategies for Influencing and Motivating Others and Conflict Management. Darnell closed the conference with Innovation, Creativity, and Problem Solving and an interactive workshop on How to Present Like an Award-Winning Actor.
Suraneni further explains, “After attending this training, I am giving more thought to my interaction with people in my research group and other university faculty in terms of social styles in order to ensure that work goes smoothly. One thing I have already implemented is Management by Walking About (MBWA) – I am going to the students’ offices to see what/how they are doing, in addition to having regular scheduled meetings with them.”
Applications for next year’s ELA Conference will be available in the spring. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2020. For more information contact Kanette Worlds, Student, Faculty, and Young Professional Activities Coordinator.
ELA Partner Organizations: American Concrete Institute (ACI) American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) International Erosion Control Association (IECA) National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME) Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)
Learn more about Young Professional Membership.
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