After two decades of energetic and skilled service to ASCE and the civil engineering profession, Brian Pallasch, who served as Managing Director of Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives, is leaving ASCE to take on his next professional challenge. His career journey takes him to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he will serve as the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC).
Brian led ASCE’s government relations and infrastructure efforts through multiple sessions of Congress on an endless stream of transportation, water, environmental, professional, science, education, and infrastructure issues. His hard work, enthusiasm, energy, and skill greatly enhanced ASCE’s national voice as a policy leader.
He was responsible for growing the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card from a small one-off project to a nationally, and even internationally, anticipated and respected report. This report is regularly referenced by U.S. Presidents, Members of Congress, governors, and other leaders.
His leadership in marshaling ASCE volunteer experts and staff deftly increased the impact of the Report Card every four years. This led to the Report Card becoming one of ASCE’s signature products. The Report Card and other public policy efforts made ASCE a major voice on infrastructure in our Nation’s Capital and in state capitals. This is even more remarkable is when you consider that ASCE — a mid-size non-profit professional association with no Political Action Committee — is a major voice in Washington amongst large trade associations and corporations. This includes Brian’s frequent appearances on major media outlets as NPR, CNN, CNBC, Barron’s US News & World Report, Newsweek, WIRED, and more.
He grew ASCE’s annual Legislative Fly-In from a small, inward-focused event to the 253-member event it became this year. The yearly presence of hundreds of civil engineers on Capitol Hill has boosted ASCE’s visibility and legislative success over the years.
Under his watch, ASCE was instrumental in legislative successes such as the creation of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, the High Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Program, the Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now (SRF WIN) Act, and others. Brian’s leadership also impacted such ongoing legislation as numerous surface transportation acts, water resources development acts, and the annual appropriations process, all of which impact the infrastructure deficit.
Brian leaves behind a strong team in the ASCE Washington, DC office. The work of advocating for the nation’s infrastructure and raising the grades will continue. Emily Feenstra, formerly ASCE’s Director of Infrastructure Initiatives and Public Affairs.
