PWD Director Krueger Speaks at ASIE Luncheon

The speaker of the annual luncheon event, Mr. Daniel W. Krueger, P.E., the Director of Public Works and Engineering of City of Houston with ASIE Board Members.

The speaker of the annual luncheon event, Mr. Daniel W. Krueger, P.E., the Director of Public Works and Engineering of City of Houston with ASIE Board Members.

HOUSTON: At the luncheon held by the American Society of Indian Engineers on May 3 at the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society Club (HESS Club), the invited speaker for the event was Daniel W. Krueger, Director of the Public Works Department at the City of Houston.

Over 125 professionals, including many non-Indians, from the local engineering, consulting, architectural and manufacturing firms, attended the event. The event was sponsored by 28 companies including Platinum Sponsors: Arcadis US, CH2M Hill, Geotest Engineering, HDR and KIT Professionals; Gold Sponsors: ADS Pipe, Aguirre & Fields, AIA Engineers, Cobb Fendley and Associates, Doshi Engineering and Surveying, HR Green and Wadhwa Associates, Architects and Silver Sponsors: AECOM, ARKK Engineers, Carollo Engineers, CP&Y, Crouch Environmental Services, Epic Transportation Group, GC Engineering, Gupta and Associates, Huitt Zollars, Kalluri Group, Kenall, Klotz Associates, Kuo Associates, Othon, Parsons and RK&K Engineers.

ASIE Members, guests, elected officials during networking and social.

ASIE Members, guests, elected officials during networking and social.

ASIE President Vishal Merchant recognized the elected officials and distinguished guests includeding City of Pearland Councilman Woody Owens who is also and Chairman of the Greater 288 Partnership; Andrea Ranft of TSC Engineering who is President of the Asian American Engineers and Architects and Chairman Engineering Week Committee of Houston; James Jones of Jones and Carter and President of Texas American Water Works Association; Billy Cooke with Klotz Associates, President of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and Paul Voiles with Brown and Gay Engineers and President of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Jimmy Shindewolf, General Manager of North Harris County Regional Water Authority; Ravi Kaleyatodi, Senior Assistant Director, City of Houston and Jun Chang, Deputy Director, Utilities, City of Houston also attended.

Merchant noted that the ASIE had over 120 active members, about 60 life members, and 16 corporate members and said his goal is to double the numbers in 2013 during his presidency. He added that the proceeds from the event would go towards the ASIE Scholarship program, which this year will offer five $2,000 scholarships.

Audience listens to the speaker of the annual luncheon event, Mr. Daniel W. Krueger, P.E., the Director of Public Works and Engineering of City of Houston.

Audience listens to the speaker of the annual luncheon event, Mr. Daniel W. Krueger, P.E., the Director of Public Works and Engineering of City of Houston.

As Director of PWD, Krueger is responsible for overseeing the Department’s services to Houstonians through the planning, operation, maintenance, construction management and technical engineering of the City’s public infrastructure. The Department’s responsibilities include operation and maintenance of the City’s streets and drainage, production and distribution of water, collection and treatment of wastewater, and permitting and regulation of public and private construction. The Department is staffed with a trained work force of approximately 3,900 and operates with an annual budget of approximately $1.2 billion.

Krueger gave more details about the function of his department. He discussed the latest initiatives adopted by the City for improving the public infrastructure including drainage, utilities, roadways and sidewalks, and also about the Rebuild Houston program. He briefly mentioned the City’s CIP program and cited a study by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which graded the City’s infrastructure and encouraged participation of local engineers and construction managers to make future improvements for the City.