ASCE OC Younger Member Forum: A Year in Review

Updated: 2 hours ago

Since 1999, the ASCE Orange County Younger Member Forum (OC YMF) has served as a dynamic hub for young civil engineers in Orange County. Our mission is to foster innovation, collaboration, and leadership within the engineering community. Through meaningful programs, professional development, and networking opportunities, OC YMF empowers the next generation of engineers to thrive and make a lasting impact, both within our industry and beyond.

ASCE OC YMF Leadership & Planning Retreat

Thank You to Our 2024–2025 Executive Board

As the 2024–2025 ASCE OC YMF President, I had the privilege of serving alongside a remarkable group of passionate and dedicated young engineers. Together, we upheld the pillars of leadership, service, and innovation, continuing the legacy of excellence established by past OC YMF leaders.

I’m honored to be the 13th woman among 26 Presidents since OC YMF’s founding, a reminder of the legacy of leadership and the power of representation. I hope my term added to that legacy and inspires others to lead with heart.

This year’s Executive Board also included:

Past President: Tyler Hodges – Mark Thomas
President-Elect: Nathaniel Kapongo – Los Angeles Department of Transportation
Secretary: Celeste Chan – Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Treasurer: Giovanni Hernandez – Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District

Each of these individuals devoted countless hours to leading committees, attending meetings, and supporting our members, all while balancing their early careers and personal lives. Their commitment, positivity, and teamwork made this year unforgettable, and I’m truly grateful to have worked alongside them.

Celebrating Our Board Members

Beyond our Executive Board, OC YMF was powered by over 36 board members who led and supported 15+ active, impactful, and award-winning committees and programs. Their tireless efforts and leadership were the driving force behind our success.

A heartfelt thank you to:

Alex Gonzalez Saavedra, Alex Yang, Bhanu Priya Karuturi, Brian Marquez, Brisa Bernal, Calista Wong, Carlos De La Sancha, Cedric Perez, Christopher Acebal, Clarissa Teng, Darlyn Hernandez, Don Vu, Elisa De La Pena, Esmeralda Aguirre, Gabreelle Gonzalez, Gilbert Salas, Jacob Perea, Janelle Gonzalez, Joceline Nguyen, Jocelyn Del Angel, Jonathan Lee, Jonathan Nguyen, Juan Mendoza, Judy Beik, Karen Luong, Kevin Mesavesa, Kevin Tasci, Kyra Tan, Marco Villegas, Matthew Quintanilla, Michelle Sabers, Natalie Luna, Noelle Yee, Sam Saldivar, Tanner Hanson, and Tomas Atienzo.

Your contributions made this year extraordinary. Beyond words, thank you.

Region 8 & 9: Multi-Region Leadership Conference at San Diego, CA

2024–2025 Highlights & Accomplishments

With great responsibility comes great impact, and our board delivered in every way. Here are just a few of our proudest accomplishments:

Hosted/supported over 140 events and programs.
- 46 student outreach events, 31 social events, 24 technical programs/tours, 19 mentorship events, 12 community service events, 12 JEDI events, 4 Government Relations events, and more!
Raised almost $40,000 in funds across all committees, programs, and events.
Received Individual and Group/Project Awards at the Branch, Section, Regional, and National levels.
Introduced the Community College Outreach and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committees.
Reintroduced our award-winning Mentorship Program with 44 participants (22 mentors and 22 protégés) total.
Reintroduced our FE Review Courses and continued our partnership with School of PE.
Introduced our Careholders Program: A Monthly Donation Drive to support our events/programs.
Hosted our very first Engineers Week (E-Week) featuring a Wellness Workshop, Navigating Your Future Panel for Community College Students, Creating STEM-Themed Greeting Cards for Hospitalized Kids, Trivia Night, K-12 Outreach Day Classroom Visit, and a Sustainability Bike Ride.
Hosted the 31st Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition at California State University, Long Beach.
Hosted our Second Annual Charity Pickleball Tournament which supported twelve (12) amazing local charities.
Hosted our World Water Day K-12 Art and Essay Contest with a theme Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible.”
Hosted our very first School Supplies for Success Drive with Assistance League and collected almost 500 school supplies for homeless, foster and low-income youth.
And many more!

Reflections & Gratitude

When I first joined ASCE in college, I never imagined I’d serve as Student Chapter President, let alone do it again at the YMF level. Yet here I am, closing out this chapter with immense gratitude and an even more profound appreciation for the ASCE community and the industry.

To my friends and colleagues who supported our events, believed in my ideas, and showed up this past year, thank you. To my board members, mentors, employer (Jacobs), and family: this year wouldn’t have been possible without you.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned this year is the value of staying grounded. Amid the whirlwind of responsibilities, high expectations, and overwhelming moments, it was the ability to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our purpose that kept me centered. Leadership isn’t just about execution: it’s about empathy, presence, and resilience. Staying grounded helped me lead with clarity, compassion, and intention, even when things felt chaotic.

Another lesson that stood out is how much enjoying the work you do can transform your experience. When you're surrounded by passionate people, working toward a shared purpose, time flies. The long nights, packed weeks, and endless planning never felt like a burden, they felt like momentum. Joy in the work creates energy, and that energy is contagious. It reminded me that fulfillment doesn’t come from checking boxes, it comes from believing in what you’re building and having fun while doing it.

I also want to extend a special thank you to Nestor Godinez, my President counterpart at the ASCE Orange County Branch. Nestor’s unwavering support of YMF, whether through collaboration, encouragement, or simply showing up, did not go unnoticed. His willingness to champion our initiatives and bridge the gap between Branch and YMF made a meaningful difference, and we are truly grateful for his partnership and leadership.

As I transition the YMF President role to Nathaniel Kapongo, I do so with full confidence and pride. Nate and I began our ASCE journey together at California State University, Long Beach in 2017, and it’s been incredible to grow alongside him, from student leaders to young professionals shaping the future of ASCE Orange County. His passion and vision will guide YMF into its next chapter, and I’m excited to see how he continues to elevate our community. Watching him step into this role feels like a full-circle moment, and I know he will lead with the same heart and dedication that has defined his journey so far.

Overall, my favorite moments of this past year weren’t just the big wins or the successful events. They were the small glimmers of impact. The quiet encouragement, the shared laughs, the creative ideas that turned into reality. This experience reminded me that no idea is too bold, and our only limits are imagination (and maybe budget). But we’re resourceful and we make it happen.

Thank you for allowing me to serve and grow as a leader, a teammate, and a young engineer. This past fiscal year has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career, and I’ll carry these memories and the lessons they taught me, with deep gratitude for years to come.

About the Author:

Marionne Lapitan is a Traffic/ITS Engineer in the Roads & Highways Team at Jacobs. She received her BS in Civil Engineering at CSU Long Beach in 2019 and MS in Civil Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona in 2023. She is currently the ASCE OC Publications Committee Editor-In-Chief and the ASCE Orange County Younger Member Forum President. Actively involved in various professional organizations, she is passionate about designing and building communities, both structurally and socially. She aims to make a difference in the world through civil engineering in hopes of building a brighter future for the next generation. She also enjoys traveling, graphic designing, and reading books in her free time. Marionne can be contacted via ce@marionnelapitan.com or LinkedIn.