ANNUAL MESSAGE FROM THE ASCE NORFOLK BRANCH PRESIDENT
On behalf of the Norfolk Branch of the American Society of Engineers (ASCE) and the Norfolk Chapter of the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI), I would like to thank you for your interest in our organization.
A Letter from the President
I am honored to serve as the 2026–2027 President of the ASCE Norfolk Branch, and I look forward to helping guide how the Branch will evolve to meet the current needs of our engineering community.
My goal is to build on the foundation established by past presidents while creating new opportunities for members to connect, participate, and find value in ASCE. I joined ASCE as a freshman in college and came to value the community it gave me and the impact its service events had on our local community. ASCE in the professional world is the same as it was then: engineers coming together to learn and serve.
That same spirit of learning and service guides my areas of focus for the year ahead.
Create Meaningful and Accessible Opportunities
Our Branch will aim to provide a more consistent and intentional event calendar to give our members the chance to plan and engage throughout the year. More intentional planning also allows us to offer a variety of professional development events, networking events, and on-site tours to serve the interests of our membership.
Equally important is making participation accessible to civil engineers of all backgrounds across the cities we serve, from Virginia Beach to Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. Our community includes professionals at VDOT, NAVFAC, local municipalities, academia, and private firms. We will offer programming that fits different schedules and work environments, along with free-to-attend events that remove financial barriers, to build a more inclusive and representative membership.
Strengthen Communication and Industry Collaboration
Meaningful and accessible opportunities only matter if members know about them. We are expanding our presence on LinkedIn to share Branch updates, upcoming events, and ways to get involved. Don’t worry, we will still send emails and update our website as well. We will also work to strengthen partnerships with other local engineering and professional organizations through joint events and collaborative programming. Together, we can expand our members’ networks and build a more connected engineering community.
Build a Sustainable Organization
A strong Branch depends on the people who contribute their time, ideas, and leadership. I aim to increase participation across our Board of Directors and committees to distribute responsibilities, bring in new perspectives, develop future leaders, and help the Branch thrive beyond any one leadership term.
Sustaining our programming overtime also requires financial support. We are transitioning to an annual sponsorship program that builds stronger year-round relationships with organizations that support our mission. Sponsors will receive consistent recognition at Branch events and in our communications, and their support will help us expand programming and keep it accessible to members.
Closing
I look forward to work alongside our Board, committees, and membership to shape the ASCE Norfolk Branch into a connected community that gives members a reason to stay engaged throughout their careers. Thank you for being part of the Branch, and I hope to see you at an upcoming event!
Warm regards,
Katie Rogers, P.E., M.ASCE
President, ASCE Norfolk Branch 2026–2027
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