Fall 2012 - Officer Highlight

With the changing of the seasons also comes the changing of leadership in our Section and Branches. Thank you to the out going leaders for all of your effort over the past years. Welcome to the new officers.  Now is a good time to highlight a leader from each of the Branches. Without further ado, introducing:

Rick Sanderson - Southern Branch President

Rick Sanderson is the incoming President of the Southern Branch.  He is a Program Director in AECOM’s Charlotte office and has over 24 years of civil, environmental, and geotechnical engineering experience throughout the United States, Europe, Central America, Brazil, and Southeast Asia.  He has designed and managed large transportation projects, environmental compliance projects, large construction projects, storm drainage projects, and site assessment/development projects.  Rick joined ASCE in 1985 while a civil engineering student and Virginia Tech, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1988.  He has worked for the City of Charlotte and private consulting firms throughout the Charlotte area since moving to Charlotte in 1988.

Rick is married and has 2 children and he enjoys playing golf, especially the annual ASCE Southern Branch Golf Tournament, and spending time with his family and friends.

Kevin Nadeau - Eastern Branch President

Mr. Kevin Nadeau currently serves as the President of the ASCE NC Section Eastern Branch and Project Engineer for GeoStructures, Inc.  Kevin is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.  His experience includes over 8 years in the consulting and design/build fields leading geotechnical studies, designing and inspecting shallow, intermediate and deep foundations systems and designing and testing of temporary shoring systems.  Kevin is a Registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina and Virginia.

Mr. Nadeau is a native of Cary, NC and currently lives in Clayton with his wife.  Kevin earned Boy Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout in 1999.  Some of his interests include golf, photography and classic Corvettes.  To learn more about Kevin, you can visit his LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/kevinnadeaupe.

Will Gentry - Western Branch President

Mr. Gentry currently serves as the President of the ASCE NC Section Western Branch.  Will is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering.  Will is a registered professional engineer in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Louisiana. 

Mr. Gentry joined Bunnell-Lammons Engineering in August 2007 and currently serves as a Senior Engineer for the Asheville, NC office.  From 2003 until 2007, Mr. Gentry was an employee of Giles Engineering Associates, Inc., most recently serving as Regional Manager for the Baltimore/Washington D.C. regional office.  From 1996 until 2002, Mr. Gentry served as a geotechnical department manager/project engineer of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana office of Professional Service Industries, Inc.  Mr. Gentry has performed over 500 geotechnical evaluations in at least 20 different states throughout the southeast, mid-Atlantic and northeast in large metropolitan cities to small rural towns from mountainous terrains to coastal plains.  His professional experience is varied and diverse.

His geotechnical engineering design experience includes design of deep foundation (driven piles, geopiers, helical piers, drilled shafts, auger cast-in-place piles and micropiles) and shallow foundation systems for single- and multi-story buildings, above ground storage tanks, communication towers and industrial projects, earth pressure calculations for design of retaining walls and anchor blocks, design of reinforced soil slopes, MSE walls and Soil Nail Walls, design of flexible and rigid pavements including overlays and preparation and monitoring of pre-loading programs and settlement plates for above ground storage tanks and project sites overlying deep soft soil and organic soil profiles. 

Mr. Gentry resides in Asheville and is the proud dad of a 6-year old daughter and 4-year old son.  His interests include mountain biking, running, working out, traveling, gathering for LSU football games and playing with his kids.

Andrew Descary - Coastal Branch

Ensign Descary is a native of Bakersfield,California, and was commissioned into the CivilEngineer Corps through Officer Candidate School. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (2005). Ensign Descary has over five years of experience in the private sector in civil and structural engineering ranging from small to midsized firms and over a year of experience in the public sector with city government. He has worked on a wide range of projects, from foundation investigation, hydrualic modeling, and land development to performing structural condition assessments on shoreline facilities such as piers. After graduating from Officer Candidate School, Ensign Descary reported to Civil Engineer Corps Officers School, Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, California. In November 2010, he reported to his current duty station as Assistant Resident Officer-in-Charge of Construction, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.
As an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for over ten years, Ensign Descary has held offices from Treasurer to President. His most recent activity with ASCE was volunteering during National Engineers Week at an inner-city school in North Carolina teaching an eighth grade algebra class about bridges. In addition to ASCE, Ensign Descary is a member of Chi-Epsilon, the national civil and environmental engineering honors society, and the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). New to SAME, Ensign Descary became involved by helping his post earn the Rediness and Homeland Security Streamer. During his time as a practicing civil engineer, Ensign Descary was also active in the Institute of Transportation Engineers and a member of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California. Since reporting aboard MCAS Cherry Point, Ensign Descary has furthered his professional development and enthusiasm for public speaking by joining Toastmasters International Morehead City Club. Ensign Descary continues his commitment to service by volunteering with the Emerald Isle Parrot Head Club. He has participated in highway clean-ups and assisted the North Carolina Coastal Federation with a native plant sale.
Ensign Descary is a Registered Professional Engineer (civil) in the State of California and is DAWIA Level I certified (contracting). His decorations include the National Defense Medal.

Richard Rafanovic - Northern Branch

Richard O. Rafanovic has more than 25 years of experience in engineering management  and construction and the planning, directing, and monitoring of public works functions including water utility management, organizational development, business improvements, system strengthening, revenue enhancement, and rate allocations in utilities; land development planning and construction management; and, consulting to governments and business.

As water utility manager he held top executive positions responsible for planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of all water utility functions and operations.  In this capacity he dealt with public officials in diverse municipalities and negotiated agreements to stabilize tax obligations, secure water supply service, and the acquisitions and sale of lands and service territories.

As City Engineer and as a consultant he planned, directed and monitored the construction of public works projects including streets, drainage, storm drains, water and waste disposal, traffic, building development, construction of a shopping center, and strategic and business planning for governments.

In Rhode Island he also served as a member of the Water Resources Board ensuring current and future supplies for the State.

Richard O. Rafanovic developed functional Program Planning Budgeting Systems for municipal organizations and water utilities fostering effective management practices.

At Providence Water, Mr. Rafanovic was specifically hired to restore the utility to its once prominent role, bail it out from a financially subsidized operation, and to position it to become a World Class Utility.  Prior to his engagement the Utility was understaffed and depended on municipal subsidies; its facilities were slowly deteriorating and there was little hope throughout the organization to change these trends.  It required leadership, the vision, perseverance, and the strength of conviction to reverse this trend.  Richard, with the help of professional staff and a dedicated workforce accomplished this mission.