Speaker: Les Pittman and Oliver Smith (ASCE Texas Section)
Les is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a BS in Civil Engineering and earned his MS degree from Colorado State University. In 2015, Mr. Pittman received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering—Texas A&M University, which is awarded annually to recognize and honor former students who have excelled in the civil engineering profession. Professionally, Les spent his first 10 years at Lockwood Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) before co-founding Bury+Pittman, Inc. in Austin, Texas. There he grew the business to 150+ employees in 15 years with services in general civil, surveying, and landscape architecture. Les has provided technical expert services in numerous contested right-of-way condemnation, errors & omissions, and fraud cases and involving private, city, and State clients. He is currently a resident of Bryan, Texas and an ASCE Life Member.
Oliver was born on the campus of Prairie View A&M College, where his father, Oliver E. Smith, was a Professor of Agriculture, and his mother, Mary Alice Smith, worked in College Administration. After graduating as Valedictorian of the Waller High School Class of 1971, he studied at Michigan State University, earning a BS and MS in Civil Engineering. Oliver was also commissioned as a Reserve Officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers and was promoted to the rank of Captain during his 7 years of active and reserve duty. Oliver has served in various project/program engineering and process / manufacturing / supply chain leadership capacities for the US Army Corps of Engineers (Fort Carson, Colorado), Exxon Company USA (Houston), BASF Corporation (Baton Rouge), Frito-Lay (Dallas), CH2M Hill ( Los Angeles, CA ), and 3M Company (Minnesota, Texas, Connecticut). He retired from 3M Company in 2017 after providing 27 years of engineering and manufacturing / supply chain leadership. Oliver has received special recognition for his leadership efforts, including the Certificate of Meritorious Achievement from the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works, Michigan State University College of Engineering Co-Operative Education recognition for excellence in recruiting MSU Engineering Students into 3M engineering summer assignments, and a Volunteer of the Year Award from 3M for his service to abused and neglected children during his role as Board Chairperson of the Austin Children’s Shelter in Austin, Texas. He has recently volunteered and served in a leadership role with the Texas Chapter, American Society of Civil Engineers Task Force reviewing the Texas Power System infrastructure after the near collapse of the power grid in February 2021. Oliver lives in Austin, Texas with his wife of 45 years, D. Elizabeth Smith (Licensed Professional Counselor), and has three grown children, Natalie (attorney), Ernest (Disability Support Specialist), and Tamara (Eldercare support). His two grandchildren, Quincy (17) and Ruben (12) live with their parents, Ernest, and Sarah, in La Crosse, WI. He and Elizabeth are ordained Presbyterian Elders and are active in church affairs in Austin.
Topic: Reliability and Resilience in the Balance: Building Sustainable Infrastructure for a Reliable Future
