advocacy profile | 2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure

Outstanding Civil Engineer Advocates

February 28th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan

For the first time, ASCE is formally recognizing an individual member and a team who are dedicated to saving America’s infrastructure and promoting ASCE’s Priority Issues through building relationships with lawmakers. The Outstanding Civil Engineer Advocate of the Year Award winners, Darren Benoit and the Louisiana Section, will be recognized for their achievements at ASCE’s Legislative Fly-In, an annual two-day event where ASCE members promote the civil engineering profession to their state’s U.S. Congressional representatives. Darren Benoit, of New Hampshire, has advocated on surface transportation, dam safety, and other issues at both the state and federal levels. Among his most notable accomplishments in years of building relationships with lawmakers and educating the public, Darren testified in front of the New Hampshire state legislature about the need for an increased investment in transportation funding. Last year, New Hampshire’s representatives and senators responded by raising the state’s fuel tax for the first time in two decades. In 2011, he led the New Hampshire Section of ASCE in its release of the Report Card for New Hampshire’s Infrastructure and has again taken the lead on updating the report. The Louisiana Section of ASCE began its advocacy efforts for better infrastructure throughout the state with the release of the 2012 Report Card for Louisiana’s Infrastructure. To follow up on the efforts of the Report Card, which gave the state’s infrastructure a GPA of “C-,” the Section joined forces with other like-minded groups to hold the first-ever Infrastructure Awareness Day at the state capitol. The event included a luncheon with lawmakers to discuss the importance of infrastructure and the need for increased investment. Four days later, state Sen. Robert Adley testified on his proposal to better fund transportation. Similarly, state Rep. Karen St. Germain has since proposed legislation that would transfer vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation, boosting investment by more than $400 million a year. Darren and the Louisiana Section, along with all our Key Contacts, represent ASCE’s Priority Issues to America’s lawmakers. Congratulations to Darren and the Louisiana Section for being our inaugural award winners. Keep up the great work!

Tags: advocacy, advocacy profile, Advocate, advocate profile
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Advocate Profile: Amanda Hanaway-Corrente, PE, MBA

October 30th, 2014 | By: Olivia Wolfertz

Amanda being honored as Vermont’s 2011 Young Engineer of the Year. Her extensive work with ASCE set her apart from the competition.

Amanda Hanaway-Corrente, PE, MBA, is a member of the Vermont section. She works at the University of Vermont (UVM) Transportation Research Center (TRC) as the New England Transportation Consortium (NETC) Coordinator. She also represents the UVM TRC as the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTRANS) Research Advisory Committee (RAC) Liaison, ensuring strong communication between UVM and VAOT on various research initiatives. Amanda chaired the committee that produced the 2014 Report Card for Vermont’s Infrastructure, which was released October 16. She also chairs the Vermont Raise the Bar Committee. Amanda has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from UVM, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island, and a Professional Engineering License in the State of Vermont. Her professional engineering license is in the field of transportation engineering as she has designed many roads, roundabouts, and parking lots prior to becoming involved in transportation research. If you are interested in becoming involved with ASCE’s Key Contact Program and promoting the profession through advocacy, learn more information and sign up at asce.org. How did you become interested in and get involved in advocacy for your profession? My first employer out of college was Stantec. I worked out of their South Burlington office and was strongly encouraged to get involved with engineering societies in Vermont. I started with ASCE, but have also held positions on the Board of Directors for the Vermont Society of Professional Engineers. I have attended several meetings for the Society of Women Engineers, Vermont Society of Engineers, and American Council of Engineering Companies as well. What issues have you highlighted/focused on when communicating with your legislators? Lately, my two major focal points have been the 2014 update to the Report Card for Vermont’s Infrastructure and the Raise the Bar initiative, since I am the chair of both committees in Vermont. Earlier this year I attended the annual ASCE Fly-In event on Capitol Hill, which had us focusing on the surface transportation reauthorization and the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. What levels of government have you focused your efforts on? I am currently trying to expand my network at the local, state, and federal levels. Opportunities that I use to accomplish this goal include:

Attending various conferences on behalf of the UVM, TRC and ASCE, taking each as an opportunity to meet people who affect change on a national level. For example, I attended the Annual ASCE Fly-In Event earlier this year.
Acting as a research liaison for my office with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, which provides the opportunity to make connections on the state level.
Staying involved with several engineering societies in Vermont in an effort to stay on top of local and state issues.
Attending events such as “The Day Under the Dome “at the Vermont Statehouse, which provides an opportunity to network with our legislators.

Most of my government relations activities are focused on State and Federal employees and appointees that do work in the field of transportation. The Vermont Section of ASCE just added the Government Relations Representative position to their Board of Directors last year. At this point, I am trying to learn who the various players are before crafting a specific plan or focus with respect to outreach and advocacy. One thing I have done to learn more is to reach out to several people with experience in advocacy to serve on committees with me. These folks have been instrumental in helping develop advocacy plans and mentoring me as a Government Relations Representative. I was recently interviewed by Vermont Public Radio for the release of the 2014 Report Card for Vermont’s Infrastructure on October 16^th. How do you gather information and prepare to do your advocacy work? The ASCE website is an excellent tool. I can always find PowerPoint presentations, guidelines, and other documents that help me get up to speed with the issues and how to advocate on their behalf. ASCE National has support staff for both the Raise the Bar Initiative and the State Infrastructure Report Cards. This staff is always very responsive to requests, and they have a lot of tools that might not even be on the website. I also use the Vermont Section Board of Directors and Regional Governors as a resource for a lot of issues. What have you learned through your activities as an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist? Prior to volunteering as the Vermont Section Government Relations Representative, I had limited knowledge about how the Legislature and Congress worked on a local, state or national level. I worked almost entirely in my silo of transportation engineering, design, and research. I am now much more familiar with the schedule, players, and processes associated with the Legislature and Congress. I am currently working with a committee to pass new legislation in the State of Vermont with respect to the Raise the Bar Initiative, and that committee includes a member of the Vermont House of Representatives. I have learned that having a member of the Legislature on your team is tremendously helpful for being an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist; their insight is invaluable. Has the experience helped you improve skills you utilize personally or professionally? Absolutely! Chairing two committees at once really sharpens my communication skills and efficiency. We try to accomplish the most amount of work with the least amount of effort, especially since we are all volunteering our time. The volunteers come from all over Vermont, so communication has to be done in a way that keeps everyone in the loop at all times and does not exclude anyone. With every ASCE Event I attend I expand my network to include more professionals in my industry. Since my job is focused on linking needs with available resources, having a diverse network is essential. What has been challenging about being an advocate? And how did you overcome them? My biggest challenge is trying not to push people too much. You have to remember that your fellow Section Board of Directors and committee members are all volunteering their time too. Sometimes personal matters come up and a Board Member has to back down from a committee, so the rest of the committee binds together to absorb the work. It is important to balance workloads among the committee members and push the goals of the committee forward, without burning people out. I try to be reasonable about expectations and not over commit the committee to unfeasible tasks and deadlines. At times where setting high effort, quick turnaround goals are necessary, it is important that the entire committee agree to the necessity before setting tasks and deadlines. What have you found rewarding about your efforts? Is there a particularly memorable experience you can share? The most rewarding aspect of being involved with ASCE is a sense of confidence in my abilities. I was very young when I was President of the Vermont Section, which provided me experience on how to manage a team before I was ever offered a role in management at my job. When I was finally offered a job in management, I had developed the experience to accept and fulfill my new management role confidently. The most rewarding moment of my career was being named Vermont’s 2011 Young Engineer of the Year. I am fairly certain that my work with ASCE set me apart from the other nominees. The very next year, the Vermont Section won the Outstanding Section & Branch 2012 Award for small sections. I remember the exact moment I found out that we had won: For the last few years, the Vermont Section has been hosting a Toys for Tots drive as our December Event. I was standing by the bar during the social hour of the event when one of our ASCE Regional Governors came up and told me the news. I immediately raised my fist in the air and jumped with delight, bumping into the man standing behind me and spilling most of his drink. I was so excited because I had worked really hard on filling out the application, a responsibility the Board of Directors had entrusted me with. Our section deserved the award and I found it so rewarding to be able to facilitate the effort to obtain it. In 2013, we won the Outstanding Section & Branch Award again, using the 2012 application as a template. Since then, my most recent memorable moment is being selected as a member to profile in ASCE’s new Advocacy Profile Spotlight! Moments like those remind me why I work so hard. Have you felt that your efforts have made a difference? How? I am sure that my efforts have made a difference in various ways, but the one example that stands out to me is being able to mentor young engineers. I am constantly offering help to college students and young engineers move forward in the professional world. There are so many career options for civil engineers and it can be scary when you are first starting out. The myriad of connections I have made in the engineering world through ASCE make me a valuable resource to these young engineers. I help them with resumes, mock interviews, which engineering companies exist, what the companies do, what would be the best fit based on the individual student, what certifications they should be working towards, etc. I have even helped students make regional and national connections. What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy? First, I would tell them that getting involved with ASCE was the most valuable thing I have done for my career. Then I would ask some pointed questions to help them determine what type of advocacy work would be best suited for them. I would also recommend them to get support from their employer. The value of being involved with ASCE is completely transferable to the work environment. If you can align your contributions to ASCE with work for your employer, the work’s value is increased significantly.

Tags: 2014 Report Card for Vermont’s Infrastructure, advocacy profile, Advocate, raise the bar, transportation, Vermont
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Advocate Profile: Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., M.ASCE

September 24th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan

Advocate Profile: Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., M.ASCE Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., M. ASCE is the incoming chair of ASCE’s Public Policy Committee. As president and CEO of Sequoia Engineering & Environmental, Inc. she is responsible for overall management, development and growth of firm specializing in geotechnical engineering, environmental documentation & permitting, construction engineering and public involvement. If you are interested in becoming involved in ASCE’s Key Contact program and promoting the profession through advocacy, you can learn more information and sign up at asce.org. How did you become interested in and get involved in advocacy for your profession? Many years ago at an ASCE conference I heard about the Key Contact program and felt it would be a great way to stay well-informed of legislation affecting our profession. However, I must confess initially I was not the most dedicated at reaching out to my legislators. As I advanced in my career, I began to see the effect certain legislation had on our profession and business and I became more engaged both at the local and state level.

Marisa Geldert-Murphey on the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the March 2014 Fly-In.

What levels of government have you focused your efforts on? Is there something that prompted you to focus your efforts there? Instead of focusing on a certain level of government, I simply stay appraised of proposed bills, executive orders and amendments that affect my livelihood and our quality of life. I try to keep other people informed which is much easier with social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. People are busy and want to focus on what they know, the workings of the government at any level can be intimidating or at times frustrating. So I want to make sure I increase the pool of knowledge and get as much information out to my network as possible. I have had several people in the industry thank me for keeping them up to date. How do you gather information and prepare to do your advocacy work? I am usually made aware of state and federal issues by ASCE’s Government Relations staff. I am always impressed with how quickly they will hear of proposed language, especially at the state level. Effective advocacy does require research. I review the language of the proposed bill and any position or summary papers out there. I reach out to my network of legislators, staffers and lobbyists to understand the intent, benefits and potential pitfalls of any proposed rules or legislation. I share my feedback and make sure they understand the impacts good and bad. What have you learned through your activities as an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist? I have learned a couple things over the years. A small group of concerned citizens can actually make a difference. I have also learned that it is critical to stay informed and become involved. Well-meaning legislation can quickly pass through without a thorough understanding of the impacts to small business or our profession. Has the experience helped you improve skills you utilize personally or professionally? Absolutely, while most people would think advocacy is about persuasion, I believe it is about credibility and character, and I believe my involvement has enhanced my credibility in the industry. My advocacy work has also refined my listening and communication skills. What has been challenging about being an advocate? What methods have you found effective in working through those challenges? What sort of pitfalls or setbacks have you encountered? And how did you overcome them? The greatest challenge is understanding the political dynamics, particularly at the federal level. You cannot go into this being single-minded, you have to understand the broader interests at stake. The other challenge is the slow rate of progress, it can be very frustrating, and this requires stamina and patience. Some of the pitfalls I have encountered are simply the lack of political will to make tough decisions. I try to understand where the resistance is coming from, find common ground and form alliances around those areas we can agree on, and slowly gain traction from there. What have you found rewarding about your efforts? Is there a particularly memorable experience you can share? The most rewarding moments are when hard-fought-for legislation passes, with meaningful language still intact. The most memorable experience for me was sitting at ASCE’s Washington, DC office recently while in town for the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-in and watching footage of the President signing the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) into law. It was very fitting that I happened to be there with the ASCE Government Relations staff witnessing that signing, they worked very hard on our behalf for that legislation. Have you felt that your efforts have made a difference? Yes, our legislators want to hear from their constituents. Many people complain about the influence lobbyists have in Washington, however, they have never contacted their legislators. I have worked with legislators requesting endorsements of amendments beneficial to the civil engineering profession, so I know my efforts are making a difference. What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy? The most important step is sign up as a key contact at ASCE. The Government Relations staff are your boots on the ground and will keep you informed. Consider becoming an advocate champion within your Section or Branch to inform members and colleagues in your area.

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Advocate Profile: Peter S. Merfeld, P.E., M.ASCE

August 27th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan

Peter S. Merfeld, P.E., M.ASCE is a member of the Maine Section. He has exhibited leadership experience as section president, Maine Report Card chair, and through work on the national Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. He is also a Board member of IBTTA (International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association). These roles led him to become an advocate for infrastructure investment on the state and federal levels, an issue that is particularly important currently as the federal Highway Trust Fund heads toward insolvency. As the chief operations officer at the Maine Turnpike Authority, Peter offers day-to-day operational guidance to the Highway & Equipment Maintenance, Engineering & Building Maintenance, and Public Safety departments. He also prepares, plans and oversees the annual Maintenance and Capital Program budget. His role requires him to work closely with the Maine DOT to ensure inter-agency communication and coordination, and review Turnpike policy needs and changes. If you are interested in becoming involved in ASCE’s Key Contact program and promoting the profession through advocacy, you can learn more information and sign up at asce.org. How did you become interested in and get involved in advocacy for your profession? In 2006 as President of the Maine Section, fellow ASCE member and Past-President Phil Dunn gave a report that Michael Michaud, Maine Congressman from the 2^nd district had asked Phil “Where is the Maine Report Card?” while he was attending the Fly-In. The Report Card on America’s Infrastructure was seen as a credible tool in providing policy makers with facts about the status of our roads, bridges, and other important infrastructure. After talking with others in Maine section ASCE leadership, it was agreed that having a Maine Report Card could be a great tool for Maine civil engineers to engage our policy makers in a conversation about infrastructure funding. An area that we, as a Section, had not done a great job up to that point. The local Report Card though would be a major undertaking. Due to overwhelming support from the section, I made the easy decision that once I completed my tour as Past-President, in fall 2007 I would take on the role of chair of the committee that would develop and create a Report Card for Maine’s Infrastructure.

Peter Merfeld (right) and Maine Speaker of the House and former Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell at 2008 release of the Report Card for Maine’s Infrastructure

In December 2008 we held a well-attended media event to introduce the Report Card and the reaction was very positive and supportive. Many legislators took an interest and began to use the Report Card to support their positions. I was happy in March 2009 to bring that Report Card to Washington, DC and represent my profession with facts and appropriate policy recommendations to assure safe and reliable infrastructure. In 2012 we were able to update the Report Card for Maine and continue to provide credible evidence as to the condition of our infrastructure. I joined the Committee for America’s Infrastructure in 2009 and have enjoyed sharing Report Card updates and other major policy initiatives as part of the Fly-Ins over the past several years. What issues have you highlighted/focused on when communicating with your legislators? Utilizing the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure on the national level and the Maine Report Card as a tool for the state level, ASCE has been instrumental in bringing civil engineers to the forefront as experts in defining the problem with infrastructure, especially transportation. As a Board member for the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), I also represent the tolling industry, which advocates for sustainable transportation funding, especially for highways and bridges. As such, the top priority has been sustainable transportation funding.

Maine delegation in 2014 with Peter Merfeld presenting the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure app to Senator Susan Collins (Maine) staff member John Kane.

What levels of government have you focused your efforts on? Is there something that prompted you to focus your efforts there? I have advocated on both the state and federal levels, because of the information from the Report Cards, and the committees which I serve on representing those jurisdictions. How do you gather information and prepare to do your advocacy work? ASCE Fly-Ins offer a great deal of training and support for any advocacy in Washington, DC. Locally, the ASCE Section Board as well as assistance from local experts and transportation advocates provide input and direction. During the Legislative session, I monitor legislative documents and potential legislation for possible areas of concern and highlight to the section board for review. As a former Board Director for AGCMaine, and a member of the Maine Better Transportation Association I am included in their distribution lists for legislative outreach or major policy initiatives that may interest other civil engineers. In addition, my current boss, Peter Mills, was a state senator for over 20 years and is well versed in the activities of State Legislature. I use him as a sounding board when ever I can. Typically I would participate in discussion about issues where the ASCE Maine Section Board should take a position and if requested I assist in writing the testimony for the public hearing. In February 2014, for example, I became aware of a public information meeting by the MaineDOT and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for dredging in Searsport harbor. Due to the importance of this harbor as part of Maine’s 3 port strategy, I wrote a letter in support of the project and engaged the Maine Section. What have you learned through your activities as an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist? Most of all, that infrastructure is taken for granted. The general public trusts that professional civil engineers know what needs to be done and will do it. The issue usually revolves around policy and funding. Unless more people who use and support safe, reliable, sustainable infrastructure get involved, get educated on the issues and are vocal, policy makers will not act with expediency to solve the long-term crisis.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (Maine) speaks with ASCE representatives from Maine in March 2012: Greg Blake, Peter Merfeld, Jason Gallant and Walter Fagerlund.

Has the experience helped you improve skills you utilize personally or professionally? Absolutely. As an engineer I enjoy a challenge and trying to fix a problem. Once the problem is identified, in order to get funding and support, a convincing argument must be made for why the problem needs to be fixed and how it will get fixed. Researching your audience, making credible and concise arguments, and ultimately making a convincing case within a limited timeframe are important tools for all future leaders, regardless of the topic. The challenge is finding an audience willing to listen. On occasion there seems to be disinterest as our issues seem small in comparison to other issues facing policy makers at the moment. Again, there is a great deal of complacency regarding infrastructure and short-term maintenance always seems to be the answer given. Putting the issues into terms that your audience can understand and utilize is critical. This ensures they can, in turn, convince someone else it is important. Whether it be jobs for constituents, saving lives or long-term reduction in consumption of fossil fuels, the terms used need to resonate. Have you felt that your efforts have made a difference? How? I know the Report Cards are making a difference. The media attention alone has helped push the issue and will over time increase involvement of the general public. Policy makers can see an increase in grades or decrease and can judge if their actions are working in short-term or if more work needs to be done. What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy? Talk to members of the leadership team in your section. Talk to the people at your organization who are involved in advocacy to get insight. Start small with issues you are passionate about, involve other people and most important get to know your legislators. They would love to hear from an EXPERT!

Tags: advocacy, advocacy profile, Maine
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Advocate Profile: Shelia Montgomery-Mills, P.E., M. ASCE

July 29th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan

Shelia Montgomery-Mills presenting to fellow ASCE members.

Shelia Montgomery-Mills, P.E., M.ASCE, is a manager of projects and systems at Appleseed Workshop and also owns her own consulting firm, Civil Construction Solutions. She works on commercial and residential renewal projects in Birmingham, Alabama. Shelia’s experiences in her career, along with attending the ASCE Legislative Fly-In, contributed to her active role in advocacy. The Alabama Section is currently working on a state Report Card and starting a Government Relations Committee, both of which Shelia will be involved with. She also serves as the past-president of the Birmingham Branch, vice president of the Alabama Section and is active with supporting the younger members group.

If you are interested in becoming involved in ASCE’s Key Contact program and promoting the profession through advocacy, you can learn more information and sign up at asce.org.

How did you become interested in and get involved in advocacy for your profession? When I first attended the Fly-In four years ago, it piqued my interest in advocacy and I knew I wanted to go again. The experience made me very interested in how the federal and state governments work together. I started my career in local government, seeing it from the inside, so to then experience the state and federal levels was an exciting new learning experience. I’ve always wondered “how do they get anything done?” given the structure of government. Yet, I also witnessed that when infrastructure is at its best, it improves the community. Through that, I knew it was possible as projects led to growth and change. What issues have you highlighted/focused on when communicating with your legislators? I make it a point to always discuss MAP-21 and funding for roadways and transit, especially as transit is not readily available in Alabama and I believe it’s a crucial part of building a strong economy. I try to continually tie how infrastructure investment leads to community revitalization and redevelops inner-cities, and the positive impact that can have on the economy. The message that it helps create a better, stronger healthier community that is going to grow is one that I think really resonates with legislators. As Alabama is the only state without a dam safety program, I bring that topic into the conversation by explaining the potential threat to public safety, infrastructure, homes and businesses. I always make a point to discuss the federal funding available to states that have a program. What levels of government have you focused your efforts on? Is there something that prompted you to focus your efforts there? I serve on a local design review committee that is charged with making sure that new developments fit into the neighborhoods and the long range planning of the community. I participate in local public involvement meetings for specific projects and for local community planning efforts. As a small business owner, I am also part of the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) and utilize that venue to talk about infrastructure investment. I traveled to our state capital with the BBA promoting similar topics to those discussed at the ASCE Fly-In, as they relate to the state legislature. How do you gather information and prepare to do your advocacy work? I try to stay up on current issues by reading articles published by various avenues through ASCE, in local publications, including blogs, newsletters, and the local business journal. When a topic is particularly interesting to me, then I make note and start to follow it more closely, seeking out additional information on it. Dedicating myself to reading about local events takes a lot of time, but I try to save articles up for an opportunity when I have an hour or two to dedicate to it. What have you learned through your activities as an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist? Our job is to educate the public as civil engineers. If you say something long enough, people start repeating you. When I first started talking about these issues, even among fellow ASCE members in my branch and section, people were not that engaged. Now, I find them echoing the things I have been saying for years. Explaining things–such as the gas tax and why it matters and the need for a dam safety program in Alabama–helps people understand both sides of the equation. I truly believe that in the end you can make a difference, which I was not sure of at first. Now, looking at things that have been accomplished I am reassured that advocacy is influential and important, especially talking one-on-one to help build the relationship. Has the experience helped you improve skills you utilize personally or professionally? Having something to discuss that I am knowledgeable about has helped me overcome my shyness and reluctance to speak in public. I’ve been put into situations where there was no choice but to speak up and knowing I have something valuable to contribute pushed me to say something. Once I return from the Fly-In, I know I must present to the Branch and report to the Section. The experience has made me a stronger leader, and given me added confidence. When tasked with a new challenge I am encouraged by the things I’ve already accomplished and know that I can take on this new challenge, too. What has been challenging about being an advocate? What methods have you found effective in working through those challenges? What sort of pitfalls or setbacks have you encountered? And how did you overcome them? I always respond to hearing “we have a problem,” by saying “no, we have an opportunity.” That definitely applies in advocacy. It is often about finding balance, and saying things in the right way that it will connect with the audience present. It can be a challenge to find opportunities to speak to key people. When the topic is increased taxes or government regulations, many citizens and politicians quickly shutdown or get defensive. It is extremely important to start with the cost of doing nothing and the effect on individuals and our community. What have you found rewarding about your efforts? Is there a particularly memorable experience you can share? It genuinely feels like I am making a difference, and it is an honor to talk about these issues on behalf of others who can’t or won’t raise these topics. It’s also provided a way to meet a lot of great people and give back. I also try to encourage others, especially young engineers, to get involved and find their own rewards through advocacy. Walking the halls and stairwells of congress has been the most memorable. I always make a point to walk the steps so I can see the worn-impressions created in each stair by those before me. I wonder about the many critical decisions made in our history that have brought us to today and, ultimately, what will the effects be in the future for decisions made today. As civil engineers we understand infrastructure, the needs for investment, the value of maintaining what we have verses replacement, and how what was built in our history that has made us the great country we are today. How do we continue so that the same quality of life we enjoyed is passed down for future generations? Tough decisions were made 100, 200 years ago and it brought us to what we have today. Stopping now is not the answer. Having a younger member attend the Fly-In with me this year and sharing my enthusiasm for the whole process made me realize just how much advocacy means to me. I can make a difference in many more ways than I ever thought. Have you felt that your efforts have made a difference? How? I have seen public investment make a difference in communities, which is what encourages me to continue my advocacy efforts. Public support, which often means funding of infrastructure projects, encourages private development leading to economic development with benefits that far outweigh the public funding. I also hear more people talking about the issues, including dam safety and the Report Card. It took a few years, but other people have joined me in advocating on the issues from Alabama. We are planning to release a Report Card because we recognize it’s a valuable tool for advocacy. Seeing other members have an interest is very rewarding for me, especially younger members who have a lot of energy and are interested in finding ways to make a difference, because I know it will make an even greater impact the more people talk about these issues. It is very important to me to encourage younger members’ interest in advocacy and ASCE in general. Our future, and theirs, is in their hands and engagement today will be paid back for years into the future. The youth of today are seeking these opportunities and we must strive to find ways to support their efforts. What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy? It’s helpful to talk to someone who is already involved in advocacy. I also recommend familiarizing yourself with the issues through newspapers and ASCE materials. By learning more about the issues you will find something that sparks your interest, and that passion can be very motivating. Once you find that passion, get involved! Serve on a local board or commission or committee, become a key contact, attend the Fly-In or Drive-In, or get on an agenda where you can talk to local officials.

Tags: advocacy profile, advocate profile, Alabama, infrastructure
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Advocate Profile: Darren M. Benoit, P.E., M.ASCE

June 26th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan

Darren M. Benoit, P.E., is an active member of the New Hampshire Section of ASCE. He works as a senior transportation manager for McFarland Johnson, Inc. In his role, he works on highway projects in Concord, New Hampshire and with clients throughout New England as a technical lead on projects. As a Key Contact for almost five years, Darren has advocated on a variety of issues, including an increase to the state gas tax to fund investments in transportation infrastructure. New Hampshire successfully passed a modest gas tax increase last month, making it the first state to sign a gas tax increase into law this year, a helpful mechanism for funding transportation projects. If you are interested in becoming involved in ASCE’s Key Contact program and promoting the profession through advocacy, you can learn more information and sign up at asce.org. How did you become interested in and get involved in advocacy for your profession? Although I had been peripherally aware of state and national transportation issues, the focus of my advocacy work began when I accepted a volunteer position as the New Hampshire Section Government Relations Chair. My first Fly-In was the start of building stronger relationships with our federal congressional delegation. After attending, I also accepted the role to lead an update to our state’s Infrastructure Report Card.

What issues have you highlighted/focused on when communicating with your legislators? Each year seems to bring its own challenges. At the national level, it is often advocating for the reauthorization of major bills such as the Surface Transportation or Aviation Investment Acts. At the state level we work closely with other professional societies to evaluate legislation being proposed. There is a lot more variation at that level including changes that would affect our licensing, liability issues, infrastructure funding bills, and more recently trying to protect engineers when they are called upon during disaster relief. What levels of government have you focused your efforts on? Is there something that prompted you to focus your efforts there? Do you offer your expertise beyond that of a traditional citizen lobbyist for the public’s benefit? My focus has been primarily on the state and federal levels. We are a small state with limited resources so we have to focus where we can have the most impact. A single long-term relationship can make a significant difference on the federal level. At the state level partnering with other engineering societies can help identify key legislation for our businesses and for infrastructure, allowing the individual groups to focus on the key issues. Each year we provide written testimony and oral testimony on select bills which I would see as the traditional advocacy, but I think our most effective measures are in communication. The optimum is to build a two-way relationship with your state and federal representatives such that they reach out to you to provide information on issues. This has included providing support at press conferences, providing names of professionals who can participate in conference calls, and provide the information needed for them to argue your point. One of the best tools we can provide our legislators is an updated Report Card at both the state and federal level. It has been a universal tool often cited in other documents, in congress, and even in the governor’s State of the State address. How do you gather information and prepare to do your advocacy work? The first year is normally the hardest. The Report Card is a great framework if your state has one. Most have references to show the source and date of the information that can be updated if it has become stale. Over time I have built a network of professionals within the private, municipal, and state sectors that can provide up-to-date information in a very short amount of time. What have you learned through your activities as an ASCE advocate and citizen lobbyist? First, communication is key. Stay in contact with legislative contacts regularly instead of waiting for that single most critical issue. Posting articles on social media platforms, like Facebook, so other ASCE members are aware of the issues is also beneficial. Second is collaboration. There are many related professional groups that have common ground and can pool resources. Public works officials, contractors, and non-engineering groups often share our views and can provide a solid support base. Third is to not get discouraged. Stay positive and work long term. Billions of dollars in infrastructure investment is going to take a lot of discussion before headway will be made. Has the experience helped you improve skills you utilize personally or professionally? This is an area where all types of personalities are present. Learning to communicate better with a broad variety of people is a skill that transcends all people and professions. What has been challenging about being an advocate? Trying to maintain that pesky day job. The intensity of a career in engineering allows for limited time to dedicate to advocacy. What methods have you found effective in working through those challenges? Collaboration. When I can’t attend a hearing personally, having others who can see that my written testimony is submitted is a great benefit. Building a Government Relations Committee that can spread the work is also important. What sort of pitfalls or setbacks have you encountered? And how did you overcome them? Most times compared to the oppositions’ lobbyists we are underfunded, have less time, and are volunteers. We also typically have less political experience and are not as politically connected. At best, we are still trying to get citizens to decide to invest more money in our infrastructure. We prepared a consistent message based upon facts and prepared for long debate. Define success in smaller increments. Most of our issues are cyclical and require regular attention to continue to make progress. What have you found rewarding about your efforts? The relationships built along the way. At first it may not feel like you are making a difference, but consistently being involved builds credibility. Is there a particularly memorable experience you can share? After the effort to publish the State Report Card, it was very rewarding when state officials began to cite or quote from the document. Have you felt that your efforts have made a difference? Certainly! The education of the next generation in advocacy. I am inspired by the number of younger members willing to reach out to their legislators and some to even testify in front of the legislature in support of the bills. Advocacy is not a natural extension of our training as engineers. A number of these younger engineers have joined me at the Fly-In and have started building their own relationships at the state and federal levels. What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy? Jump in with both feet, don’t get discouraged, and learn from others who have more experience in advocacy. Other like-minded organizations often have lobbyists who can help show you the ropes and ASCE-National has been an amazing resource for ASCE-NH.

Tags: advocacy profile, infrastructure, New Hampshire
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