Members of the Florida Concrete and Products Association welcomed Dr. Michael Bienvenue in his new role as Professor of Concrete Sustainability with Florida International University.
Members of the Florida Concrete and Products Association welcomed Dr. Michael Bienvenue in his new role as Professor of Concrete Sustainability with Florida International University. At a gathering at the university, Chairman Rick Edwards of Vulcan Materials hosted a reception which included members of the industry and the education community on February 1st.
Included in the welcoming were Jorge Armenteros of Continental Materials; Pete Lyons of Cemex; Cary Cohrs of American Cement; Marty Fallon of Suwannee American Cement; Billy Dickens of WR Grace; J.C. Calleiro of Cemex; Gonzalo Galindo of Cemex; Pepe Cancio of Supermix; Frank Suarez of WR Grace; Kim Duke of Vulcan Materials; Roy MacRobert of Supermix; and Jack Tobin of Cemex
After an extensive nationwide search, the Selection Committee whose members included Tim Kuebler of Titan and Bob Cardonne of Cemex, Dr. Bienvenue was chosen for this most critical position. The Karl Watson, Jr. Professorship is a public/private partnership between the University and the FC&PA.
With an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Dr. Bienvenue earned a Masters and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, as well as a Juris Doctorate, from North Carolina State University. His background spans the realm of the public, private and educational arenas. Dr. Bienvenue has worked with the United States Department of Transportation on transportation needs for developing countries in the Caribbean community and has an extensive career with the Florida Department of Transportation which included service as a Pavement Evaluation Engineer, District Materials Engineer, District Maintenance Engineer and District Director of Transportation Operations.
Dr. Bienvenue has taken that knowledge and worked as an educator at institutions such as North Carolina State University, Florida Atlantic University, Miami-Dade College and FIU. His involvement in professional associations and his recognitions are numerous and he has also practiced as an attorney and holds 3 patents.
At the reception, Dean Amir Mirmiran and Engineering Department Chair, Dr. Atorod Azizinamini, echoed the importance of this position within the University. Both discussed how information from the landmark MIT study, sponsored by the industry, will be formulated by Dr. Bienvenue for use in our industry’s efforts in Florida.
Dr. Bienvenue thanked the gathering and told of his “inside-out” understanding of the challenges we have faced in the past in forwarding concrete as the paving material of choice and that he will work with the industry in order to make positive change.
The FC&PA is honored to have the opportunity to work with the University on this revolutionary collaboration and to have such a distinguished individual such as Dr. Bienvenue to fulfill this mission.