Sam Sleiman is Executive Vice President of National Transportation at Suffolk, specializing in the management of projects for aviation, port, and railway projects nationally. Sam’s strong expertise and in-depth understanding of transportation clients and their project objectives has been cultivated through more than 40 years of experience in the design and construction industry, including 27 years of experience

managing projects for one of the largest transportation authorities in the nation. Sam oversaw the implementation of over $7 billion in aviation and transportation projects, which includes the $700 million Terminal E Modernization at Logan International Airport, the $160 million Terminal C Optimization & Terminal C to B Connector at Logan International Airport, and the $250 million Consolidated Rental Agency Complex (ConRAC) at Logan International Airport.

Help celebrate BSCES Annual Award winners and the newest Honorary Members!

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How Menard USA is Prioritizing Sustainability

By Izzy McGarvey, Environmental Manager for Menard North America, Menard USA

While ground improvement is typically more sustainable than the traditional foundations it can replace, Menard USA doesn’t stop there - reducing our own carbon footprint is an important company goal! If you are interested in quantifying and reducing your company’s carbon footprint, this article will describe where to start. ... Read more.

BSCES President's Report

By Christopher P. Hersey, Project Executive, Suffolk Construction

As we move our way through the wet part of spring into summer, my thoughts are drawn to the environment and sustainability, which is the focus of this month’s newsletter. We have a sponsor article from Menard on “How Menard USA is Prioritizing Sustainability,” highlighting how reducing their own carbon footprint is an important company goal. If you are interested in quantifying and reducing your company’s carbon footprint, this article will describe where to start. ... Read more

Celebrate Earth Day – Join the BSCES Committee on Sustainability

By Liz Clark, PE, ENV SP, SITES AP, Director of Engineering, GPR, Inc., BSCES Secretary and Committee on Sustainability Chair

BSCES Committee on Sustainability is looking for active members to volunteer and join the discussion about sustainability in all civil engineering practices. Please reach out to Sustain.Comm@BSCES.org if you are interested. ... Read more.

Carbon Reduction in Infrastructure - The Next Step

By Ken Donald, PE, ENV SP, Senior Project Engineer & Carbon Reduction Lead, VHB

Civil engineering projects provide necessary services to the public, but the reality is, due to the current methods, materials, management, policies and programs, massive amounts of carbon, both embodied and from operations, are byproducts of the work we do. We have a unique opportunity in front of us to change how we approach and deliver our projects to mitigate our overall impact now and into the future by raising our awareness of the changes that must be made to transition to a net zero and sustainable economy. ... Read more.

Massachusetts Represents at the ASCE Fly-in and Infrastructure Report Card Release

By Patrick Tierney, PE, Project Manager, Apex Companies, LLC, and BSCES Government Affairs and Professional Practice Chair

Cherry blossoms entered peak bloom as BSCES members traveled to Washington DC to discuss policy with legislators and celebrate the release of the latest ASCE Report Card on America’s Infrastructure with ASCE members around the country. ASCE hosts the Fly-in every spring and releases the Report Card every four years to advocate for industry issues and funding needs. ... Read more.

Northeastern University's Guide to Building a Concrete Canoe

By Northeastern University's Concrete Canoe Team

Each year, the American Society of Civil Engineers releases a request for proposals, inviting student chapters across the country to participate in a competition to create the best concrete canoe. Northeastern University has participated in the challenge for decades, and has a robust team that spends Monday and Wednesday nights designing mixes, running structural analyses, creating an engaging presentation and display, cutting a mold, and all the other wonderful things that go into the creation of the final product. ... Read more.

WPI's ASCE Student Chapter Competes and Places in Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge Competitions at ASCE Northeast Student Symposium

By Amber Lyons, WPI ASCE Student Chapter President

Members of the ASCE Student Chapter at Worcester Polytechnic Institute traveled to the UMass Amherst t to attend the ASCE Northeast Student Symposium and compete in the regional Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge competitions. Student Chapter President Amber Lyons wrote a letter to BSCES President Chris Hersey to report on their experience at the Symposium. ... Read more.

Job Board

Looking to promote a job to BSCES members? Click here to learn more about posting on the BSCES job board.

Advertising Opportunities

BSCES has a variety of options for advertising in BSCESNews and on the BSCES website. Click here to learn more about advertising with BSCES.

Get Involved

Become a BSCESNews

Contributor

Would you like to contribute to the newsletter of the oldest civil engineering association in the country? The BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board is seeking Society members who are willing to join the board and help solicit, write, and/or edit articles for publication in BSCESNews. Members of the editorial board participate in eleven 30-minute video conferences per year to develop the ten issues of the newsletter that are published annually.

The editorial board also encourages members to submit articles for publication in BSCESNews. These can be related to an issue’s theme or on any topic of interest to civil engineers. Click here to view article submission requirements.

Email BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board Chair Gus O'Leary, for more information.

Submit Member News

Help us build the BSCES community by sharing your news. Have you recently been recognized for a professional accomplishment, or been promoted to a leadership role? Has your employer been recognized for an achievement or acquired another company? Send your news to BSCES membership associate Michelle Monette at mmonette@engineers.org.

BSCES Civil Engineering Practice Journal Needs Your Help

Are you working from home? You can use the time you're saving by not commuting to perform a household chore or better yet, write an article for the BSCES Civil Engineering Practice journal. ... Read More

Suggest a Seminar Topic

If you have a topic that you would like BSCES to feature in an upcoming seminar, send your suggestion to BSCES Continuing Education Committee Chair Rich Matson, PE, from AECOM at conteduccomm@bsces.org

Learn about the Continuing Education Committee

2024 - 2025 Society Sponsors

BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board

Chair: Angus J. O’Leary, PE

Elizabeth Clark, PE

Anna Dastgheib-Beheshti, PE

Christopher P. Hersey, LEED AP

Michael T. Sullivan, PE

2024 - 2025 BSCES Board of Government

President: Christopher P. Hersey, LEED AP

President-Elect: Kathryn Swanson, PE

Secretary: Elizabeth A. Clark, PE

Treasurer: Gregory L. Mirliss, STS

Assistant Treasurer: John T. Brooks, PE

Senior Vice Presidents: Richard A. Matson, PE; Antonios Vytiniotis, PhD, PE

Vice Presidents: Anuja Kamat, PhD; Rishabh V. Iyer, PE

Past President: Michael R. Cunningham, PE

Western MA Branch Vice President: Vacant

Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Daniel B. Robbins, PE

Construction Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Edward G. Breed, ENV SP

Engineering Management Group Chair: Craig M. Steigerwalt, PE, PSP, PMP, CCM

Environmental & Water Resources Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Emanuel D. DeAndrade, PE

Geo-Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Jorge E. Fuentes, PE

Structural Engineering Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Ryan Marshall, PE, SE

Transportation & Development Institute Boston Interim Chapter Chair: Richard A. Matson, PE

Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Cory A. Cormier, PE

Younger Member Group Chair: Brendan G. Herridge, EIT

2024–2025 BSCES Program Sponsors

Beals and Thomas, Inc. | Benesch | CDM Smith | CHA Consulting, Inc.

Collins Engineers, Inc. | Dewberry | GEI Consultants, Inc. | Geocomp, Inc.

Green International Affiliates, Inc.| GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. | Haley & Aldrich, Inc.

HNTB Corporation | Howard Stein Hudson | Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc. | Kleinfelder

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University

O'Reilly, Talbot & Okun Associates, Inc. | Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. | Stantec

TranSystems | TREVIICOS | Vanasse & Associates, Inc. | VHB

Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE

One Walnut Street, Boston, MA 02108

Phone: 617/227-5551, Fax: 617/227-6783

Email: bsces@engineers.org, Website: www.bsces.org

The BSCES newsletter, BSCESNews, is designed to provide information and opinions in regard to the subject matters covered. BSCES and its Board assume no responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in this publication. It is published with the understanding that the Board and the authors are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The Newsletter Editorial Board encourages reproduction of BSCESNews with appropriate acknowledgment. © 2025 BSCESNews.