Engineering Georgia September/October 2025

September | October 2025

AT HOME IN

ATHENS WEATHERING THE FUTURE

10

QUESTIONS with

ALEX ORSO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

20 COVER STORY:

7

At Home in Athens

THE PULSE News Coverage From In And Around The Engineering Community

AFTER 25 YEARS AT GEORGIA TECH, ALEX ORSO TAKES OVER UGA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

14

POLITICAL PULSE

36 40 10 Questions with Alex Orso

Weathering the Future

THE NEW UGA ENGINEERING DEAN

PREPARING GEORGIA’S INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HURRICANE & STORM SEASON

Stay Up-To-Date With Political News That Affects Engineers In Georgia

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Updates From The Associations That Make Up The Georgia Engineering Alliance

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A LOOK BACK A Back-Page Throwback Picturing Georgia’s Most Historic Landmarks

ON THE COVER Georgia Southern's New Engineering and Research Building Brings Advanced Technology to South Georgia

EDITORIAL BOARD

Publisher: Michael “Sully” Sullivan Editor-in-Chief: Brett Hillesheim Creative Director | Designer: Sabrina Tongren www.in8-design.com Contributing Editors: Rachael Sadler Alia Sims Contributing Writers: David Caraviello Brett Hillesheim Christy Tarallo Contributing Photographer: Jennifer Stalcup Accounting Services Manager: Melisa Beauchamp Advertising Sales Manager: ACEC Georgia 229 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30303 brett.hillesheim@acecga.org (404) 665-3539

CECILIA ARANO Thomas & Hutton/SMPS Atlanta STACEY CHAPMAN CIT, Croft Architecture and Engineering STEPHANIE DAMMEN-MORRELL Hussey Gay Bell ANDREW FARMER PE, Gresham Smith / GEF LIGIA FLORIM PE, Cobb County DOT / WTS Atlanta PHILLIP HATCHER PE, SE, Uzun + Case / SEAOG CATHERINE JOHNSON AECOM / NSBE KELLY PATRICK PE, PTOE, Cobb County DOT / ITE Georgia JOHN PIERSON PE, Georgia Tech Research Institute / ASCE Georgia RANDAL RIEBEL PE, Delta Air Lines / GSPE CODY ROGERS, PE / ASCE Georgia CANDANCE SCALE / SAME KATHERINE SCHNELL Kimley-Horn THOMAS TRUE PE, LS, Maser Consulting SASHA UGI Croy Engineering BILL WELLS ITS Georgia KYLE WILCOX PE, Heath & Lineback/ASHE Georgia

Send change of address to: ACEC Georgia 229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30303 or email editor@engineeringGA.com

Facebook.com/EngineeringGA @Engineering_GA www.EngineeringGA.com Engineering Georgia 2025 is published bi-monthly by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia (ACEC Georgia) and its partner associations ASCE, ASHE, GEF, GSPE, ITE, ITS, SAME, SEAOG, SMPS and WTS. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.

In8 Design, ACEC Georgia, and its partner associations ASCE, ASHE, GEF, GSPE, ITE, ITS, SAME, SEAOG, SMPS and WTS, as well as their representatives, employees and agents, are held harmless from any claim, demand, liability or action on account of, or in any way arising out of, the client’s advertising, products and services, or its participation in Engineering Georgia.

Atlanta Post

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The biggest challenge facing the engineering industry is the critical shortage of people to meet our workforce needs, now and in the future.

Firms everywhere are competing for top talent for a profession that is growing more and more vital every day. And ACEC Georgia has been hard at work on expanding the engineering industry’s workforce here in Georgia for more than a decade. Our STEM Workforce Task Force has been leading these efforts through programs like our annual STEM Day and Introduce a Girl to Engineering events, to partnering with educators and local school systems to get more engineers in front of students in the classroom to encourage them to consider a career in the built environment.

Under the leadership of STEM Workforce Chair Charlotte Weber with Lumenor Consulting Group, we are focused on building and strengthening the pipeline of engineering talent—connecting businesses with educators, inspiring students to pursue engineering careers, and ensuring that emerging professionals see Georgia as a place where they can thrive. That’s why we’re working with universities, technical colleges, K–12 programs, and industry leaders to cultivate the next generation of engineers in the built environment.

As further evidence of the strength of our commitment, the ACEC Georgia Board of Directors recently voted to elevate workforce expansion well beyond the task force level by making it the new fifth pilar of the ACEC Georgia Value Proposition and Mission Statement. Our mission statement is the list of the most fundamental things we exist to do, and this step was taken for a simple reason: the future of engineering depends on it.

We can always use more people to help with our workforce expansion efforts, whether it’s contributing ideas, resources or rolling up your sleeves to do the work that needs to be done. Let us know if you’d like to get engaged (my contact info is below).

An invaluable partner in our workforce efforts has been the University of Georgia College of Engineering and we’re especially proud to highlight

in this issue a new and important leader in this effort: Dr. Alessandro Orso, the new Dean of the University of Georgia College of Engineering. Dr. Orso brings with him an impressive academic and leadership background. Prior to UGA, Orso served as a professor in the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology and as director of Georgia Tech’s Scientific Software Engineering Center. He previously served as associate dean for off-campus and special initiatives in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech from 2020 to 2025 and was interim dean of the college during the 2023¬-2024 academic year.

His genuine commitment to student success makes him an ideal leader of UGA Engineering and valued partner in tackling the workforce challenges ahead.

Our workforce challenges are big, but with leaders like Dean Orso, the dedication of our member firms, and the collective will of this industry, I’m confident that Georgia will be a leading example of how to meet the demands of the future.

As always, if you have any thoughts about how we can make Engineering Georgia better, please don’t hesitate to let me know. My cell phone is (770) 356-3769 and my email is sully@acecga.org.

GET SOCIAL SULLY@ACECGA.ORG 770-356-3769 @MICHAELLSULLY MICHAELLSULLY MICHAELLSULLIVAN

Michael L. "Sully" Sullivan President / CEO, ACEC Georgia Publisher, Engineering Georgia

NEWS BRIEFS DATA CENTERS SEEN AS ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR AUGUSTA REGION

Local economic development leaders say the growing demand for data centers presents a major opportunity for the Augusta area. Meta is investing $800 million in a 715,000-square-foot facility at Aiken’s Sage Mill East Industrial Park, slated to open in 2027, while Columbia County has filed plans for an 8-million-square-foot White Oak Technology Park to attract high-tech tenants. Though some residents have raised concerns about environmental impact and resource use, officials stress the long-term benefits, including tax revenue, infrastructure investment, and local contracting opportunities.

The Augusta region’s cyber workforce is a key advantage, supported

by Fort Gordon’s U.S. Army Cyber Command, the Georgia Cyber Training and Innovation Center, and local universities. Leaders say thriving data centers could create new job opportunities for military veterans and skilled workers, helping retain talent and strengthen the regional economy. The comments were delivered during the Sept.

4 Future Forward summit hosted by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

FLATIRONDRAGADOS SELECTS BROOKHAVEN FOR NEW U.S. HEADQUARTERS

JLL and Spear Street Capital announced that FlatironDragados, the second-largest civil engineering and construction company in the U.S., will establish its new U.S. corporate headquarters at Perimeter Summit in Brookhaven. The company will occupy 25,000 square feet on the top floor of Summit Four beginning in Summer 2026, housing its executive team at the reimagined mixed-use campus.

FlatironDragados is currently a contractor on major Atlanta mobility projects, including the Atlanta Personal Rapid Transit Solutions (APRTS) at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the State Route 400 Express Lanes. JLL’s Brooke Dewey, Adam Viente, and Alexis Vondersaar led leasing efforts for Spear Street Capital, while CBRE’s John Shlesinger and Grey McCarthy represented FlatironDragados.

ATKINSRÉALIS LAUNCHES SIMULATOR AT ITS WORLD CONGRESS

AtkinsRéalis has unveiled SIMULATOR, a suite of digital resilience planning solutions designed to help clients predict, prepare for, respond to, and recover from future disasters. Building on the awardwinning City Simulator platform, the expanded tool includes modules tailored for cities, transportation systems, seaports, airports, and critical installations. Each deployment begins with a digital twin of infrastructure systems and integrates forecasted growth trends, data from stormwater and power grids, and zoning regulations to evaluate performance under threats such as extreme weather, epidemics, and cyberattacks.

Communities nationwide are already leveraging SIMULATOR insights to shape resilience strategies and secure funding. In Atlanta, planning supported tree canopy expansion and air-conditioned bus shelters to reduce vehicle use; in North Carolina, modeling along the US-74 corridor revealed that a 20% increase in investment could prevent 80% of traffic disruptions; and in Boulder County, Colorado, analysis identified bridge hardening as the most effective measure to secure FEMA reconstruction funding. According to AtkinsRéalis leaders, SIMULATOR enables clients to transform uncertainty into actionable strategies that safeguard communities and critical infrastructure.

IGD LAUNCHES TINDALL FIELDS IN MACON-BIBB

Investment Group Development (IGD), in partnership with the Macon-Bibb County Affordable Housing Fund and the Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority, has announced Tindall Fields, a new affordable housing development in Macon-Bibb. The project will transform underutilized property into a walkable, service-connected neighborhood that promotes long-term stability for families. Plans include one renovated single-family home and 10 new modern, energy-efficient homes located near schools, transit, employment, and healthcare.

Local leaders praised the initiative as a model of public-private collaboration. “Tindall Fields is about access and opportunity,” said Natalie Bouyett, Director of the Affordable Housing Fund. IGD’s Allen Wells emphasized delivering “affordability without compromise,” while Land Bank Authority Executive Director Everett Verner highlighted the importance of reactivating strategic parcels. Mayor Lester Miller called the development a step forward in ensuring safe, affordable, and modern housing for every family in Macon-Bibb. N

engineering ga [ feature the pulse [ news briefs ]]

September | October 7

The Affordable Housing Fund is providing a $500,000 renewable line of credit to support the project and has also committed $2 million to leverage $16 million in affordable housing investment in the Historic Pleasant Hill neighborhood. Additional funding includes a $325,000 loan to Habitat for Humanity, leveraging $490,000 to build three singlefamily homes. The Land Bank Authority is providing the properties for redevelopment, continuing its mission to return blighted and underused parcels to productive community use.

Other actions included an $85 million tax-exempt bond to finance construction of 282 multifamily units above Midtown Fire Station 15, of which 86 will be affordable, and a $1.4 million grant for 14 affordable for-sale townhomes in Grove Park. Mayor Andre Dickens emphasized the city’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness, noting that Atlanta is receiving individuals from outside municipalities and underscoring broad community support for these projects.

GEORGIA APWA CELEBRATES MILESTONES AT PWX 2025

The Georgia Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) attended the annual Public Works Expo (PWX) in Chicago from August 17–20. Members networked with colleagues nationwide, participated in educational sessions, and explored the vendor showcase. Ahead of the event, Governor Brian Kemp issued a proclamation recognizing the chapter’s 75th anniversary, which was formally celebrated during the conference.

MALLAGHAN EXPANDS STEM PARTNERSHIP IN GEORGIA

Global ground support equipment manufacturer Mallaghan has expanded its partnership with the Coweta STEM Institute, returning to the summer camp at West Georgia Technical College to deliver hands-on learning for hundreds of students. The program featured Mallaghan’s American Airlines hi-lift truck and gave participants the opportunity to design and build their own model versions, providing real-world exposure to engineering and innovation.

The Georgia Chapter also received the PACE (President’s Award for Chapter Excellence) Award for the 18th time, presented by Past National President Dominick Longobardi and CEO Scott Grayson.

Additional highlights included the APWA Government Affairs Happy Hour Jam, where Chapter Secretary Adisa Aarons presented the gubernatorial proclamation, and the annual chapter dinner at Chicago’s Metropolitan Club. The group looks forward to participating in PWX 2026 in Houston.

With a factory in Newnan, Georgia, Mallaghan continues to invest in inspiring the next generation of engineers through practical, creative experiences. Leaders from both Mallaghan and the Coweta STEM Institute emphasized the value of these initiatives in sparking early interest in STEM, supporting workforce development, and showcasing career possibilities in the local community.

INVEST ATLANTA ADVANCES AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES

Invest Atlanta approved multiple funding measures to expand affordable housing during its recent board meeting. The authority authorized a $5 million acquisition loan to support Mural Real Estate Partners’ $600 million redevelopment of Greenbriar Marketplace and the Shoppes of Greenbriar. The mixed-use project will include more than 1,000 residential units — 15 percent affordable — and 250,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space, with completion of the first phase expected by 2028.

The board also approved $10.8 million in bonds to finance the $22.4 million rehabilitation of 100 senior housing units at Renaissance at Park South Place, owned by Mercy Housing. Upgrades will include new appliances, plumbing, electrical systems, and added community amenities, with renovations scheduled for completion by 2027. In addition, $3 million in funding was approved for a 112-unit affordable housing project in Mechanicsville on the site of a former homeless encampment. Thirty of the units will support Project HEAL, which provides housing and medical care for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

POND & COMPANY EXPANDS INTERNSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Pond & Company continues to invest in developing future leaders through its dynamic summer internship and philanthropic program.

Interns gained hands-on project experience using industry-leading software such as Revit and AutoCAD while also leading communityfocused initiatives. Events including a STEAM Day Basketball Fundraiser, STEAM Game Night, and Sundaes for STEAM raised funds and awareness to support local schools’ STEAM programs.

The firm also hosted the Boy Scouts of America’s STEM Academy at Georgia Tech, welcoming students to explore career opportunities in engineering and design. By combining technical training with community engagement, Pond empowers young professionals to build both their professional skills and their understanding of civic responsibility. A

engineering the pulse [ news ga [ feature briefs ]]

September | October 9

ON THE MOVE ATHENA ENGINEERING

Bethany Maddox

welcomes Bethany Maddox as Associate Engineer. Maddox is a new graduate of Georgia Tech, and her passion for water resources and transportation is a perfect fit for Athena’s growing capabilities.

BOWMAN CONSULTING

Victor Dang

has expanded its presence in the greater Atlanta area with the addition of Victor Dang as Branch Manager and Larry Becknell as Director of Civil Engineering in the firm’s Suwanee office. Together, they will lead civil engineering and surveying services for the region, supporting Bowman’s statewide network that also includes offices in Atlanta and Alpharetta.

CROY

has promoted Zach Strickland, PE, PMP to Director of Program Management. With more than a decade at the firm, Strickland has advanced from Program Coordinator to Program Manager and now to this leadership role.

He will oversee Croy’s internal program Zach Strickland management team, manage services for municipal clients, and expand the firm’s relationships across Georgia.

A graduate of Kennesaw State University with both Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional credentials, Strickland’s experience includes civil/site and transportation design, along with managing award-winning municipal projects such as the Smyrna Downtown greenspace and Windy Hill Boulevard.

LUMENOR

Sujai Veeramachaneni

10 Engineering Georgia

has appointed Sujai Veeramachaneni as Director of Ecology.

With more than 20 years of experience in ecological sciences, including his recent role as Senior Special Projects Coordinator at Georgia DOT, he will lead and expand Lumenor’s ecology services across transportation and infrastructure projects.

PES STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

welcomes Brian Adorno, PE, SE, as a Project Manager in the Atlanta office. With more than 12 years of experience in structural engineering and project leadership, Adorno Brian Adorno brings both a strong technical foundation and a well-rounded perspective to every project. His primary focus will be within the firm’s industrial sector, where he will help lead the design and delivery of manufacturing, distribution, and missioncritical facilities.

POND & COMPANY

has named Ricky L. Clark, Jr. as Client Manager for Metro Atlanta. Clark brings extensive experience in public administration, city management, and community development, most recently Ricky Clark serving as City Manager for Forest Park, where he directed more than $150 million in capital projects and advanced major infrastructure initiatives. A recognized leader across the region, Clark serves on boards including the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority and Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, and has earned numerous honors such as Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40. In his new role, he will strengthen Pond’s partnerships with local governments and help drive growth across the Southeast.

VHB

welcomes Chris Rome, PE, PTOE, RSP1, to the firm’s Atlanta office. Chris brings more than 15 years of transportation experience, with a specialization in complete streets, active transportation, urban bikeway design, pedestrian safety, and traffic Chris Rome engineering. He will be working closely with VHB’s traffic, transportation planning, and design teams in the development of multimodal projects and plans with public sector and institutional clients across Georgia, serving as a Project Manager and technical specialist. He will also be working closely with VHB’s national safety practice and active transportation specialists from across the footprint. Outside of work, Chris is interested in urban design and development, architecture, urban gardening, sustainable food systems, wilderness conservation, and leveraging data and technology to create positive change in societies.

engineering the pulse [ on gathe [ feature move ]]

TOP 5 FIVE Agility & Adaptability Resources for Engineering Leaders

In a world defined by constant change—whether in technology, global markets, or organizational structures—engineering leaders must cultivate agility and adaptability to stay effective. These resources provide actionable strategies, frameworks, and insights to help leaders thrive amid volatility.

THE AGILITY ADVANTAGE

PODCAST: THE AGILITY SHIFT

This book outlines how companies and leaders can sense and seize opportunities in rapidly changing environments. Setili provides practical tools for fostering organizational flexibility without losing focus.

Hosted by organizational agility expert Pamela Meyer, this podcast explores strategies for leaders and teams to build resilience, creativity, and adaptability in dynamic conditions.

by Amanda Setili

with Pamela Meyer

ANTIFRAGILE: THINGS THAT GAIN FROM DISORDER

by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

A foundational work for understanding how systems, organizations, and individuals can thrive not just in spite of volatility, but because of it— embracing uncertainty as an advantage.

MIT SLOAN ONLINE COURSE: “ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION”

Offered through MIT Sloan Executive Education, this course teaches leaders how to adapt structures and processes to remain resilient and agile in the face of disruption.

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW: “ADAPTABILITY: THE NEW COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE”

by Martin Reeves and Mike Deimler

This article highlights why adaptability is now more critical than efficiency for long-term success, with case studies and strategies relevant to engineering and technology leaders.

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eUpc omi ngPSCEl e c t i ons

According to the PSC’s website their purpose is to “make decisions that affect the lives of every Georgian each time a landline telephone is picked up, a light is turned on or a gas burner is used.” It goes on to say, “the [PSC’s] decisions affect how much people pay for such necessary services as their electricity, telephone and natural gas… very few governmental agencies have as much impact on peoples' lives.”

Given the utility commission’s oversight, it has authority to approve or deny electricity and natural gas rates proposals for consumers within the state and is largely in charge of the feasibility of our power and gas grids. Croy CEO Greg Teague told me that’s why “the PSC election this November is vital to our business outlook.” He continued, “dependability and reliability of our utility infrastructure is a key factor in Economic Development in Georgia. If Georgia can’t supply electricity, natural gas, and other essential services, businesses won’t come... As Engineers, our businesses depend on this economic growth to provide opportunities for our businesses to prosper.”

You may be wondering, with such significant authority, why have I not seen PSC members on my ballot during the past two elections?

Because this November, for the first time in five years, Georgians will have the opportunity to vote for two of the commissioners on the powerful utility governing board.

The Commission’s members are elected in statewide races but only represent districts—a fact that has held up elections for the members since 2022.

Pending lawsuits have canceled three years of PSC elections as a challenge to the district-based representation but at-large voting status was litigated in the courts.

with the plaintiffs that the at-large status was a violation of the Voting Rights Act. Though, in the ruling, he lamented that his decision would, in fact, cause delays. The decision was successfully appealed, and in November of 2023 the 11th Circuit ruled in favor of the status quo and stated Georgia could continue with it’s previous at-large voting system, citing the state government’s authority to make district and at-large voting decisions. However, in March of 2024, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger paused the election again, citing pending challenges to the November 2023 ruling. Finally, in January of this year, US District Court Judge William Ray, dismissed the case.

Given the long-drawn out nature of the legal battle, the state passed a law last year extending the terms of the existing commissioners and setting a new election schedule. This has afforded the District 2 & 3 Commissioners cover for serving beyond their original terms, which legally expired in 2022, and has essentially reset the terms of all remaining Commissioners.

THIS NOVEMBER, GEORGIA’S VOTERS WILL GET THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY IN FIVE YEARS TO VOTE FOR COMMISSION PRESENTATION.

The lawsuit that has resulted in these delays has had a circuitous path to resolution. In 2022, a suit challenging the legality of statewide voting for members was filed. The crux of the suit was that the statewide system discriminated against Black voters and violated the Voting Rights Act, resulting in only one Black member being elected to the Commission throughout its history. The suit argued that a district-based election would be more representative of the population any given Commissioner represents.

In August of 2022, just 3 months before that year’s election, a US District Court judge canceled the election after agreeing

Despite the fact that the last election for a member of the PSC was held in 2020, the commission’s work hasn’t been delayed or canceled like the elections have. In fact, the PSC has handled six rate increase requests since the last election, the latest one resulting in an agreement by Georgia Power to hold base rates at the same amount for the next three years. The Commission has also heard and acted upon various power agreements, many of which are the result of the proliferation of data centers popping up throughout the state.

This November, incumbents Tim Echols (who has served since 2011), and Fitz Johnson (who has served since being appointed to the PSC by Governor Brian Kemp in 2021) will be up for reelection. Mr. Echols is being challenged by Democrat Alicia Johnson while Mr. Johnson is being challenged by Democrat Peter Hubbard.

This is a very important race that affects all Georgians, as well as our industry. With no other statewide races on the ballot, turnout will be low and a relatively small number of people will decide who holds these powerful positions. That makes it even more vitally important that you to let your voice be heard this November and go vote in the PSC election. You can also have a little fun asking your friends what they think PSC stands for. A

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September | October 15

the pulse

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

Participants of ACEC Georgia’s Women in the Workforce Forum’s workshop and luncheon.

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

ACEC Georgia’s Mentorship Program end-of-program mixer.

Benefitting the Babs Abubakari Memorial Scholarship, was held August 28, 2025.

Town Center Community Executive Director, Tracy Styf, joined the Council for Quality Growth Cobb County Advisory Roundtable to share updates and lead a conversation on the future of the Town Center area.

Attendees connect and share ideas during a networking session at the 2025 SASHTO Conference.

Practical Design Partners (PDP) celebrated its 5-year anniversary with family members and friends at a Gwinnett Stripers game.

Benefitting the Babs Abubakari Memorial Scholarship, was held August 28, 2025.

Attendees network and wind down at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday Event.

Executive Director of Town Center Community, Tracy Styf, spoke at the Kennesaw Business Association’s Monthly Luncheon at Governors Gun Club, sharing updates on key projects and initiatives.

18 Engineering Georgia

the pulse

GEORGIA NUMBERS by the

7

NUMBER OF DIVISION I

college football teams in Georgia, keeping Saturdays full of spirited rivalries and packed stadiums.

74°F / 56°F TYPICAL HIGH AND LOW

average temperatures in October in Atlanta, marking the classic crisp, sweater-weather days.

364,725 HEADCOUNT ENROLLMENT

across Georgia’s 26 public universities and colleges in Fall 2024, a record high for the University System of Georgia.

60+

MORE THAN 60

The number of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites plus National Park Service sites available for outdoor recreation throughout the state.

54

YEARS the Georgia Apple

Festival has been held in Ellijay since its start in 1971, celebrating North Georgia’s apple harvest with crafts, food, and community traditions.

September | October 19

AT HOME IN ATHENS After 25 years at Georgia Tech, Alex Orso takes over UGA College of Engineering DAVID CARAVIELLO

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The Gothic churches of northern Italy and the antebellum homes of northeast Georgia are separated by nearly 5,000 miles, but Alessandro Orso was well-positioned to bridge the gap. A childhood building with Lego bricks turned into repairing appliances like irons and clothes dryers.

His father, a chemical engineer, always took pleasure in explaining how things worked. Degrees in electrical engineering and computer science followed from the oldest technical university in Milan.

And, inscrutably, it all somehow led to the Peach State. After college, Orso traveled to Georgia Tech for a post-doctorate program that was supposed to last nine months—and he stayed for 25 years. And then on July 1, the computer science expert moved to the other side of that invisible line separating Yellow Jackets from Bulldogs when he officially started in his new position as dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. N

20 Engineering Georgia

THE FACT THAT I’M A COMPUTER SCIENCE PERSON WAS PROBABLY KIND OF APPEALING TO THE HIRING COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

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September | October 21

THE WAY I SEE IT PLAYING OUT, I’D LIKE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING TO BE MORE INTEGRATED AT UGA.

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“The fact that I’m a computer science person was probably kind of appealing to the hiring committee, because I bring a different perspective,” said Orso, who goes by Alex. “The way I see it playing out, I’d like for computer science and engineering to be more integrated at UGA. I’m going to look for areas where there can be a tighter collaboration, because nowadays with AI and data science becoming so prevalent, the boundary between computer science and engineering is really disappearing.”

Indeed, Orso is different. At 56 he’s a young and energetic dean at a young and energetic engineering school, with an area of expertise that makes him well-versed on pertinent issues like cybersecurity and AI. And this is hardly a computer scientist who prefers monitors and dark rooms to personal interaction. An avid piano and guitar player, Orso is an enthusiastic conversationalist who began his UGA tenure with a listening tour—visiting with alumni, faculty, students, state legislators and others to get a feel for what the College of Engineering does well and could do better. N

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ALL THOSE ARE TYPICAL CONSTRAINTS OF AN ENTITY THAT’S GROWN SO DRAMATICALLY AS THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AT UGA.

He learned that it was enduring some growing pains. While Georgia’s College of Engineering is just 13 years old—a mere babe compared to others like Georgia Tech, whose engineering school dates from 1885—by the fall semester of 2024 it had already grown to UGA’s fourth-largest college, with 3,000 students. And while the students have come, the faculty and infrastructure at the college haven’t necessarily kept pace.

“Right there is a pressure point,” Orso said.

“We’re using some of the same processes we were using when we were smaller, and that clearly is reaching the point where we need to change something. “With so many students, classrooms have become an issue. Space for new faculty has become an issue. All those are typical constraints of an entity that’s grown so dramatically as the College of Engineering at UGA.” No question, Orso has a vision for the UGA College of Engineering, but many of those more immediate issues have to be addressed first. The good news is that he raves about the culture at Georgia, which runs deeply throughout the campus and the city of Athens, and was hailed as a strength by almost everyone he spoke with on his listening tour. And as for elevating a relatively young academic entity into something greater?

Well, he has experience doing that from his time wearing white and old gold. N

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September | October 25

HIS DEEP COMMITMENT TO INSTRUCTIONAL INNOVATION AND STUDENT SUCCESS, IMPRESSIVE RECORD IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS MAKE HIM AN IDEAL LEADER FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE COLLEGE.

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“Everybody involved is passionate,” Orso said. “The students are passionate, the faculty are passionate, the staff are passionate. You really see this when you talk to people in the college. For me, that was a reminder of the way the College of Computing at Georgia Tech was when I was there, because I lived through the whole growth from that being a single entity to having it rise up through the ranks. And really reminded me that kind of a hunger that people have, and how they really want to go and do more, and how they're open to new ideas.”

GROWTH TRAJCTORY During his more than two decades at Georgia Tech, Orso amassed a distinguished track record that included teaching, research and fundraising. He secured $11 million in philanthropic funding to establish the Scientific Software Engineering Center, which works to improve software development and train new engineers. He successfully advocated for the addition of an online master’s program in computer science. His research attracted funding from the likes of IBM and Microsoft.

“Dr. Orso demonstrates a compelling vision for advancing excellence in the College of Engineering,” S. Jack Hu, UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, said when Orso was selected dean in February. “His deep commitment to instructional innovation and student success, impressive record in research and innovative approaches to building partnerships make him an ideal leader for the next phase of the college.”

Orso will admit, he hears lots of jokes from colleagues in Athens about the fact that he came from Georgia Tech. Were he a football coach, his every move would be scrutinized from Sanford Stadium to Hancock Avenue. But if there is a rivalry between the engineering colleges at UGA and Georgia Tech, Orso believes his background in computer science allows him to remain above the fray.

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September | October 27

IF THERE WAS A RIVALRY AT SOME POINT, NOW EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS AND REALIZES THAT WE'RE MUCH STRONGER IF WE WORK TOGETHER.

“I never had to hide it,” he says of his 25 years on Tech Parkway. “If there was a rivalry at some point, now everybody understands and realizes that we're much stronger if we work together. There's more than enough for everybody, so we don't have to necessarily compete for students. “We know that Georgia and the U.S. need more of the engineers we can produce. Really, anything we can do to kind of come together and do more in terms of graduating engineers that satisfy the needs of the workforce is better for Georgia and the U.S.” In fact, Orso in September was slated to meet with the deans of the other three engineering colleges in the Peach State—at Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State and Georgia Southern—to discuss how could they collaborate in furthering engineering education in Georgia. “On the field, it’s a different story,” Orso said. “But when sports are not involved, I think we can all work together.”

And in fairness, those 25 years at Georgia Tech were what made Orso the researcher and academic leader he is today. When he first joined the institute’s College of Computing, “it was a very different entity,” he said, from the powerhouse program it was when he left. Orso was among those who helped set it on that growth trajectory, an experience similar to what he underwent with the Scientific Software Engineering Center, which he essentially started from scratch.

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September | October 29

In 2023, Orso was named interim dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Computing when his predecessor left to become provost at the University of Wisconsin. If there was a singular moment that truly set him on the path from Atlanta to Athens, that was it. “I got the bug,” Orso said. “I realized how much you can do as a dean. To be in a position where you can actually listen to students and faculty members, and observe all these things that you would like to change, that was invigorating. I really loved that aspect of the job.”

Once Georgia Tech selected its full-time dean in the spring of 2024, Orso began to keep an eye out for similar positions.

When former UGA College of Engineering dean Donald Leo left to become executive vice president and provost at Ohio University, one of Orso’s mentors at Georgia Tech nominated him for the job. Orso began researching UGA and its College of Engineering, and the more he learned, the more he wanted the position. Even his wife could tell when he returned home from his interview.

“Oh,” she told him, “you liked it.”

Indeed he did, and that feeling has only intensified since Orso officially started on July 1. Yes, as of late summer he was living in a kind of bachelor pad with a treadmill in the garage and his wife and children yet to move over from Atlanta. But he loves the feeling of community that comes with being in a college town, loves UGA’s land-grant mission, loves the breadth of a university that teaches so much beside hard science.

“It was really refreshing to meet with the other deans and not just talk about technical stuff,” he said. “There are philosophers, there are people from the School of Medicine.

That was a big motivator, because I’m a big believer in students being exposed to an intellectual diversity. You’re not just talking to engineers, but philosophers or somebody in the veterinary school. I think it results in students being much more well-rounded than they would be otherwise.”

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TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY LISTEN TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS, AND OBSERVE ALL THESE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE, THAT WAS INVIGORATING.

DISTINGUISHING FACTORS He had to pause, rewind, and turn on the closed captioning, but there it was in black and white letters on the screen.

“I know your background,” one character told another in a season two episode of the Apple TV+ series “Silo,” about a dystopian community existing in a huge underground silo. “You got a master’s in engineering at the University of Georgia.”

Orso, who had been preparing dinner with the program streaming in the background, was dumbstruck. This wasn’t one of the many film and TV productions made in Georgia—“Silo” is filmed around London. He snapped a photo and posted it to LinkedIn, the words surrounded by a red circle. “I’m here two months, we’re already on a TV show. My work here is done,” he said with a laugh.

Of course, it’s not that simple. There’s the matter of addressing the infrastructure challenges of a College of Engineering that’s grown from 400 students to 3,000 over the past 13 years. “In order to get to the next level, we have to address the growing pains,” Orso said. He also wants UGA to differentiate itself from other engineering programs in both the state and the nation. How does it do that?

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September | October 31

LET'S IDENTIFY ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES, GROUND THE CHALLENGE INTO SOME LOCAL PROBLEM, AND DEFINE THAT AS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE

“Let's identify one of the big challenges, ground the challenge into some local problem, and define that as one of the initiatives that we're going to pursue,” he said. “Under that umbrella, we can do a lot of in terms of education and research. We can have like a story that we can tell our donors and so on.

So I think at a high level, that’s the right way to go.

Identify some big problem, go after this big problem, and become the best at solving this problem.”

Orso’s own background can certainly facilitate in that quest, given how prominent the issues of software reliability and security have become in today’s society. He also wants to integrate AI into the curriculum. “I don't think anybody has figured it out yet, really, so everybody's trying,” he said.

“I talk to other deans at other institutions, and they’re experimenting with one thing or another, but still trying to figure out. So I think that can be a distinguishing factor.”

There’s been a lot to take in since he started the job on July 1, and a lot of basic blocking and tackling that has to be undertaken before Orso can truly begin shaping UGA engineering to meet his vision. But no doubt, this former Yellow Jacket is comfortable in his new home. He’s been swept up in what he calls “the love UGA factor,” or the feeling of community so present around campus, showing off his new red and black ties and coffee mugs on LinkedIn. An Italian who grew up near the F1 track in Monza even took a spin in a racecar built by UGA Motorsports.

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TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY LISTEN TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS, AND OBSERVE ALL THESE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE, THAT WAS INVIGORATING.

While they share similar academic missions, Georgia Tech and UGA are as different as the cities they call home—the former was founded as a technology school, the latter as a land-grant college. After so long at one, Orso is relishing his first steps at the other. Working at such a broad-based university has clearly been an invigorating experience so far for the new dean, who believes it helps build more well-rounded engineers in the process.

“Every time I talk to employers, they say one of the things they like is that our students can talk to people. As simple as that might sound, it is the stigma of the engineer of the computer scientists—they're great technically, but they cannot really interact with other people, or they're not as good as they could be interacting with other people. And once upon a time, that was enough,” Orso said.

“Nowadays, more and more I get the feedback that we need engineers who also have to understand the business side of things. Because when you make design decisions, you have to understand there are business implications and cost implications for that. We need engineers to be able to talk to customers, both to understand what they need and to explain what they're planning to do. And I'm always very happy when I hear from employers that they say our students actually fit the bill.”

Orso was even enamored by the wording in UGA’s strategic plan, which states that the university “is committed to the people of the state of Georgia and to addressing the grand challenges of our time on a national and global scale.”

You’d think the new engineering dean had been wearing silver britches all along.

“I love that. It really resonated with me,” he said. “I am not from Georgia, clearly, but I’ve lived almost half of my life here. Serving Georgia and the U.S., it’s the right thing to do, it’s the right mission for a university. There’s such passion around the university, it’s hard to not be affected by it.” A

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September | October 35

10 QUESTIONS WITH ALEX ORSO The New UGA Engineering Dean

DAVID CARAVIELLO

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After more than two decades at Georgia Tech, Dr. Alessandro “Alex” Orso traded his white and old gold for red and back in becoming the new dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. Orso answered 10 questions from Engineering Georgia ranging from his native Italy to the future of engineering, with responses edited for clarity and brevity.

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EG: WHAT’S YOUR HOMETOWN, AND HOW DID IT SHAPE YOU? ORSO: I would say I'm from Milan. But if you ask my wife, she'll say I'm not from Milan. I was born in a small town close to Milan, of like 25,000 people. The reason I was there was because both my parents were working at IT-related companies, because there were a bunch of those companies around that area. It used to be a very rural town, and then it became much more industrialized. So that's the reason why I grew up there.

I was surrounded by IT companies, despite the fact that I was in a in a rural area.

EG: WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE UNITED STATES? ORSO:

Curiosity. I've always been a very curious person, and I’ve always liked new things. At the point I was getting my Ph.D., engineering in Italy was so hot that you were getting approached by companies one year from graduation, sometimes two years from graduation. So I had plenty of opportunities. I was trying to figure out, should I do research? Should I go work for a company? The opportunity came in the U.S. for a postdoc, and I said, ‘Well, let's see how that works.’

I came to Atlanta to stay nine months, and 25 years later, here I am. So it worked out.

EG: WAS THERE ANY PARTICULARLY MENTOR OR PERSON WHO INFLUENCED YOU COMING UP? ORSO: I had plenty. I feel like I've always had a

mentor, even in elementary school. My elementary school teacher played a big role in my life. She was very energetic. She really kind of woke me up. I was very timid, shy, and she really woke me up. She really had a big influence on my personality. No matter where I was, I always identified multiple people who were my mentors. And the more you get older and progress in your career, the more the mentorship becomes almost like a peer-to-peer. One of the recommendations I always make is, get your network, find your mentor.

Because you're going to have tons of situations in which you don't know exactly how to proceed. And finding somebody you trust can help. N

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EG: WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED IN YOUR CAREER?

EG: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

ORSO: I think probably creating the Scientific Software

Engineering Center at Georgia Tech was one of my biggest ones. It was the typical situation of, be careful what you wish for. We submitted the proposal, we got a considerable amount of funding, and we were starting from scratch with no idea how to build a center. I was very well-trained in hiring faculty members, but hiring real-world software engineers, not as much. The beginning was a really trial and error in many ways. But I found the right team, and everything worked out perfectly.

EG: WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR TIME AT GEORGIA TECH?

ORSO:

I like to run when I when I can. Georgia in the summer is hot and humid, so I ended up getting a treadmill, which is now in the garage. So I like to run, and I really like to play music. I play a little bit of piano, guitar. I torment my family with my with my music. First thing I do when I come home on Friday night, I sit in front of the piano and I play the piano. I just love that. And of course, it goes without saying that I like spending time with my family. That's a given.

EG: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT ATHENS? ORSO: Regretfully, I haven't had too much of a chance to

ORSO:

explore Athens. My family is still in Atlanta, so I basically have this bachelor pad. I go to work in the morning, I go back, I work after dinner. But the first weekend I was here, my kids came, so we explored a bit. It's great. It reminds me a little bit of my hometown—the feel of a small place with local restaurants, the farmer’s market, a really nice atmosphere. I'll be able to answer better in probably in a year or so, but right now, I really like the way that the city is.

EG: FAVORITE RECENT BOOK THAT YOU'VE READ?

EG: WHAT MOST EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERING?

The center is definitely up there, but students become like your kids. I'm very proud of the students that I graduated and who went on to have their own careers. Every time I see them publish papers, or graduate students on their own and realize I'm an academic grandfather, it’s great.

ORSO:

I read plenty, and one book that keeps coming up in conversation that I have with people is Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. That book really resonated with me, because as I was reading it, I was recognizing a lot of things that were happening to me. It's rare that you read a book and you can place whatever you're reading and say, ‘Oh yeah, that's why that thing happened.’ It also really affected the way in which I do some of the things that I do.

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ORSO: I think the fact that it's unknown. I'm not saying that engineering was ever completely stable. Engineering evolved. But I feel right now it's such a rapidly changing field, that it’s very exciting to think about what it could be. That’s it to me, finding out what’s around the corner. With all the changes that are occurring in technology, what's going to be

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next? How can we be part of that? And also the fact that engineering is a more traditional discipline, and you can really help people with engineering. There's a lot, pretty much, wherever you look.

EG: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN STUDYING ENGINEERING OR PURSUING IT AS A CAREER? ORSO:

Come to UGA! Actually, it goes without saying, learn the fundamentals. To become a strong engineer, you have to learn your statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, all the basics. But try to be broad.

Try to go beyond the pure technical skills. At UGA, there's a whole world around it. Get involved with clubs, organizations, do something for the community. I think that's really going to make a difference in your college experience. I’m also a strong believer in abroad experiences, and how they give you some exposure to the world. So I would say come to UGA, learn the fundamentals, and if you have an opportunity to do study abroad, do it. A

September | October 39

WEATHERING THE FUTURE Preparing Georgia’s Infrastructure for Hurricane & Storm Season

BRETT HILLESHEIM

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Every autumn, Georgia slips into a season of contrast. The air cools, the leaves blaze red and gold across the hills, and football stadiums swell with fans on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. Yet alongside this beauty comes volatility. Fall is also hurricane season, and with it the threat of storms that test the limits of Georgia’s infrastructure. Roads, power grids, coastal dunes, and water systems are all thrust into the spotlight when the winds rise and the rain falls. For the engineers who design, maintain, and modernize these systems, the question is no longer how to repair what storms break, but how to build with resilience at the core. N

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THE QUESTION IS NO LONGER HOW TO REPAIR WHAT STORMS BREAK, BUT HOW TO BUILD WITH RESILIENCE AT THE CORE.

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WHEN STORM CLOUDS GATHER ON THE GEORGIA COAST, ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE DISPLAYS OF INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE KICKS INTO ACTION: THE CONTRAFLOW PLAN FOR INTERSTATE 16.

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That question has never been more urgent. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ most recent Report Card for Georgia’s Infrastructure gave the state a C+ overall. The grade was middling, but it tells a nuanced story. Bridges have improved dramatically over the past decade, with nearly 98 percent now rated fair or good compared to just 78 percent in 2013. The state’s ports earned some of the highest marks, buoyed by record investments and careful planning.

But stormwater systems remain stressed, transit options remain thin, and many water systems are still catching up to today’s demands. As ASCE concluded, Georgia has made important progress, but long-term resilience is uneven and underfunded.

WHEN ROADS BECOME LIFELINES When storm clouds gather on the Georgia coast, one of the most remarkable displays of infrastructure resilience kicks into action: the contraflow plan for Interstate 16. In a mandatory evacuation, GDOT reverses the eastbound lanes from Savannah to U.S. 441 in Dublin, so that all lanes travel west toward safety, creating a one-way lifeline stretching approximately 125 miles.

The logistics are complex and precise. During a contraflow operation, GDOT halts construction where possible—even reopening some previously closed lanes unless the roadway is structurally impassable, such as during concrete slab replacements. Ramps feeding into I-16 eastbound from I-95 are closed; median crossovers allow traffic to move from the normal west-bound lanes into the contraflow lanes.

One crossover near the I-95 interchange—a double-lane crossover built for greater capacity—helps manage the swell of vehicles.

Jill Nagel, a GDOT spokesperson, explains the mindset behind the operation, saying, “Everyone knows their role, and getting people out safely.” She adds that times when construction “replacing concrete slabs” is underway are rare during evacuation orders; otherwise, GDOT works to remove lane closures to permit maximal traffic flow.

Authorities coordinate closely across agencies. GDOT coordinates with Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security (GEMA/HS), local law enforcement, and other agencies to stage road patrols, set up changeable message signs, and manage ramp gate closures.

Ahead of contraflow, GDOT ensures median crossovers are functional—these allow drivers to shift from eastbound ramps into the reversed lanes. After U.S. 441 in Dublin, traffic returns to normal directional flow. N

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GDOT SAYS CONTRAFLOW IS ONLY ACTIVATED WHEN THE SITUATION DEMANDS IT. GDOT says contraflow is only activated when the situation demands it. The Governor must issue an executive order, declaring a State of Emergency, and mandating evacuation. Preparations include pre-staging equipment, setting up signage and gates, and ensuring that emergency and law enforcement teams are in place to respond quickly to incidents along the route.

Timing is critical. GDOT generally initiates contraflow during daylight hours to ensure visibility and safety. Before activation, crews inspect the length of interstate to confirm no major obstructions, and ensure crossovers, gates, and signage are ready.

Roadside assets like HERO units and CHAMP operators are deployed to assist motorists, clear debris or disabled vehicles, and provide real-time information through message boards and 511 travel info services.

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The last few evacuations using contraflow—for storms like Irma in 2017 and earlier events—offered learning experiences. Officials took note of traffic surge, timing of ramp closures, communications, and public responsiveness. Each iteration of the plan is refined based on after action reports.

In Georgia, roads really can become lifelines. Through careful planning, cross-agency coordination, and decades of experience, GDOT’s contraflow operations offer both physical escape routes and reassurance that when storms threaten, engineered systems can deliver safety.

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SMART-GRID TECHNOLOGIES AND AUTOMATED SYSTEMS HELPED REDUCE THE BREADTH AND DURATION OF OUTAGES.

KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON Georgia Power’s hardest test came in the fall of 2024, when Hurricane Helene struck with force. It wasn’t just wind and rain— it was thousands of damaged components in the electric system.

The storm left 5,000+ power poles in need of repair or replacement, 9,000+ wire spans (equivalent to about 425 miles of wire), 500+ transformers damaged, and 1,500+ trees down on power lines.

The scale of outages was massive. Over 1.3 million Georgia Power customers were impacted, and by early October the company had restored service to more than 95% of those affected. In the areas most severely hit—Augusta, Savannah, Valdosta—restoration lagged behind but crews worked relentlessly. Kim Greene, Georgia Power’s chairman, president, and CEO, praised the response force,

saying, “We have matched the devastation of Hurricane Helene with an army of thousands of lineworkers… who continue to work through fallen trees and miles of broken power poles and downed lines to bring light back to Georgia homes and businesses.”

Yet, even amidst destruction, some of the newer upgrades in the grid made a clear difference. While not every section of the infrastructure could avoid damage, smart-grid technologies and automated systems helped reduce the breadth and duration of outages.

Georgia Power reports that more than 70% of its distribution grid now incorporates what the company describes as “self-healing” or automated devices capable of detecting faults and rerouting power around them. Those capacities prevented nearly 94 million outage minutes over the past year—minutes that, in many cases, might have meant days without power for customers. N

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These improvements are part of a broader resilience strategy pushed forward with both state and federal support. In October 2024, Georgia Power secured a $160 million federal grant from the Department of Energy under its Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program. The funds are earmarked for transmission line upgrades, integrating grid-enhancing technologies like dynamic line rating, and preparing for extreme weather while supporting renewable energy integration. The company also matched that grant with local investment, showing a shared commitment to these upgrades.

The aftermath of Helene also provided learning opportunities and exposed remaining vulnerabilities.

In some areas, damage was so extensive that Georgia Power personnel described to media outlets how they effectively had to rebuild sections of the grid rather than simply making repair patches. Managerial coordination, pre-positioned crews, automated outage maps, and digital communication with customers (through apps and estimated restoration times) all played roles in speeding recovery.

One illustrative quote comes from the company’s description of its work: “This rapid response has been possible through the implementation of new ‘smart grid’ technologies and the quick work of pre-positioned teams who were ready to respond as soon as conditions were safe to do so.”

Storms like Helene make clear: having power restored quickly isn’t simply about comfort—it’s about safety, commerce, health, emergency services, and community stability. It’s about refrigeration, medical equipment, traffic signals, water treatment—all systems that depend on reliable electricity.

The investment of $160 million is not just money spent, but engineering decisions baked into every line and pole. It reflects recognition that the grid must do more than handle ordinary demand. It must be ready for the extraordinary. It must bend, reroute, heal. N

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THE INVESTMENT OF $160 MILLION IS NOT JUST MONEY SPENT, BUT ENGINEERING DECISIONS BAKED INTO EVERY LINE AND POLE. engineering ga [ feature ]

September | October 47

THE PORT OF SAVANNAH, NOW THE FASTESTGROWING CONTAINER TERMINAL IN THE COUNTRY. 48 Engineering Georgia

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NATURE, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE FUTURE OF RESILIENCE Nowhere is the tension between human settlement and natural force more visible than along Georgia’s coast.

On Tybee Island, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local leaders have for decades partnered on the Shore Protection Project, a recurring cycle of beach renourishment and dune restoration. Every few years, sand is dredged and pumped back onto the beach, dunes are sculpted, and grasses are planted to anchor the fragile barrier. These efforts are not cosmetic. They are engineered buffers designed to absorb wave energy and storm surge before it can reach homes, roads, and utilities. The next dune reinforcement is scheduled for 2027, part of a long arc of planning that accepts storms as inevitable but refuses to accept devastation as the outcome.

Inland, the challenges look different but are no less pressing. Heavy rains can overwhelm creeks, rivers, and drainage systems, flooding neighborhoods and damaging property. Engineers are responding with larger culverts, expanded detention basins, and increasingly with green infrastructure—bioswales that slow runoff, permeable pavements that let water seep into the ground, and rain gardens that turn stormwater into an asset rather than a threat. Yet ASCE’s report makes clear that stormwater systems remain underfunded. Progress is visible, but investment has not kept pace with need, leaving many communities vulnerable to the kind of flooding that rarely makes national headlines but wreaks havoc on daily life.

Georgia’s ports tell a more optimistic story. The Port of Savannah, now the fastest-growing container terminal in the country, is critical to both the state and national economy. Any disruption ripples far beyond the coastline.

Recognizing this, the Georgia Ports Authority has committed $4.5 billion in capital investments over the next decade. Higher elevation terminals, redundant power supplies, and hardened facilities are all part of the strategy. In the 2024 Report Card, ports earned the state’s highest grades, a testament to both foresight and the recognition that resilience is inseparable from economic competitiveness. N

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ACROSS EVERY SECTOR, TECHNOLOGY IS INCREASINGLY THE THREAD WEAVING RESILIENCE TOGETHER. 50 Engineering Georgia

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Across every sector, technology is increasingly the thread weaving resilience together. Sensors embedded in highways and bridges, drones inspecting power lines and coastal dunes, and real-time control systems in water utilities allow for faster detection and response. Georgia Power emphasizes this shift, noting that “the company is investing in technology to increase automation and control, providing more reliable service to customers during storms.” It is resilience measured not only in tons of concrete but in lines of code.

Still, infrastructure alone cannot carry the burden.

Public awareness and community preparation are essential. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency urges residents to know their evacuation zones, prepare three-day kits, and stay informed during storm season. Engineers can design the safest possible evacuation routes and the most resilient grids, but those designs succeed only if the public understands and uses them. N

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As the state looks ahead, the choices are stark.

Resilience cannot be achieved through emergency repairs alone. It requires stable funding that supports lifecycle upgrades, not just post-disaster patchwork.

It requires blending nature-based solutions with traditional engineering, letting wetlands and dunes work alongside levees and seawalls. It requires coordination across agencies, from GDOT to GEMA to utilities, so that every system functions as part of a larger whole. Most of all, it requires a shift in mindset— from reacting to disasters to preparing for them.

Fall in Georgia will always bring its dual face: the beauty of cool mornings and fiery leaves, and the looming threat of storms gathering offshore. But resilience is not a passive hope; it is an active choice.

In the contraflow lanes of I-16, in the smart switches of Georgia Power’s grid, in the renourished dunes of Tybee Island, and in the upgraded stormwater basins of inland towns, that choice is already being made.

As Mayor Andre Dickens put it recently, “This is not just about building structures. It’s about building confidence, stability, and opportunity for the future.”

The storms are coming. But Georgia’s engineers— through foresight, innovation, and unrelenting effort—are ensuring that the state will face them not with fear, but with strength. A

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IT’S ABOUT BUILDING CONFIDENCE, STABILITY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE. engineering ga [ feature ]

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DARREN MICKLER PELS Boards Executive Director www.sos.ga.gov

ARE SEALS AND SIGNATURES ON ENGINEERING DOCUMENTS BECOMING OBSOLETE? We are in the midst of a technical revolution rivaling the personal computer and the internet in scale. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into daily life — from assisting with schoolwork to recommending entertainment, and even powering self-driving vehicles. The customer service experience has also been transformed. AI is everywhere, and we are only scratching the surface of how it will change the way we live, work, and play.

CASE STUDY: UNSANCTIONED SEAL FORGERY During an investigation by the Georgia Board into the improper use of a professional engineer’s seal on a set of drawings, investigators discovered that a contractor had purchased plans from a company called Fiverr. Fiverr is one of several offshore platforms connecting freelance professionals with clients. The problem is that no guidelines or safety procedures exist to ensure that these freelancers possess the necessary skill, training, experience, or certifications for such technical services.

In this case, the contractor obtained a set of plans that appeared to be signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer. When submitted to the local building department, the inspector noticed the absence of Certificate of Authority (COA) information — a requirement under Georgia Board rules. Upon investigation, the engineer whose seal appeared on the plans confirmed that he had neither created the drawings nor signed them.

Further inquiry suggested that the seal and signature had been generated using ChatGPT, a generative AI platform capable of creating human-like text, analyzing information, and even generating images or documents. This incident illustrates how AI can be misused to produce professional-looking deliverables that are, in fact, fraudulent.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES While the unsanctioned use of the seal was concerning on its own, the ease with which this could now occur highlights a broader reality: AI is changing how professional services are delivered and certified. In another state, a similar incident involved a 10-page structural drawing purchased online for a fraction of the usual cost. The signature and seal

were forgeries, and an initial review revealed that several structural components did not meet minimum load requirements. A deeper investigation determined that the entire drawing had been generated

by ChatGPT. If not for the diligence of the building department and the missing COA, these plans could have been implemented, potentially leading to disastrous consequences.

Even more strikingly, AI tools now allow users to generate property surveys. In a personal test, I asked ChatGPT to create a survey of my home. Within minutes, I received a downloadable PDF with a title block and property layout. A disclaimer indicated it was not a legal survey and that a professional surveyor’s involvement was still required.

PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY AI will continue to be used responsibly by engineers and surveyors to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility. However, the potential for misuse underscores the importance of maintaining professional oversight. Licensed professionals must continue to supervise, certify, and deliver quality products to protect public safety.

The same technologies that enable the creation of near-indistinguishable AI-generated deliverables may also provide tools for verifying authenticity. Digital verification, blockchain, and other security measures could ensure that seals, signatures, and certifications remain trustworthy. There are also less technically advanced methods to ensure authenticity of documents. Verify licensed professional as well as their company information. Request supporting documentation, including original plans or surveys, and certification letters from the licensee. Finally, direct communication with contact information found on the State Licensing Board website.

CONCLUSION The question is no longer whether AI will impact professional engineering services — it already has. The challenge for regulators, engineers, and surveyors is to adapt verification processes to preserve public safety and professional integrity in an AI-driven world. By embracing these technologies responsibly, we can harness their potential while safeguarding the built environment.

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LOOKING AHEAD: UPCOMING EVENTS ANITA ATKINSON, P.E., F.ASCE

NOVEMBER 12–13, 2025 Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls Workshop

Patterson & Dewar Engineers, Inc. ASCE Georgia President www.ascega.org

National ASCE workshop covering fill properties and best practices for design details.

IN REVIEW: RECENT HIGHLIGHTS Geo-Institute Field Meeting at Centennial Yards (September 16, 2025) The Georgia Section Geo-Institute hosted a field meeting at Centennial Yards Substation (487 Magnolia Street) where members toured the facility and discussed electrical infrastructure resilience and implications for future grid modernization. collaborate.asce.org

NOVEMBER 17–18, 2025 Design of Metal Building Systems Seminar

SEI Georgia Chapter September Meeting at Georgia Tech (September 11, 2025) The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Georgia Chapter’s regular September meeting took place at Georgia Tech’s Mason Building (#2228). Attendees engaged in technical presentations on structural and architectural updates as well as networking.

In-depth course for engineers to understand design considerations for metal building systems.

NOVEMBER 19, 2025 (6:00 PM) Geo-Institute Annual Fall Student Poster Symposium

MEMBER CORNER & NEWS • Awards Gala: The Georgia ASCE Annual Awards Banquet and Gala was held in late August; many members were honored. Congratulations to all awardees! Photos and profiles are up on the ASCE Georgia website. ascega.org • Younger Member Sponsorship: The 2025-2026 Annual Georgia Section Younger Member Group Sponsorship drive is underway. If your firm or organization is interested, check the ASCE GA website for details. collaborate.asce.org

Georgia ASCE Geo-Institute will host this poster session showcasing student work in geotechnical and environmental engineering.

DECEMBER 3–4, 2025 Two-Dimensional Modeling Using HEC-RAS

GET INVOLVED • Serve as a judge or session moderator for the Fall Poster Symposium (Nov 19). Great way for seasoned members to mentor students.

• Volunteer for ASCE-GA’s outreach programs focusing on resilience and infrastructure awareness in local schools.

• Consider enrolling in one of the technical workshops this November & December to stay current with design standards and modeling tools.

Advanced modeling workshop on floodplain and hydrologic/hydraulic modeling using HEC-RAS.

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September | October 57

SARAH BLACKBURN, PE Gresham Smith ASHE Georgia President www.georgia.ashe.pro

RECAP OF JULY HAPPY HOUR The July Happy Hour was held at Variant Brewing on July 17th. It was a great chance to unwind and to network with your favorite industry peers.

Thank you to all who came out!

RECAP OF ANNUAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT We held our annual bowling tournament on August 29th. Thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers for making the event another huge success! A big congratulations to all division champions!

Interstate Division: Parsons Highway Division: NV5 Local Roads Division: STV Driveway Division: HDR

UPCOMING EVENTS: • Transportation Summit Happy Hour • Holiday Social

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association [ news ]

MIHYEON [CHRISTY] JEON, PH.D., PE, PTOE, AICP, ENV SP AtkinsRéalis Georgia Section ITE President www.gaite.org

2025 SUMMER SEMINAR Our signature annual conference in St. Simons, GA with robust technical program and family friendly events. Pictured: Jared Wall (Conference chair), Christy Jeon (President), and Andrew Park (Technical Program Chair)

2025 ITE ANNUAL MEETING Georgia ITE received the 2025 Outstanding Section Award at the ITE International Conference in Orlando! This award is due to the unstinting efforts of all our volunteers and the programs that were developed over many years of hard work and dedication. Christy and Sam accepted the award on behalf of the Section.

GAITE & FRIENDS YOUNG MEMBERS KICKBALL TOURNAMENT STUDENT CHAPTERS VIRTUAL SPEED NETWORKING 2025 AUGUST MONTHLY MEETING

This inaugural event was so productive (and so much fun) where students around Georgia were able to interact with a diverse group of transportation professionals representing different fields and companies!

ANDREW FARMER, PE Gresham Smith GEF Secretary andrew.farmer@greshamsmith.com www.gefinc.org

GEF SCHOLARSHIP SEASON IS UPON US! GEF dates back to 1971, when the presidents of fifteen Georgia Engineering societies met to discuss forming a non-profit, tax-exempt organization to improve engineering education and the image of the engineer in Georgia.

For nearly 55 years, the Georgia Engineering Foundation has sponsored a program that awards college scholarships to worthy Georgia students who are preparing for a career in engineering or engineering technology.

Thanks to Gary Seibert, PE and our other dedicated volunteers at GEF, we were able to redesign our online scholarships applications at www.GEFinc. org. This redesign should improve the student’s application experience and make the overall process smoother for everyone!

Perhaps you know a current engineering intern or student who would like to apply for one of our 50 available scholarships for 2026. Please let them know that our online scholarship applications for 2025-2026 will open on September 15, 2025, and close on October 31, 2025.

Scholarship winners will be presented with their awards in person at their schools in Spring of 2026.

GEF is currently looking for volunteers and donors to help carry out our mission. We need volunteers to help with the second phase of our application process by interviewing scholarship candidates later this year. Volunteering provides a great opportunity to give back to the future generation of engineering in Georgia and to stay involved with your Georgia based alma maters. Get involved today!

THE GEORGIA ENGINEERING FOUNDATION IS A 100% VOLUNTEER 501(3)C ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF A WIDE RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETIES THAT HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT A COMMON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND PROMOTE STEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS FROM GEORGIA

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AUSTIN DUEHR, PE GSPE President www.gspe.org

MESSAGE FROM THE GSPE BOARD PRESIDENT GSPE is excited to be bringing back monthly regional meetings, giving engineers more chances to connect locally. We’re also preparing for the Georgia Engineering Awards—applications are now open, and we encourage nominations to showcase excellence in our profession.

Finally, we recently hosted the New PE Recognition Event sponsored by CRB, celebrating Georgia’s newest Professional Engineers and their achievements. Thank you to everyone who joined us in honoring this important milestone.

PDH DAY 2025: 8 HOURS OF PDH IN ONE FUN DAY! The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers invites you to join us for Professional Development Hours (PDH) Day, Friday, December 5, 2025, at Georgia Tech’s Exhibition Hall.

This one-day conference is designed for licensed engineers across all disciplines to earn up to 8 PDHs while engaging with timely topics, including The Impact of Data Centers on our Electrical Grid (Tim Echols) and Engineering Ethics (Bill Womack and Cyril Okhio).

Make plans now to join your peers for a day of learning, connections, and professional development.

PDH DAY 2025 AT-A-GLANCE DATE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2025 LOCATION: GEORGIA TECH EXHIBITION HALL, ATLANTA, GA REGISTER: GSPE.ORG/PDH-DAY

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Facebook.com/gspeorg

Linkedin.com/company/Georgia-society-of-professional-engineers

www.youtube.com/GSPEng

TO LEARN MORE VISIT GSPE.ORG | TO JOIN VISIT NSPE.ORG/MEMBERSHIP/JOIN-NOW association [ news ]

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MATT GLASSER, PE Arcadis ITS Georgia President president@itsga.org www.itsga.org

MATT GLASSER AND MIKE HOLT ACCEPT THE OUTSTANDING STATE CHAPTER AWARD FROM ITS AMERICA CEO LAURA CHACE

ITSGA TAKES HOME OUTSTANDING STATE CHAPTER AWARD The Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia (ITS Georgia) has been selected by ITS America’s as the Division I “Outstanding State Chapter” for 2025. The announcement was made during the ITS World Congress Convention in Atlanta, Ga. Matt Glasser, ITSGA Chapter President since 2023, was on hand to accept the award alongside Mike Holt, who serves as the state chapter rep and liaison between ITSGA and ITS America.

The Outstanding Chapter Award is presented to an ITS chapter with a strong and engaging chapter governance; significant impact via networking, outreach and advocacy; and effective organizational and professional development. ITS Georgia has received multiple awards from ITS America in recent years and was last named Outstanding State Chapter in 2023.

ITS America selected ITSGA due to our strong focus on providing educational and networking opportunities to our membership, our volunteer participation in STEM-focused activities, and our collaboration with student chapters at local universities. Our chapter’s 2024 annual meeting welcomed over 180 professionals, dozens of sponsors and exhibitors and featured a dynamic technical program. Our monthly meetings focus on ITS deployments, new technologies, and programmatic approaches to solving the

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transportation puzzle; and routinely are attending by 80+ participants. ITSGA also offers annual training opportunities, allowing participants to dig into content with technical experts and grow their skill set.

“This award reflects the dedication of our members and partners, whose commitment to innovation and collaboration continues to advance transportation in Georgia and beyond,” Matt says. “This recognition inspires us to continue leading with passion and purpose.”

CATCHUP ON OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS ON YOUTUBE All of ITS Georgia’s technical content is loaded onto our YouTube channel (youtube.com/@ITSGeorgia).

If you are unable to attend a meeting, we hope you are able to find time to join us after the fact to catch up on the exciting content that you missed! Remote options are always available if you cannot attend in person but want to catch our meetings live!

JOIN US FOR THE BEST OF ITSGA AWARDS IN NOVEMBER! Award season is officially upon us and ITSGA will be hosting our annual Best of ITSGA Awards in November at the Cumberland Maggiano’s. Our Best of ITSGA Awards Banquet is a great way to learn about some of the unique projects and implementations that have occurred throughout the state in 2025 over some good food and with some great friends. Registration is open and more information can be found at itsga.org.

We hope to see you all there in November to celebrate the successes of our peers and announce the results of our ongoing elections for our executive committee and four board seats!

association [ news ]

THE 2026 ITS SOUTHEAST SUMMIT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! The 2026 ITS Southeast Summit will be hosted in Charlotte, North Carolina in March of 2026. The Summit will bring together five ITS State Chapters, including ITSGA, to share project updates, facilitate connections between peers, and build upon deep rooted relationships throughout the southeast. Sponsorship opportunities of all ranges are still available and can be found at seitssummit.com. Volunteer opportunities are still available as well if you or members of your staff would like to contribute. Reach out to info@itsga.org to learn more information and get connected with the conference planning. Be sure to keep an eye out for registration related e-blasts over the next few months as we gear up to head to North Carolina in March!

EVENT RECAP

CHRIS LYTLE Uzun & Case Engineers, LLC SEAOG President www.seaog.org

Summer Social The annual tradition continues – For this year’s Summer Social, SEAOG members gathered for camaraderie and a tour of the new Thomas A Fanning Student Athlete Performance Center at Georgia Tech. We were able to walk the exterior of the building to observe the intricate cladding support and mass timber roof. We also got a chance to walk inside the building and out onto historic Grant Field to see the mass timber canopy and brick cladding installed on the field side of the performance center

UPCOMING EVENTS

Planning is in full swing with a full slate of Winter and Spring Programming Events.

Dates and times are still being finalized, but some of the current plans include:

DECEMBER | SEAOG NCSEA Summit Recap

Hear feedback from SEAOG members who attended this national event on the latest developments within the structural engineering community.

FEBRUARY | Speed Mentoring

Looking to learn from more experienced engineers? – this is the event for you!

APRIL | AISC’s NASCC Conference in Atlanta MAY | SEAOG Structural Engineering Excellence Award Ceremony Start thinking about which of your projects you would like to submit!

association [ news ]

MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION Reminder that the SEAOG membership year runs from July 1 – June 30, so there is still plenty of time to take advantage of the organization’s benefits.

Registration can be completed on the SEAOG website seaog.org/Membership

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ANGEL MALLARD, CPSM SMPS President www.smpsatl.org

association [ news ]

IRIS ORTIZ WTS Atlanta President iortiz@hntb.com www.wtsinternational.org/atlanta

AND JUST LIKE THAT… we’re past mid-year and coming to the end of summer! I hope everyone had a wonderful one and found some time to enjoy the longer days and warmer temperatures with family and friends.

First and most importantly, WTS Atlanta is celebrating the appointment of the new WTS International CEO and Executive Director, Dr. Malika Reed Wilkins! She officially took the reins of the organization on August 18. Not only she is more than qualified to serve in this position, with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, public policy, and strategic marketing and communications, but she has been a long time WTS Atlanta member and leader. Malika has served multiple roles, including Chapter president in 2017-2018, co-chair of the 2023 WTS International Annual Conference (hosted in Atlanta), and more recently as member-at-large of the WTS International Board of Directors. As a former president of our chapter, her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing women in transportation continue to inspire us all.

Our chapter continued with many activities during the summer, and as we enter the fall months, we can expect our events and activities to continue going strong, including the anticipated Annual Scholarships and Award Luncheon, scheduled for November 7 (SAVE THE DATE!). We are excited to announce that Dr. Malika Reed Wilkins will be our keynote speaker at the upcoming Annual Scholarships and Award Luncheon. See you there!

TO BECOME A 2025 CORPORATE SPONSOR, CONTACT RUKIYA THOMAS AT RUKIYA.THOMAS@ATKINSREALIS.COM association [ news ]

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A LOOK BACK Emory University | A rare aerial view of Emory’s Oxford campus in its early days.

Founded in 1841, the college began with just a few buildings, a graduating class of three, and annual tuition of $185.

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