Space is limited. Register here to reserve your spot!
We’re excited to co-host a HabiChat on advocacy featuring guest speaker Victoria Ballestero, land development engineer and housing advocate! This insightful discussion will explore the power of advocacy in shaping land use, housing policy, and community development—key tools for engineers and young professionals in the housing industry looking to make an impact beyond the job site. Habitat for Humanity D.C. & Northern Virginia champions advocacy as a way to remove barriers to affordable housing and drive policy change that benefits communities across the region.
Date & Time: February 12 from 6:30-8pm (presentations begin at 7pm)
Location: Creative Grounds DC, 1822 North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 20002
Very limited parking on site! ~20min walk from NoMa-Gallaudet U or Shaw-Howard U, or accessible by Metro buses D30 or D32
💲Cost: Free! We will have pizza at the event.
About Our Guest Speaker
Victoria M. Ballestero, PE, MBA is a national award-winning land development engineer, business leader, and founder of Guide Engineering, a boutique civil engineering firm focused on thoughtful, strategic land development solutions. With over a decade of experience shaping complex projects in the DC-Metro region, she brings deep expertise in land use, redevelopment, and attainable housing policy. Victoria has served in leadership roles across professional organizations, including as the first woman President of the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers, and is a sought-after speaker on engineering, advocacy, and policy. Her work bridges technical engineering practice with community engagement and public advocacy.
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Support HYP and ASCE NCS YMF and gain visibility with local AEC and housing professionals by sponsoring this upcoming event. Sponsorships start at just $50 and include recognition during the event and in our marketing materials. Interested? Click "Donate Now" on the event page and make a note in the comment section that you would like to be an event sponsor for the February HabiChat. See sponsorship tiers below. Donations will go directly toward covering the cost of the event (which helps us keep the event free to attend), and anything above the cost of the event will go toward supporting Habitat for Humanity's projects and families in need.
- $250+ Gold Sponsor -
- Company logo will be included on advertising materials and presentation slide
- Company name listed in post-event thank-you emails/social media posts
- Verbal recognition during the event and opportunity to provide a brief company blurb
- $100-$249 Silver Sponsor -
- Company logo will be included on presentation slide
- Company name listed in post-event thank-you emails/social media posts
- Verbal recognition during the event
- $50-$99 Bronze Sponsor -
- Company name listed in post-event thank-you emails/social media posts
- Verbal recognition during the event
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is my pleasure to invite you to the 2026 ASCE National Capital Section’s Annual Awards Gala, the most distinguished celebration of civil engineering excellence in the National Capital Region.
Each year, our Gala brings together leaders, innovators, and rising professionals across the civil engineering community for an evening that highlights the achievements shaping the world around us. This year’s Gala will feature a refreshed presentation and atmosphere to help make the evening even more memorable:
- Cocktail Reception
- Plated Dinner Service
- Keynote Address
- Presentation of Awards Honoring Outstanding Projects, Engineers, and Students, with a new focus on recognizing excellence across Structural, Geotechnical, Water Resources, Sustainability and Resiliency, Transportation, and all civil engineering disciplines.
A Personal Note on Sponsorship
As Chair of the Gala Committee, I also want to extend a personal appeal to our partners and supporters. The Gala is only possible through the generous involvement of firms and agencies who believe in advancing our profession and celebrating those who make it stronger.
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Sponsorship opportunities are now open, with limited spaces available. Early commitment ensures your organization receives maximum visibility throughout our promotional period and on the night of the event.
If your organization is interested in supporting this year’s Gala, I encourage you to review our Gala Patronage Opportunities included at the end of this message. They offer a range of benefits including prominent firm recognition, reserved seating, and significant brand exposure to the region’s engineering leaders.
Let’s Celebrate Excellence Together
I truly hope to see you on April 7 as we honor the remarkable work happening across our region and the professionals who make it possible. I encourage you to share this “Save the Date” invitation with colleagues and partners who may be interested in attending. An email with registration details will be sent out in early 2026.
If you have any questions about the event or would like to reserve a sponsorship package, please feel free to contact me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thank you for your continued support of ASCE NCS and our civil engineering community.
Warm regards,
Alan McDonald, PE
Vice President, ASCE National Capital Section
Chair, 2026 Awards Gala Committee
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dear ASCE-NCS Members and Colleagues,
The ASCE National Capital Section is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for our 2026 Annual Awards. This is our premier opportunity to recognize the engineering professionals, firms, and projects that have demonstrated excellence and strengthened our community over the past year.
We are seeking nominations in two distinct areas: Project Awards and Distinguished Individual Awards. Winners will be honored at the 2026 ASCE-NCS Annual Awards Gala.
Project Awards
We invite you to submit outstanding civil engineering work for recognition. One winner from these categories will be selected as the Outstanding Civil Engineering Project of the Year.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must contain a construction element.
- Substantially completed between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
- Located within ASCE-NCS boundaries (Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, DC, Montgomery County, or Prince George's County—excluding College Park).
Project Award Categories:
- Structural Engineering Excellence Award
- Geotechnical Engineering Excellence Award
- Architectural Engineering Excellence Award
- Water Resources Engineering Excellence Award
- Sustainability and Resiliency Excellence Award
- Transportation Engineering Excellence Award
- Historic Preservation & Rehabilitation Excellence Award
- Community Impact Award (Construction value ≤ $10M).
👉 Click below to submit nomination
https://forms.gle/GbyFBppc13QyPUK1A (-> asce_region2.informz.net)
Distinguished Individual Awards:
We are also seeking nominations for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the profession. Please note that an individual may only be submitted for one category.
- Community Service Award: The Community Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual toward community improvement in the Washington metropolitan area. The National Capital Section Board of Directors determines that the awardee must have made, in the opinion of community leaders, an outstanding, selfless contribution of time and talent toward a civil engineering-related activity that has furthered the welfare of the community within a three year period preceding the award.
- Diversity and Inclusion Award: The Diversity and Inclusion Award celebrates an individual or organization that has made exceptional contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the civil engineering profession in the Washington metropolitan area. This award recognizes efforts to foster an inclusive environment, promote equitable opportunities, and champion diverse perspectives that enrich our industry and community.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual whose career has been marked by exemplary service, leadership, and contributions to the civil engineering profession and the community. This award recognizes a lifetime of professional excellence, mentorship, and impactful projects that have significantly advanced the field of civil engineering. If you know an individual whose dedication and achievements deserve this prestigious recognition, please let us know.
👉Click below to submit nomination
https://forms.gle/AmWe1Mg6c4ct5UFe9 (-> asce_region2.informz.net)
Submission Details
All submissions are due by February 15, 2026 at 11:59PM. ASCE-NCS reserves the right to decline issuing awards for categories that do not receive more than one submission. Please contact ASCE-NCS Vice President Alan McDonald with any questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We look forward to reviewing your outstanding contributions and celebrating your achievements at the Gala!
Best regards,
ASCE National Capital Section
January 23, 2026
The National Capital Section encourages you to browse through content on this site to get a feel for how we can be of value to you through our educational, networking, and leadership development opportunities for civil engineers in our region.
Here are some resources to get you started:
- Click the links for our Recent Section Meetings listed below. These are educational events allowing you to earn a Professional Development Hour that counts toward your PE license renewal requirement. We hold eight Section Meetings each year. Our Reston Branch holds eight Branch Meetings each year. Both Section and Branch meetings have returned to in-person over catered dinner (Section) and lunch (Branch). These had been conducted online since March 2020 but have reverted to in-person meetings. Our technical committees, such as architecture, transportation, construction, among others, host additional meetings.
- Read our monthly newsletter, issued eight times a year. Locate them in the NCS Newsletters module located toward the middle, on the right sidebar of this page. These serve as a window to our world and the people behind the activities we undertake.
If you're ready to engage with us and wish to learn more, to volunteer your time, or to run for office as a technical committee leader or a Section/Branch board member, reach out to our President by selecting Board of Directors under Contact Us, then click the President's name, open the Contact Form to email your message.
Thanks for visiting.
