ASCE has honored Emily Feenstra, Aff.M.ASCE; Anna Denecke, Aff.M.ASCE; and Caroline M. Sevier, Aff.M.ASCE, with the 2023 William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award for outstanding proactive leadership in advancing ASCE and the civil engineering profession as the lead in infrastructure worldwide through public policy, transformation of federal infrastructure delivery, raising public awareness, and serving the ASCE Industry Leaders Council.
Feenstra, Sevier, and Denecke are simply the most deserving exemplars of the Wisely Award’s recognition of those who are using history as a foundation to propel the advancement of the entire civil engineering profession. Their tireless efforts over the past few years have positioned ASCE as the undisputed expert in the infrastructure space and made ASCE the envy of many professional and technical societies, Washington think-tanks, and myriad NGOs.
This team is certainly in the top 25 influencers in our Nation’s Capital. Their work with Failure to Act; Electric Infrastructure Investment Gaps; The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure; and Bumpy Skies Ahead, as well as the activity these reports have generated, have given ASCE a seat at the table for progress at a level and frequency we have never seen – from the White House Councils to Cabinet-level agencies and beyond.
When the ASCE Program and Finance Committee challenged the team to come up with revenue sources, they produced the idea of the ASCE Solution Summit as being part of the 2021 Report Card launch, which had both sponsors and UDOT Secretary Peter Buttigieg as its keynote speaker. This was then translated to an annual roundtable series for 2022 and 2023. And last year, Feenstra, Siever, and Denecke stepped up once again and became the staff team that provides support to the ASCE Industry Leaders Council. With ILC leadership, the three are also helping to transform that organization.
This suite of activities as well as others have been game-changing in reaching as many government officials, media, and individual members on behalf of infrastructure funding and delivery.
The William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award recognizes individuals or groups of individuals who are members of ASCE and who have made continuing efforts to promote appreciation for the history, tradition, developments, and technical and professional activities of the Society.
