A Message From FES President Ronald Colas
Thank you to my predecessor, Kelly Cranford, for her service for the past 12 months! Under her leadership, we re-aligned the FES committees and practice interest to ACEC Florida’s practice committees, we expanded our social media reach to include a Podcast, we have the newly branded FES Journal called Engineering Florida, and we finally executed our Memorandum of Understanding with the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico. I also want to thank our President Circle, initiated by past president Carlos Penin, as a safe place to discuss long-term goals.
I’m incredibly humbled and honored to serve as your new president, and I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the vision I have for our society.
Engineering is the foundation of our modern world, and we have tremendous responsibilities to ensure that we uphold the highest ethical standards as we contribute to the continuous development of our state, from the design of critical infrastructure to the development of innovative new technologies. The work that we do touches every aspect of our lives.
One of the biggest challenges we as engineers face is the need to keep pace with the rapid transformations taking place across our society. Digital disruption, automation, and the rise of new industries are all reshaping the landscape of our world, and we must keep up with this pace of change while staying true to our values.
At the same time, we must always remember our obligation to serve the communities we live in. The safety, health, and well-being of those who rely on the infrastructure we design must always be at the forefront of our minds, and we must never compromise on these fundamental responsibilities.
To that end, the Florida Engineering Society MUST continue to serve as a guiding light for all engineers across our state, offering expertise, guidance, and support to those who carry out the critical work of engineering. We must continue to foster a spirit of innovation, exploration, and collaboration that characterizes engineering in the 21st century. We can accomplish this by remaining engaged as trusted advisors with our industry partners, legislators, educators, and chambers of commerce to address the challenges of reconnecting and re-imagining our communities and developing and protecting the interest of future engineers.
We need to be leaders in our communities, working hand in hand with the public, elected officials, and other stakeholder groups that have a role in shaping our society. It is only through this collaborative effort that we can build a better future, one that is grounded in innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.
I believe that the Florida Engineering Society, in collaboration with the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida, the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico, The Cuban American Association of Civil Engineers, and stakeholder partners like FDOT, our Ports and Airports can take on this important endeavor, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside every one of you as we take on this challenge.
I want to thank my wife and family for their patience, support, and understanding. With the grace of God, the support of our families, friends, and colleagues, FES will continue to:
- Represent and defend its members,
- Contribute to Florida’s plan for a Future-ready infrastructure,
- Catch up with Emerging Technologies and Prepare our future workforce,
- Be a guiding light in our communities.
Thank you for your trust and support, and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together over the next 12 months.
Ronald M. Colas, P.E. S.I., FES Fellow | Jacobs | Vice President
FLPR Transportation Strategic Growth and Business Development Manager
Ronald.Colas@jacobs.com
