A Message from the President
Jose L. Acosta, PE, FASCE
Greetings FES Members,
I want to begin my first message as President by expressing my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to lead this incredible organization. I am truly humbled and honored to serve our fellow professional engineers throughout our state for this next year. I am also extremely excited to work with a motivated staff that wants to work with our board and the membership to succeed in our organizationās key purposes: to support engineering education, advocate for licensure, promote the ethical and competent practice of engineering, enhance the image and well-being of all engineers in Florida, and further the public’s understanding of the profession, while protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public across our state.
I want to acknowledge and thank our Past President David Keough, PE, for his leadership and efforts toward our successes and organizational development efforts over the past year. I also want to also acknowledge and thank our Executive Director Deirdre Finn. Since her arrival, she has brought vision and a steadfast commitment to work through challenges to keep our organization successful today while pivoting and positioning for the future.
My key goals for this coming year are to:
- Enhance membership value through improved service, operations, systems, and communications with the chapters and members. Facilitating greater interaction and collaboration between our chapters and practice sections will bring many opportunities to enhance the membership experience.
- Strengthen advocacy for the engineering profession and infrastructure investment in our state in partnership with ACEC Florida. Expanding our local Legislative Breakfasts throughout our state through our chapters and our partners in ACEC-Florida, in advance of Legislative Days in Tallahassee, will grow our brand as proactive āproblem solversā for the profession.
- Lead the reinvention of our Annual Conference to preserve the traditions that have made it so successful while addressing the future challenges facing our state and profession. I am so proud of the efforts made by our Annual Conference Committee over the years.Ā An Ad Hoc Committee has been convened Ā to work in parallel with the committee to help shape the future direction of the conference.
- Promote and expand our educational and professional development programs. FES continues to be at the forefront of education in engineering at all stages of our profession.Ā Our programs extend throughout the cycle of oneās profession.
- Our K-12 programs in our local chapters reach our local schools to offer a taste of the engineering profession via STEM programming.
- Our MATHCOUNTSĀ® program starts at the local level and extends to our state competition at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
- Our college and university student chapters continue to grow. This year, in collaboration with FES Practice Section Florida Engineers in Education, students will have their second conference at the University of Miami in Coral Gables.
- Our new statewide Professional Mentorship Program, launched just last month, builds on the success of local programs in South Florida and Central Florida.
- Our Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI), led by Joey Wood, continues to empower engineers with effective strategies to become better leaders today and tomorrow.Ā An Ad Hoc Committee has commenced to look at the future of FELI in an effort to keep it current, addressing the needs of the industry and its future graduates.
I am confident that our collective efforts as an engineering community will achieve great things this coming year. There is tremendous opportunity ahead for FES, and I look forward to working with each of you as we continue to strengthen our profession, our organization, and the communities we serve. I look forward to seeing each of you at an event soon.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President.
Jose L. Acosta, PE, F. ASCE
FES President ā 2026-2027
President ā ChenMoore