Engineering Influence from ACEC

A Conversation with Gary Raba - Chair-elect for 2024-2025

 
2023-2024 Chair-elect and 2024-2025 Chair – Gary W. Raba, PE, D.Eng., of Texas:
Gary W. Raba is responsible for leading organic and inorganic growth for Raba Kistner, Inc. (RK). Prior to taking this responsibility, Gary served as CEO of Raba Kistner, Inc. He has also served as COO of Raba-Kistner, Inc., and COO of a new startup division, Raba-Kistner Infrastructure, Inc. Gary was CEO during the 2018 sale of RK to private equity firm Crescent Capital of Brisbane, Australia, and served on the RK Executive Committee during the subsequent transaction to the Family Office of KIWA, Rijswijk, the Netherlands in 2020.
Gary has served in multiple board, committee, and volunteer roles for ACEC-Texas and ACEC National.
Gary Raba has been in the business of engineering for 35 years and is licensed in several states.
 

A Conversation with Incoming Vice Chair Derek Clyburn of North Carolina

Vice Chair – Derek L. Clyburn, PE, MBA, of North Carolina:
Derek L. Clyburn currently serves as the President of ECS Southeast, LLP. Derek is a member of the Board of Directors for the ECS Group of Companies and has been with ECS for 25 years. Derek is responsible for leading ECS’s 700 ESOP Owner team members that provide environmental, geotechnical, construction materials testing, special inspection, construction engineering inspection, and facilities consulting services in the Southeast States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. 
Derek has taken an active role in advocacy for the business of engineering through ACEC, from grassroots participation to board leadership. Derek served as President of ACEC/NC during their 50th anniversary year in 2019-2020, as a National Director in 2020-2021, and is the current Vice-Chair of ACEC/PAC. Derek also currently serves as Chair on the Board of Governors for Engineering Companies for NC (ECNC), a non-profit advocacy organization designed to educate and advocate for the engineering industry. He is also active in the Design Professionals Coalition (DPC) and participates in the Risk Management Committee for ACEC National. 

An interview with incoming ACEC vice chair, Dan Meckes of Missouri

 
Daniel Meckes is the CEO of Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. (CMT), a full-service professional services firm with 25 offices in 9 states.
Dan is a member of the ACEC Transportation Committee and DEIB Committee, and he served as Board Member and Chair for ACEC Missouri. Dan has supported ACEC/PAC as a member of the Chairman’s Club for over seven years and is a graduate of SEI Class 9.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Marquette University and is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and Missouri.
 

An interview with incoming ACEC vice chair Elizabeth Stolfus

 
Elizabeth Stolfus is the President and founder of Stolfus & Associates, Inc., a Colorado transportation engineering and planning consulting firm. She has been active at the state and national levels of ACEC for over 20 years. Elizabeth has served as ACEC Colorado President, National Director, and ACEC/PAC Champion. She has also served as a Board Member of the ACEC Research Institute, a member of the Planning Cabinet, a Women In Leadership Steering Committee member, and a Trustee of the ACEC Life/Health Trust.

Catching up with ACEC Board Chair W. Arthur Barrett II

ACEC Board Chair W. Arthur Barrett II was in our Washington office for new officer orientation this week, so we asked him to join the podcast to give an update on what ACEC is doing and what 2023 has in store for the Council.

A Preview of the Upcoming Business Development & Marketing Forum from ACEC

Jen Newman, Founding Principal at Elevate Marketing Advisors joined the podcast to preview the upcoming Business Development & Marketing Forum taking place this February in Scottsdale, AZ.
Jen will moderate sessions at the upcoming forum and we thank Elevate Marketing Advisors for sponsoring the event.
View the BDM Forum's agenda and learn more here.
Read Jen Newman's Last Word post, "Confessions of a Brandaholic" here. 
Early Bird Registration for the BDM Forum ends on 1/27.  Lock in your hotel at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas here.
 

How Airports Transform Communities into Development Districts

Joshua Brooks, an architect and planner, is the co-director of the Denver, Colo., branch of the design firm Sasaki Associates. He joined Diana Alexander at the 2022 Fall Conference to discuss how airports like Denver International become centers for development.  

Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of the IIJA

We were joined by ACEC Board Chair W. Arthur Barrett, II and ACEC's transportation advocacy lead Matt Reiffer on the program today to mark the one-year anniversary of the IIJA and look ahead towards its implementation. Art also recapped the successful Private Market Symposium on energy which was held earlier this week in Houston and shared his thoughts on the upcoming first stop of the Engineering and Public Works Roadshow taking place on Cyber Monday in Long Beach, CA.