YMF

Dear Philadelphia YMF Members,

It is a true honor to step into the role of President of the ASCE Philadelphia Younger Member Forum for the 2025–2026 year. I want to start by thanking our immediate past president, Assunta Daprano, for her outstanding leadership and dedication. Under her guidance, the YMF continued to grow in impact, connection, and creativity, and I’m excited to build upon that momentum.

This year, we welcome two new members to our board, and I couldn’t be more excited to see fresh ideas and energy joining our experienced and passionate team. To our new board members, Shane Leiphart and Andrew Edwins, welcome! One of the greatest strengths of the YMF is the community we’ve built together. Whether you're attending your first social event, volunteering for a student outreach day, or leading a technical session, you are part of a network that supports each other professionally and personally. That spirit is what drew me to the YMF years ago and continues to inspire me today.

This year, my focus is on engagement, mentorship, and accessibility. Whether you're a recent grad looking to connect or a few years into your career and seeking leadership opportunities, we want the YMF to be a space where you can grow and belong. We're continuing to offer a wide range of events—professional, social, and service-oriented—and we’re excited to see even more collaboration through our committees and the organizations we partner with.

If you’ve ever considered getting more involved, now is the time. We’re always looking for passionate members to join our committees, volunteer at events, or just come out and meet new people. Your involvement, big or small, makes a difference.

I’m truly looking forward to the year ahead and all that we’ll accomplish together. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with ideas, feedback, or just to say hello. I hope to see you at an event soon!

Sincerely,
Kevin Walsh
ASCE Philadelphia YMF President

As a somewhat reluctant networker, ASCE and especially the YMF have been invaluable to me. They put me in direct interaction with my peers in low stress environments. About 10 years ago I met someone at an ASCE event that recommended a PE exam review course. After taking the course, I passed the exam on my first try. It just goes to show, you never know how valuable a new contact can be. As civil engineers I think it's important to interact with our peers and share our experiences. We should never stop learning and growing, and ASCE fosters an environment for personal and professional growth.

Martin Williams, PE
KMJ Consultants, Inc.