Jason Dixson Photography It wasn’t exactly how he imagined it would go, but Feniosky A. Peña-Mora is officially the ASCE president.
ASCE inducted its new officers, including Peña-Mora, during a reception Sunday night, Oct. 6, at what was supposed to be the ASCE 2024 Convention in Tampa, Florida.
The induction ceremony, traditionally during the Society’s annual business meeting (which was scheduled for Oct. 8), was moved up to Sunday when ASCE announced the cancellation of the convention ahead of Tropical Storm Milton projected to hit the west coast of Florida this week.
“It is something that I could have never imagined,” said Peña-Mora, Sc.D., P.E. (DR), NAS (DR), CCM (UK), F.CIOB (UK), NAC, Dist.M.ASCE, after accepting the ceremonial presidential pin and gavel and addressing the crowd. “When I was a little kid, I would never have imagined that I would be here in the United States, that I would become president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Making that a reality is humbling. It really reinforces my belief that this country provides opportunity for people like me – the immigrant – who come from other countries and make United States home.”
Peña-Mora, who grew up in the Dominican Republic, is the first Latino president of ASCE. Though his family – wife, two daughters, and a son – were not able to attend in person as planned because of the storm, they were present “virtually.” Peña-Mora’s son even offered remarks for his father over the phone pressed up to the podium microphone.
“This felt like a Las Vegas wedding! A little rushed,” laughed Peña-Mora, who was in a jovial, celebratory mood all night despite the surprise logistics. “But I have to say my family has always been my bedrock. They have always been there for me. They were able to be there on Zoom, so they were at least part of it. It fills me with joy. I’m glad that was possible.”
Jason Dixson Photography ASCE’s Board of Direction met in Tampa on Saturday and Sunday. Board members and attendees who already arrived in Tampa gathered on Sunday evening for a reception that included a student and younger member mixer and the induction of the Society’s new directors and officers.
Other new members of the Board of Direction include:
President-Elect Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, F.ITE, F.ASCE; Technical Region Director Deborah H. Lee, P.E., P.H., BC.WRE, ENV SP, SES, F.ASCE; Region 3 Director Craig K. Hebebrand, P.E., M.ASCE; Region 4 Director Christina L. Ammens, P.E., M.ASCE (who had been serving on an interim basis); and Region 8 Director Tor Anderzen, P.E., F.ASCE.
With the storm looming in the Gulf of Mexico and a flurry of travel plans still being finalized, the Sunday evening event was a strange mix of vibes: ASCE friends and colleagues networking and having fun, overlaid with disappointment for the lost convention and worry about the coming storm surge.
“We have to consider health, safety, and welfare above all else,” said outgoing ASCE President Marsia Geldert-Murphey. “This is not a decision we take lightly because the annual convention is our flagship event. We have to prioritize the safety of our members, speakers, and staff, as well as support the readiness of the community as they prepare for a major storm.”
The 2024 ASCE OPAL Gala, scheduled for Oct. 8, also is canceled.
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene (see the ASCE president’s statement here), we continue to rely on the expertise of civil engineers and strong standards to reduce our community’s vulnerability to damage and loss of life caused by natural hazards, as well as the importance of widespread adoption of up-to-date, modern building codes and standards,” Geldert-Murphey said.
ASCE consulted with the Tampa mayor’s office, NOAA, and local meteorologists before ultimately deciding to cancel the event and send messages to attendees to alter travel plans. The convention hotel sits near the water in an evacuation zone, and the city likely will be under an evacuation notice as soon as Tuesday. The situation was complicated by the fact that much of the Tampa area is still saturated by last week’s Hurricane Helene.
“While we’re all saddened to miss out on the chance to reconnect in person this week at our annual convention, we know this is the right choice for our attendees, the city of Tampa, and a number of our members who will be working on hurricane preparation and response efforts,” said ASCE Executive Director Tom Smith. “We will continue to look into ways to highlight the various elements of our convention program -- our awards, our sessions, and the OPAL awards – in the near future.”
Meanwhile, Peña-Mora looks forward to brighter skies as his year as Society president begins. He played a critical role in developing ASCE’s new strategic plan while leading the Board Strategic Advisory Council, and its implementation will continue to be a central pillar of his presidency.
“As I start my year as the president, my goal is that we continue to fulfill those strategic shifts, the vision, and the mission we outlined in the new strategic plan for our members,” Peña-Mora said. “And particularly the concept of one ASCE. We are a great organization, an amazing organization. However, there are so many sub-disciplines within civil engineering. We also have our geographic regions.
“What we need to do is bring everything together so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That whole concept of one ASCE is so important to me.”
Read more about Peña-Mora's career.
