Jose Izquierdo-Encarnacion, principal of Porticus, an engineering services company in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was recently elected president of ACI International (the American Concrete Institute).
Izquierdo became the 80th president of ACI, a technical and educational society dedicated to improving the design, construction, maintenance and repair of concrete structures.
"ACI has built its reputation on developing and disseminating the knowledge needed to use concrete to its fullest potential," said Izquierdo during his installation at the spring convention. "That reputation has been achieved through the hard work and diligence of the volunteers who have generously given of their time to sit on the many technical committees that produce this information. I consider it a privilege and an honor to lead this organization as we enter our second century of progress through knowledge."
The agenda for Izquierdo's one-year term includes:
* Attracting more technical volunteers to keep the lifeblood of the Institute strong;
* Building on past efforts to make ACI truly an international organization with precise goals for each world region;
* Reaching out within the concrete industry to establish formal relationships with general contractors, architects and other appropriate groups and organizations; and
* Continuing the ACI Fellowship program that introduces students to careers in concrete as a way of ensuring a strong, viable industry in the future.
Izquierdo received a bachelors and masters degree in civil engineering, majoring in structures, from the University of Puerto Rico. He started work as a structural engineer and was the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works for Puerto Rico.
He has been actively involved with ACI since 1980.
