In Frisco, Texas, almost 700 members of the civil engineering community gathered to celebrate the future of the industry at the Texas Civil Engineering Conference (CECON). The three-day event — organized by volunteers and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Texas Section staff members — allows engineers to develop professionally, build business relationships, and engage in peer-to-peer technical exchange.
Roughly 11 years ago, several ASCE Texas Section leaders had a vision when starting the CECON Conference. That vision was to provide a conference that covered the breadth and depth of civil engineering. 11 years later, the organization achieved that goal by partnering with four ASCE Texas Institute Chapters: the Geotechnical Institute (GI), the Structural Institute (SEI), the Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI), and the Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI). CECON was able to structure a program for professional development tracks for their members and those specialties.
Hosted at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel & Convention Center, CECON 2024 provided a way for design consultants, contractors, manufacturers, agencies, students, and other professionals to relax, catch up with their peers and colleagues, brush up on their technical knowledge, and gain essential knowledge to raise awareness and attract future engineers to choose civil engineering.
Attendees expressed their delight with this year’s event, from the curated programming content to the lineup of exhibitors and speakers. The ASCE Texas CECON Planning Committee would like to thank all attendees, event supporters, sponsors, industry partners, and exhibitors.
The 2024 theme, “Raising the Grade,” focuses on critical questions shaping the future of civil engineering. With the next ASCE Infrastructure Report Card set for release in 2025, the nation’s infrastructure remains a pressing concern. How can the civil engineering profession contribute to improving this assessment and address the urgent “needs improvement” designation?
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This theme also explores solutions for one of the industry's most pressing challenges — attracting and retaining young talent. With interest in civil engineering stagnating nationwide, how can the industry elevate the profession and create a compelling future for the next generation of engineers?
Finally, as emerging technologies like artificial intelligence revolutionize industries at an unprecedented pace, how can the civil engineering profession leverage these innovations to drive progress and “Raise the Grade” in every facet of the industry? This year’s theme challenges civil engineers to reflect, innovate, and act to build a stronger, more sustainable future.
Before the opening ceremony, the conference began with dedicated time to spotlight the exhibitors. The CECON 2024 opening ceremony commenced with the opening keynote speakers, Marsha Anderson Bomar, AICP, ENV SP, F.ITE, F.ASCE, and Colonel Aaron Thomas Hill Jr., Ph.D., PE, PMP, F.ASCE. Anderson Bomar is the incoming President Elect for ASCE and Interim Commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Transportation. She gave a presentation on ASCE’s Future World Vision project. Thomas Hill Jr. continued the keynote with how West Point Academy is bridging the gap between students and professional engineers.
The second keynote of the conference was a presentation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This presentation was provided by Carl Johnson, PE, TxDOT Director of District Operations, and Carl Highsmith, FHWA Director of District Operations, offering attendees an exclusive glimpse into the ongoing efforts to enhance Texas highways.
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The keynote explored how TxDOT and FHWA are addressing Texas’ transportation challenges through collaboration and innovation. Highlights included updates on major highway projects, traffic optimization strategies, and sustainable practices shaping future developments. Attendees gained insights into how these agencies are working together to meet the state’s growing infrastructure needs.
Following the transportation keynote was a TxDOT Panel Discussion. Panelists included Ceason Clemens, PE, Deputy District Engineer TxDOT - Dallas; Tucker Ferguson, PE, Deputy District Engineer TxDOT - Austin; Stanley Swiatek, PE, District Engineer TxDOT - Waco; and Noel Paramanantham, PE, District Engineer TxDOT - Paris. Sean Merrell, PE, PTOE, served as moderator for this discussion about the insights of what it means to lead and grow the different TxDOT districts in Texas.
The rest of the afternoon held breakout sessions, which included the specialty tracks curated by the members of the partner ASCE Texas Institute Chapters.
Wednesday evening, attendees were treated to a “Raise the Roof” social at Riders Field at Roughriders Stadium, sponsored by Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI). Attendees and families joined in the activities, including batting practices, playing catch, playing basketball, and enjoying a Tex-Mex buffet.
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As with the previous day, Thursday morning began with coffee with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), providing an opportunity for attendees to connect with agency leaders and discuss key initiatives. Brooke T. Paup, Chairwoman, and Reem Zoun, PE, CFM, ENV SP, Director of Flood Planning, helped reintroduce the Texas Flood Plan to attendees. TWDB has been tasked with delivering the state’s first-ever comprehensive flood management strategy to the legislature. Paup and Zoun highlighted the importance of the plan in enhancing flood resilience across Texas, focusing on protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure.
After a short break, the conference resumed with the River Water Authority Panel, marking the first discussion of its kind at the event. Moderated by John Mudd, PE, the panel featured a lineup of leaders from three major Texas river authorities: Matthew Jalbert, PE (Trinity), Aubrey Spear, PE (San Jacinto), and David Collinsworth (Brazos). The panel delved into a range of pressing topics related to water resource management, infrastructure challenges, and future planning efforts across the state's river basins. Each panelist brought a unique perspective based on their respective authority’s jurisdiction and operational scope.
During lunch, attendees were treated to an academic keynote presentation by Jean-Louis Briaud, Ph.D., PE, who shared insights on strategies to retain and attract the next generation of professionals to the field of civil engineering. His talk emphasized the importance of fostering innovation, diversity, and mentorship within academic institutions to address the growing demand for talent in the engineering sector.
Following the keynote, CECON hosted the Raising the Grade in Academia Panel, which included Wayne Swafford, PE, as the moderator, along with panelists Andrea Herrera Moreno (TAME), Janille Smith-Colin, Ph.D., PE, M.ASCE (SMU), Norma Jean Mattei, Ph.D., PE (UNO), and Robert B. Gilbert Ph.D., PE, D.GE, NAE (UT Austin). The panelists engaged in a discussion about the evolving needs of students and how academic programs can adapt to better prepare graduates for an ever-changing professional landscape. They also explored actionable strategies to enhance recruitment efforts, including targeted outreach to underrepresented communities, providing hands-on learning experiences, and emphasizing the societal impact of civil engineering careers.
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The afternoon was packed with breakout sessions covering a vast array of topics including “Managing Water in River and Reservoir Systems” presented by Ralph Wurbs, Ph.D., PE, Hon.D.WRE, F.ASCE (TAMU), “Sustainable Pipeline Design and the ENVISION Rating System” presented by John Simpson (McWane Ductile), and “The Use of AI Technology for Mapping Utilities at Scale” presented by Raz Ezra (4M Analytics).
Following these sessions, attendees had the opportunity to earn additional continuing education credits through technical presentations before transitioning to a more relaxed atmosphere. The second Happy Hour gave attendees a chance to network and mingle with colleagues and industry supporters in a relaxed setting before taking their seats again to listen to a keynote message from Shayla Rivera, Comedian and Aerospace Engineer.
Thursday concluded with the ASCE Texas Section Annual Awards Ceremony and Roaring ‘20s Casino Night Gala. A packed room of attendees supported and celebrated the 2024 ASCE Texas Section annual award recipients for their achievements and excellence in the field. Planned by the ASCE Texas Section Younger Member Committee, this year’s gala had several casino table games to choose from and a variety of prizes as payouts.
ASCE 2024 President Kimberly Cornett, PE, CFM, F.ASCE, and Honors Committee Chair Michael Gurka, PE, emceed the Awards Ceremony, honoring the following award recipients:
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- Government Civil Engineer Award: Fernando Quintanilla Jr.
- Professional Service to Students Award: Kimberly Cornett, PE, CFM, F.ASCE
- History & Heritage Award: Cody Wright, EIT
- Professional Service Award: W. Jeff Williams, PE
- Professional Service Award: James Williams, Ph.D., PE, F.ASCE
- Service to People Award: Carol E. Haddock, PE, F.ASCE
- John A. Focht Jr. Citizen Engineer Award: Nancy S. Cline, PE, F.ASCE
- Award of Honor: David Matocha
- Young Civil Engineer Award: Alexa Nichols, PE, CFM, ENV SP
- Outstanding Civil Engineer Student Award: Montsserrat Najera
- Texas OCEA Award: Bois d’Arc Lake Program (North Texas Municipal Water District and Freese and Nichols)
- Texas OCEA Award of Merit: Memorial Park Connector (City of Houston and Ardurra Group) and I-35 Waco Project (BGE, Inc., and TxDOT)
The third and final day of CECON 2024 kicked off with an ethics keynote by Michael Sims, PE, and a morning packed full of well-attended breakout sessions, continuing to include specialty tracks by ASCE Texas Institute Chapters. Friday’s sessions included technical and industry best practice topics like “Performance-Based Design Framework for CFRP Retrofitted Bridge Piers Subjected to Vehicular Collision” presented by Sujan Subedi (UTA), “Dam Safety Toolbox” presented by Melinda Luna, PE, CFM, F.ASCE (TRC Engineers), and “Utilizing Geophysical Investigation along with Conventional Drilling for Seepage Assessment and Slope Failure in Earthen Levee” presented by Jubir Hossain, Ph.D., PE (HTS Inc. Consultants).
The combined ASCE Texas Section Business Meeting and Luncheon on the “State of Our Community” was presented by ASCE & Texas Section leaders including Jenni Peters, CAE, ASCE Texas Section Executive Director; Kimberly Cornett, PE, CFM, ASCE Texas Section President 2024; and Mark Boyd, Ph.D., PE, ASCE Incoming Texas Section President 2025.
Fitting with the “Raising the Grade” theme, the final keynote of the conference, Dr. David Daniel, PE, President Emeritus of the University of Texas at Dallas, commenced the inaugural Texas Civil Engineering Foundation Leadership Series with a presentation. This presentation is built on the insights from the Texas Infrastructure Report Card, which identifies “Lead with Vision” as the first critical step to improving infrastructure grades in Texas. His presentation explored key themes, including the importance of career choices and how professional service, such as involvement with ASCE, serves as a training ground for leadership.
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A guided tour of the Frisco Reclaimed Water Pump Station by the City of Frisco concluded the conference. This behind-the-scenes experience offered attendees a firsthand look at one of the region's most innovative water infrastructure projects. Participants were introduced to the facility’s advanced systems and processes, designed to maximize the reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and industrial use.
ASCE Texas Section’s CECON Planning Committee strives to make each year better than the last, incorporating lessons learned and best practices discovered the year before. The committee has already begun planning for CECON 2025: “Breaking Barriers” in San Marcos, Texas, from September 17-19, 2025.