Downtown Atlanta was bristling with energy Sept. 30-Oct. 2 for the 2018 ASPE Convention and Expo.

On Sept. 30, ASPE hosted a welcome party at the Tabernacle featuring a live band, Southern comfort food, and plenty of opportunities to catch up with friends and network with industry colleagues.

Multiple dance circles broke out during the event, including a large troupe partaking in the choreographed dance from the “Thriller” music video by Michael Jackson. (Make sure to check the video out over on pme’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PMEngineer/)

ASPE and the industry got to work on Monday and Tuesday, including the announcement of a new ASPE President. Carol Johnson, CPD, a plumbing/fire protection project manager with Hoover, Alabama-based Edmonds Engineering, will serve a two-year term as president. Johnson took the gavel from now-current ASPE Past President Mitch Clemente, CPD.

“I’m honored and humbled,” said Johnson, during the Oct. 1, ASPE Breakfast Award Ceremony. “I’m here because of you. This is a magnificent association. I’m here because I want to see ASPE be the greatest society in this industry.”

She added: “As president, I’ll work with this board to solve problems and guide our path. I intend to meet and exceed everyone’s expectations. I believe in communication and transparency. I thank you for allowing me this opportunity.”

The rest of the national board of directors includes:

  • Vice President, Technical: Don Strickland, CPD, GPD, FASPE;
  • Vice President, Education: Blair Minyard, P.E., CDT, CPD;
  • Vice President, Legislative: Brianne Hall, P.E., CPD, LEED AP BD+C, GGP;
  • Vice President, Membership: Vincent Falkowski, P.E., PMP, CCM;
  • Vice President, Affiliate: Thomas Sharp;
  • Treasurer: Jim Zebrowski, P.E., CPD, FASPE;
  • Region 1 Director: R. Paul Silvestre, FASPE;
  • Region 2 Director: Keith Bush, CPD, GPD, CSI;
  • Region 3 Director: Steve Mastley, CPD, FASPE;
  • Region 4 Director: Scott Steindler, CPD, LEED AP, ARCSA AP (IS), GPD, GGP; and
  • Region 5 Director: Bryan Hutton, CPD.

 

On the dotted line

During the show, ASPE and ASHRAE signed a new memorandum of understanding to formalize the organizations’ relationship. The agreement was signed by Clemente, ASPE Executive Director and CEO Billy Smith, ASHRAE President-Elect Darryl Boyce and ASHRAE Executive Vice President Jeff Littleton. According to ASPE, this agreement “defines parameters on how the two societies will collaborate more closely to continue furthering and promoting the advancements of a more sustainable built environment.”

The parameters include but are not limited to general advocacy, research, technical committee coordination, joint conferences and meetings, training and education programs, publication distribution and chapter collaboration.

“Working with other professional societies in the broader engineering community is critical in today’s fast-paced world of evolving technologies and engineering methods,” Smith said. “We look forward to working together with ASHRAE to promote ongoing education, best practices, networking, and new technologies for a more sophisticated and sustainable indoor environment.”

Sheila Hayter, the 2018-19 ASHRAE president, added: “We are excited about exploring collaborative ventures with ASPE. The water/energy nexus in buildings is becoming more pronounced as we push buildings to perform using integrated building-design tools and techniques.”

ASPE next major show is its 2019 Technical Symposium set for Oct. 24-27 in Pittsburgh. The 2020 Convention & Expo will be Sept. 11-16 in New Orleans, Louisiana.