News Detail

ACI President Jeffrey Coleman Speaks to Young Professional Convention Attendees

11/3/2020

ACI President Jeffrey W. Coleman made a special appearance at the Young Professional Networking Event during the ACI Virtual Concrete Convention, October 25-29, 2020.  

“The world is run by those who show up,” said Coleman, who shared his personal experience of becoming involved in ACI as a younger member. After asking the virtual attendees to introduce themselves, he encouraged them to continuing showing up and explore opportunities to get more engaged in ACI.

Following the Young Professional Networking Event, the Women in ACI Committee held their annual networking session and auction. The Women in ACI Committee aims to support the engagement of young professionals in ACI by raising funds to provide free convention registration every spring and fall. The committee’s virtual breakout sessions were moderated by several of ACI’s emerging leaders including the S806 Young Professional Activities Committee Chair, Lauren McCauley, and Co-Chair, Andres Matos.

The recipients of this year’s free registration program are:

Julie Dennis is a Structural Engineer with Origin Engineering in Wellington, CO, USA, who transitioned into the concrete industry after obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering in France. Julie has been working in construction for two years and saw the virtual convention as an opportunity to enhance her knowledge.

Julie Dennis

“As a structural engineer and inspector, updates on the industry practice are critical to perform professional and competent work,” she explained. “The quality of work is a priority at Origin Engineering and events such as this convention provide information necessary to always improve and update our practices.”

Hunain Alkhateb and Hari Chandana Gangavarapu were initially scheduled to attend the ACI Concrete Convention in Rosemont, IL, but were later offered the chance to attend the virtual convention.

Hari Chandana Gangavarapu

Hari is a Senior Project Engineer at DeSimone Consulting Engineers in Miami, FL, USA. Her interest in the ACI convention was to attend technical presentations and seminars focusing on smart concrete and sustainability.

With support and encouragement from her employer, Hari felt that the convention would expose her to valuable information that she would not otherwise learn or experience at work. “I believed I would get a broader perspective and knowledge on best practices in concrete construction and emerging new technologies that can significantly help in my work as a lead designer on concrete buildings as well as in mentoring junior engineers.”

Hunain Alkhateb

Hunain is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineer at The University of Mississippi. Like many educators, Hunain’s convention attendance supports her professional development and personal research. She has an interest in several ACI technical committees and was seeking to learn more about the latest advancements in concrete materials and technologies as well as raise awareness for undergraduate and graduate student involved in ACI both locally and nationally. 

In addition to hosting a meeting and networking event, S806 Young Professional Activities Committee also sponsored a session called “What I Wish I Knew: A Guide to Successful Mentorship.” Several young professional panelists representing both industry and academia shared their experience with having a mentor or being a mentor. The session recording is now available on the Young Professional Playlist on the ACI YouTube Channel.

ACI Members under the age of 28 receive a discounted rate on annual membership at $124 USD.

Learn More about Young Professional Membership.

Join the ACI Young Professional Activities Committee.