September/October 2015

NSPE TODAY
President's Gavel Passes to Kansas PE

Tim Austin, P.E., F.NSPE, was installed on July 18 as NSPE’s 2015–16 president at the Society’s Annual Meeting in Seattle. He takes over the helm from Harve Hnatiuk, P.E., F.NSPE, of Pennsylvania.

Austin is manager of Kaw Valley Engineering Inc.’s office in Wichita, Kansas. His diverse work experience has provided him with a unique perspective of the engineering and construction industries and has been an experienced and accomplished manager in both the public and private sectors.

In a July/August PE article, Austin wrote: “My commitment as NSPE president to each NSPE member will be to move the [Society’s strategic] effort forward; to assure you that the organization is working for you, as David Steinman envisioned, by defining, promoting, and protecting licensure for the public’s health, safety, and welfare; by building recognition and appreciation for the licensed professional engineer; and by answering the question, ‘What is NSPE doing for me?’”

Active in a number of professional and community organizations, Austin currently serves as the secretary for the Engineers’ Foundation of Kansas. He is a past president of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers and a past board member of the NSPE. He is a past board member of the Wichita Area Builders Association and currently serves on both the legislative and developers committees.

Austin is also the immediate past chairman of the Wichita Art and Design Council and a past chairman of the Wichita Airport Advisory Board. He served on the founding committee of the Greater Wichita Area Economic Development Coalition and is a past member of the Board of Trustees for Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Also on July 18 at the 2015 Annual Meeting, the House of Delegates elected Tom Roberts, P.E., F.NSPE, vice president of the Society. He will serve as the 2017–18 president, following Kodi Jean Verhalen, P.E., Esq., F.NSPE.

Read Tim Austin’s perspective on “What does NSPE do for me?” in his first blog as the NSPE president at www.nspe.org/resources/blogs/from-the-president-blog.