Theme: Shared Values

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Please plan to join us for an exciting and inspiring event as we host our first internal TEDx event! Our goal in hosting TEDxASCE is to create a space at ASCE for sharing ideas, breaking down silos, and bringing staff together. A TEDx event can bring energy and enthusiasm to those who participate and attend, that will hopefully extend beyond the event itself and inspire creative thinking and further discussion.

Our theme for the event is ‘Shared Values’. The theme was inspired by the 8 core values recently adopted by the Board: integrity, honesty, respect, service, excellence, teamwork, accountability, and a commitment to ASCE’s vision, mission, goals, and Code of Ethics. The idea for hosting an internal TEDx event came out of a brainstorming event with the Communication, Cooperation & Culture (C3) team.

Please come out and support your colleagues, hear new ideas and perspectives, and take a break from your daily routines.

1801 Alexander Bell Drive
Reston, Virginia, 20191
United States

Dion Coward

Manager, Educational Activities

Dion, graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, has been here at ASCE for a little more than nine years. He was born and raised in Prince Georges County Maryland, but spent his high school years in Eastern North Carolina. Dion credits his dedication to service to the teachings of his grandmother who always taught, “Give without the expectation of receiving.”

Dominique Sadr

Customer Service

Dominique works in publications within the ASCE customer service department. She enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and boxing. One of her favorite types of food is sushi and she plans on visiting Easter Island.

Jim O'Brien

Managing Director, Leader Development

Jim has over 40 years of experience as a leader, team builder, and manager in diverse professional and academic environments. During his 26-year military career in the US Army Corps of Engineers, he spent 13 years on the teaching faculty of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the US Army’s Command & General Staff College, and the University of Notre Dame. Now retired from the Army, Jim currently serves as the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Managing Director of Leader Development. Here, he has served to “raise the bar” on civil engineering formal education and experience prior to licensure. He also champions LEAD, a leader skills development workshop for mid-level leaders in civil engineering. He continues other work in teaching teachers to be better teachers through ASCE’s ExCEEd (Excellence in Civil Engineering Education) Teaching Workshop and in ABET accreditation of engineering programs.

Joshua Padgett

Geographic Services

Joshua is an administrator for the Geographic Services Department. A longtime performer on the DC/NYC indie rock circuit, he has played with numerous rock bands, experimental avant-garde outfits and classical orchestras. Joshua is now in the process of performing and releasing solo music, which combines synth rock and ambient soundscapes. Also interested in writing novels and screenplays, Joshua incorporates a passion for all art into the music he composes. He has two solo records that will be released in 2016.

Maria Matthews

Manager, State Government Relations

Maria, ASCE state government relations manager, is a fabulously frazzled working mother to two preschoolers and is married to her high school sweetheart. The opportunity to share a good meal, unique road trip, or any spontaneously fun moment with those she loves brings her an immense amount of happiness.  An insatiable curiosity has gifted her with an inordinate amount of useless knowledge perfect only to fill the awkward silence. She secretly dreams of being able to sleep in until 8:00 am on weekends and her favorite TED Talk is Shawn Achor’s “The happy secret to better work” given at TEDx Bloomington in February 2012.

Mark Killgore

Director, Raise the Bar

Mark has traveled to Spain and the many parts of Latin America to experience the Spanish culture and explore such renowned works of pre-Columbian engineering such as Machu Picchu and Teotihuacan – the Mexican Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. He lived in Mar del Plata, Argentina for half a year in 1975 where he completed two-thirds of his bachelor of arts degree in Spanish. Mark Killgore is the Director of the Raise the Bar Initiative for the American Society of Civil Engineers and frequently is consulted by ASCE on relations with Latin American engineering associations. Unusual in the engineering world, he has a double major in Spanish and civil engineering. Mark began studying the Spanish language in third grade and never stopped. In high school he took Spanish drama classes. He often befriended foreign exchange students from Latin America and practiced his Spanish. Mark is married to a Mexican architect, Teresa Preciado, and has three children and one grandson.

Natalie Zundel

Executive Vice President of the ASCE Foundation

Natalie is the Executive Vice Preside at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Foundation. Passionate about fundraising’s impact on society, and with a decade of development experience, Natalie is leading a team of fundraising professionals to implement a donor centered fundraising model that advances the mission of ASCE through annual, major, and planned gifts. She is committed to providing a high quality donor experience, which has resulted in donor retention rates over 70% (industry standard = 43%) and a growth in major gifts of 525% over the last three years at the ASCE Foundation. Prior to joining the ASCE Foundation in August 2011 as its Senior Manager of Major Gifts, Natalie managed the major gift program at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Before that she served as the Development Director for the DC-based nonprofit, Urban Alliance.