Our Mission: Build Leaders and Lead Collaboration among Government and Industry to Develop Multi Disciplined Solutions to National Security and Infrastructure Challenges
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Greetings Members,
Welcome to our July NoVA Post Newsletter for an update on what’s happening. As usual, we have many exciting things going on with our Post. We are really looking forward to our 2021 Scholarship Golf Tournament coming up on July 16th at Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club. Our Committee has done a wonderful job and we have many sponsors who we look forward to recognizing. I’d like to specifically thank our Host City Sponsor, Michael Baker International. Not only are they the top sponsor, but they have also provided many dedicated volunteers who worked for months organizing this event. At the time of my writing, these were the generous firms who stepped up to assist us in again making this a signature NoVA Event for our Scholarships.
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Following golf in July, August kicks off with a featured luncheon event on the 5th where we will hear from guest speaker, The Honorable J. Brett Blanton, P.E., The Architect of the Capitol and install our new officers. I hope many of you can join us for this event which is again being held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.
Additionally, as COVID-19 restrictions in Virginia have started to relax, we were just able to sign our contract to lock in our B2B Centennial Event on Oct 7th at The National Museum of the U.S. Army. See below for more information. We’re hopeful that the restrictions will relax further, but for now, we’ll be limited to a 50% capacity of 80 people, so keep an eye out for an email to register and secure a spot!
Thanks to all who voted for our slate of new officers, who will be sworn in August 5th.
2021-2022 NoVA Post Officers are as follows:
President: Ed Chamberlayne, WSP USA
1st Vice President: Jenny Bowers, Michael Baker International
2nd Vice President: Philip Hicks, Parson Corporation
Treasurer: George Guszcza, Michael Baker International
Secretary: Julie Smiley, Woods • Peacock Engineering Consultants
This is my last Newsletter as the NoVA Post President, and I must say, being a mostly “virtual” President has had its share of challenges, yet still many real rewards as we’ve continued to stay strong and vibrant, while planning to come out of the virtual realm even stronger than ever. Ed Chamberlayne and I have collaborated on most everything, so I know the Post will remain very successful and I’ll still be very engaged in my upcoming role as the Immediate Past President.
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming NoVA Post events where we can welcome new members to SAME and/or new members of the Northern Virginia Post!
Thanks and Stay Safe,
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Nick Desport, RA, LEED AP BD+C, F.SAME
Director of Business Development | Merrick & Company
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Leadership and Mentoring Program Update |
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The SAME NoVA/DC/Mid-Maryland Posts have been coordinating and hosting the 2021 Leadership & Mentoring Program each month. On July 9th, we finally got the class together in-person and were honored to have LTG (retired) Tom Bostick speak to the class about his perspectives on diversity & inclusion and leadership. Each month, one of the three Posts organizes an event for the class of twelve. In August, the class will meet with the senior enlisted advisor for all of NAVFAC -- NAVFAC Force Master Chief Delbert Terrell. We are glad to be continuing the great tradition started by Bob Wolff and developing future leaders of the military, government, and industry.
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PE/FE Exam Review Initiative |
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We'd like to highlight an amazing initiative led by our Young Professional Committee Co-Chair, Ingrid Davis-Colato of Michael Baker International. This past spring, she held a PE Exam Review (no cost to SAME members) via webinars for a total of 7 weeks. During the first 6 weeks a comprehensive study plan with specific topics was explained and reviewed (Structural Analysis and Structural Mechanics, Design and Construction and Construction Materials, Hydraulics and Hydrology, Engineering Cost Analysis and Project Planning, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, & Project Planning and Geometrics). During these sessions, the students had the opportunity to ask questions and also brought their own exercises to work through together. During the last session, a practice test was held as a final review of all the topics. The average attendance of the webinar was 3-5 students and most of them will be taking the PE Exam this fall.
Ingrid feels this program will be extremely beneficial for our Members and would like to offer this program twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Her original plan was to start this PE Exam Review webinar again in August, but she had several students contact her for a FE review course. Realizing many young members have not yet taken their FE Exam, Ingrid believes it will be very beneficial to start an FE program and is starting to plan a course for this fall and would like to involve our Student Chapter. Next year, programs for both the PE and FE will be offered in the Spring and Fall. Anyone interested in participating or assisting in either of these efforts should contact Ingrid Davis-Colato at ingrid.davis-colato@mbakerintl.com. Thank you Ingrid for starting up this important and impressive initiative! |
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We are excited to share that SAME National is participating in AwesomeCon at the DC Convention Center on August 20-22nd. AwesomeCon is the District of Columbia’s version of ComicCon. They host a large STEM area in their expo hall that they call the “Science Fair” where various STEM organizations participate. NASA has a large presence and agencies like NIST and Department of Energy are usually involved, as well. The National STEM Outreach Committee has reserved a 12x12 booth and are in need of volunteers to help staff the booth. They have asked all local posts to canvas and enroll members who can serve as volunteers at the event.
See below for more information on the Science Fair and click here for more information on AwesomeCon Overall!
WHAT IS SCIENCE FAIR? Awesome Con, organized by LeftField Media, proudly dedicates a special area of our show floor to all things science! Celebrating sci-fi, technology, engineering, aerospace, astronomy, and much more. Year after year, fans can explore how science influences their favorite comics, films, and TV shows, discover new organizations, or learn about incredible career opportunities in science and tech that could lead to careers in STEM and maybe a future Tony Stark.
All those interested in volunteering please contact John Crossen (jacrossen98@yahoo.com) or Linda Force (lforce719@aol.com), our STEM Outreach Chairs. Also you may contact Eddie Gonzalez (egonzalez@same.org), SAME National STEM Coordinator for more information or to volunteer.
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Save the Date: IGE Workshop |
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NoVA and DC Posts present:
"Improving Cybersecurity and Safety in Smart Buildings and Infrastructure"
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Join us for a special multi-session Industry-Government Engagement (IGE) Workshop on "Improving Cybersecurity and Safety in Smart Buildings and Infrastructure”. We are kicking off the discussion with a local in-person event on September 16th featuring industry and federal agency experts who will address the need to establish a framework to promote cyber protections in controls and devices for enhanced human safety in our buildings and related infrastructure. This event will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM EDT. More information to follow. |
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SAME Centennial Event: Save the Date! |
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Photograph by Duane Lempke, TRIBUTE 4 Foundation
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We wanted to extend a warm virtual welcome to new NoVA Post members who have joined this past month. We look forward to meeting you in the future! |
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New Members:
Quincy Meade - Office of the Chief of Army Reserve
Taylor Sword - Mott MacDonald
Ed Pogreba - Procon Consulting
Charlie Wendt - NV5
Randy Lorenz - NV5
Lisa Thompson - NV5
Monica Manthey - Vari LLC
Peter Gulbranson - U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
Beau DeBoer - Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.
John Kliem - Johnson Controls Federal Systems
Michael Parker - Johnson Controls Federal Systems
Steve Goolsby - SES group of companies
Abdel-Kader Madjido - Copper River Infrastructure Services
Oscar Lara - Copper River Infrastructure Services
Elizabeth Kowalski
Amy Mason - HPM, Inc.
David Abdelnour - Self-employed
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August 5, 2021
Architect of the Capitol Updates
Honorable Guest Speaker:
Brett Blanton,
12th Architect of the Capitol
Crystal Gateway Marriott
October 7, 2021
B2B Engagement & Centennial Event
National Museum of the U.S. Army
Fort Belvoir
September 9, 2021
Special Resiliency Webinar for National Preparedness Month
Research on Electromagnetic Pulse Impacts on the
National Grid and Distribution Systems
Randy Horton, Senior Program Manager
Electric Power Research Institute
More to Come!
NOVA Post Calendar!
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July 26-30, 2021
Virtual Facilities Management Workshop
November 15-19, 2021
Federal Small Business Conference
Atlanta, GA
Virtual participation also available!
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General Douglas MacArthur was a member of SAME. See below for his thoughts on the Society:
“I have been a member of this Society since its inception. Its span of years has seen the most remarkable rate of development of civilization the world has ever witnessed. This accomplishment has synchronized with some of the most acute perils the human race has ever known and overcome. In both categories the engineer has distinguished himself and his profession. Not only in what he has done but in what he has prevented from being done, he has established himself as one of the basic pillars of modern society. I have belonged to many distinguished groups but none in which I have a greater sense of honor than in the Society of American Military Engineers.”
–General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, 1956
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To submit content to be included in next month's newsletter, please email sophia_gull@outlook.com. Content must be submitted by the Tuesday following the monthly board meeting. Board meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month.
Thanks in advance!
-Sophia Gull (NoVA Post Newsletter Editor)
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