Insights

2009 Industry Leaders Forum: Focus on Sustainability (Part 1)

ASCE — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Speaker introductions and owners perspectives on sustainability (26:40)

Presented at ASCE's 2009 annual conference in Kansas City, MO, industry leaders discuss the challenges involved in addressing sustainability, infrastructure, and workforce development, and what most keeps them awake at night. James A. Rispoli, P.E., F.ASCE, Chair of the ASCE Industry Leaders Council and Executive Advisor at Booz Allen Hamilton moderates the panel of experts from industry, government, and academia.

Panelists include: Councilman Russ Johnson, Kansas City Council; Vice Admiral Michael K. Loose, P.E., M.ASCE, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, U.S. Navy; Priscilla Nelson, Ph.D., Dist.M.ASCE, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Greg M. Graves, P.E., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Burns & McDonnell; and
Len C. Rodman, P.E., M.ASCE, Chairman, President and CEO, Black & Veatch Corporation.

Due to the forum's length, this special podcast is divided into three parts for ease in downloading.

File Download (26:40 min / 24 MB)

2009 Industry Leaders Forum: Focus on Sustainability (Part 2)

ASCE — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Academic and industry perspectives on sustainability (27:14)

Due to the forum's length, this special podcast is divided into three parts for ease in downloading.

File Download (27:14 min / 25 MB)

2009 Industry Leaders Forum: Focus on Sustainability (Part 3)

ASCE — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Question & answer discussion among moderator, panelists, and audience (36:36)

Due to the forum's length, this special podcast is divided into three parts for ease in downloading.

File Download (36:36 min / 34 MB)

David B. Ashley, Ph.D., Dist.M.ASCE, Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

ASCE — Sun, 1 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Dr. David B. Ashley is a professor of engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he most recently served as the eighth president from July 2006 to July 2009. This emerging research university, located in one of the nation's fastest growing urban areas, currently enrolls more than 28,000 students with a projected enrollment of 32,000 by 2012 and employs more than 3,000 faculty and staff. Prior to coming to UNLV, Dr. Ashley served as the founding Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of California, Merced, and held the Shaffer-George Chair in Engineering. He has also served as Dean of Engineering at The Ohio State University and has held Civil Engineering faculty positions at the University of California-Berkeley, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Ashley's principal research and teaching activities are in the area of construction project planning, focusing primarily on risk analysis and management of large-scale, complex projects. His recent studies have addressed innovative project financing and new project procurement approaches. His work with this field has brought him recognition as a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator and from ASCE, the 2004 Peurifoy Construction Research Award; the 1992 Construction Management Award; and, in 2007, he was elected to Distinguished Member status. Dr. Ashley was inducted as a member of the National Academy of Construction in October of 2008. For his academic contributions, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Chalmers University in Sweden in May of 2000. Dr. Ashley holds B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and M.Sc. (Engineering-Economic Systems) and Ph.D. (Construction Management) degrees from Stanford University.

In this episode, David discusses the need to promote innovation in the civil engineering industry by greater investments in research and encouraging creativity in the engineering curriculum, particularly in the teaching of design. He also discusses threats and opportunities facing the profession and the value of more global thinking, strategic partnerships, and the need to understand and engage in sustainability. Additionally, he highlights some of his greatest professional accomplishments including his work on the expansion of the Panama Canal and the creation of a new University of California campus at Merced.

File Download (8:33 min / 8 MB)

Rear Admiral David J. Nash, P.E., CEC, USN (ret.), F.ASCE, President, Dave Nash and Associates, LLC

ASCE — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Rear Admiral David J. Nash, P.E., CEC, USN (ret.), F.ASCE, served the U.S. Navy as a commissioned civil engineer for 33 years before entering the private sector. During his 44 year career, he has gained extensive management experience and knowledge in program management, facility design, construction, logistics, and facility maintenance. Currently President of his own consulting group, Dave Nash & Associates, LLC, a company focused on project development and execution in emerging markets and the United States, Dave is a professional engineer with hands-on experience at all program and project levels, including multi-million dollar complexes and multi-billion dollar infrastructure reconstruction programs. During his career, Mr. Nash has provided construction, program, financial, and acquisition management services for programs and projects all over the world including multiple billion dollar global construction programs that encompassed industrial facilities, transportation, housing, and utilities projects; established innovative acquisition procedures from field to executive level; and created and initially managed the largest reconstruction program ever attempted by the U.S. Government outside its borders. His experience includes the management of multi-billion dollar physical asset programs, including the U.S. Navy’s shore installations worldwide and the reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure.

In this episode, Dave discusses the importance of leadership as a key attribute of successful engineers as well as the need for sustainable renewal of U.S. infrastructure and the accompanying political will to stay the course. He also highlights some of the unique international challenges he faced during his experiences in Iraq.

File Download (8:39 min / 8 MB)