On May 21, 2022 at the Luminarias Restaurant in Monterey Park, after a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the ASCE Los Angeles Section Life Member Forum (LMF) formally inducted ten new Life Members: Wisam Altowaiji, Perry Anastopoulos, Paul Greenwood, Charlie Guess, Harley Hanson, David Johnson, Christopher Martin, Kenneth Rosenfield, Ronald Sklepko, and Bryant Wong. They were among the 33 who achieved life member status in the LA Section this year. To obtain Life Member status, ASCE members must have reached the age of 65 years, paid dues in any membership grade except Student Member for at least thirty five years continuous.
Jeff Braun, ASCE LA Section President provided opening remarks and introduced 2023 ASCE President Maria Lehman, guest speaker made an outstanding presentation on ASCE Past, Present, and Future. Maria has spent the bulk of her professional career speaking out on the age and condition of our infrastructure. She said the role of the Civil Engineer has never been more important as it is now. She also stated many politicians and members of the media consider ASCE as a trusted leader on our infrastructure. President Lehman left all of us in attendance with a message: build a relationship with a young civil engineer and be a mentor to them. She is grateful to those who mentored her. “My ability to lead is totally interwoven with my ASCE experience.”
Mark Komoto, LMF President introduced Jerry Burke, Yazden Emrani, and Seema Shah-Fairbank, all past officers of the LA Section, who graciously presented the new life members. Ken Rosenfield, a Life Member inductee and Region 9 Director, switched hats and discussed the Region 9 Past, Current, and Future Outlook. John Rogers, a Life Member, discussed the ASCE Foundation and its activities funding student activities, leadership training, engineering education and programs, and encouraged financial support for the Foundation.
Mark Komoto then introduced the four students who were awarded Life Member Forum Scholarships: Zeina E. Saqan, Cal Poly Pomona; Alexander H. Ov, Cal Poly Pomona; Akshyae Singh, UCLA; and Mariam M. Youssef, Cal Poly Pomona. This is the second year the LMF awarded scholarships to active civil engineering students attending our local universities. The LMF encourages and appreciates Section Membership financial support for these scholarships. Applications for scholarships are announced to students in November with applications due in to the LMF in January. In all, there were 70 attendees at the Brunch, including students, Life Members, inductees, and guests. The LMF gives special thanks to Gayle Stewart, LA Section Administrator, and her staff for organizing the event, which was a challenge considering the uncertainties of the times.
The LMF encourages each Life Member to stay active and be a part of the LMF. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month, currently via Zoom. The LMF is involved with securing recognition of outstanding local civil engineering projects, conducting tours of significant local projects, and supporting outstanding civil engineering students with scholarships. Contact Mark Komoto, Chair: mkomoto@hotmail.com, (714) 256-9713 or David Wright, Secretary, davidwright91773@verizon.net, (909) 706-0306.
New ASCE Los Angeles Section Life Members with President Jeffrey Braun ASCE Region 9 Director and Life Member Inductee, Kenneth Rosenfield
LA Section President Jeff Braun with Life Member Forum Scholarship Winners (L to R) Alexander H. Ov, Akshyae Singh, and Mariam M. Youssef.
ASCE 2023 President Maria Lehman
LA Section President Jeff Braun presenting Life Member Forum Scholarship to Zeina E.Saqan