Thursday, September 24, 2026
11:30am-1:00pm

Dillworth Neighborhood Grille
911 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28204

About the Event

Join ASHE Carolina Piedmont for a Municipal Roundtable Lunch & Learn featuring Erin Pratt, PE, Town Engineer for the Town of Fort Mill, and Beth Hassenfritz, PE, Director of Engineering for the City of Kannapolis.

This interactive discussion will offer a firsthand look at the transportation challenges, opportunities, and innovations facing two of the Charlotte region’s rapidly growing communities. Drawing from their experience in both the public and private sectors, Erin and Beth will share perspectives on transportation planning, project delivery, infrastructure needs, and the unique challenges of serving growing municipalities.

Rather than a traditional presentation, the roundtable format is designed to encourage open discussion and meaningful interaction. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions or submit them in advance, helping shape the conversation around the issues that matter most to transportation professionals working throughout our region.

Whether you work in the public or private sector, this Lunch & Learn is an excellent opportunity to hear directly from municipal engineering leaders, gain fresh perspectives, and connect with fellow ASHE members and transportation professionals as we look toward the future of transportation in the Carolinas.

Speaker Bios

Erin Danielle Pratt, PE

Town Engineer – Town of Fort Mill

Erin Danielle Pratt is originally from North Carolina and earned her degree in Civil Engineering from UNC Charlotte. Throughout her career, she has gained experience in both the private and public sectors, spending roughly half of her professional career as a transportation consultant and the other half serving public agencies, including the City of Charlotte and the Town of Fort Mill.

Erin joined the Town of Fort Mill in April and currently serves as Town Engineer, bringing her experience in transportation engineering and public-sector project delivery to one of the region’s rapidly growing communities.

Deeply engaged in her community, Erin and her family enjoy spending time at local baseball fields, exploring the Anne Springs Close Greenway, and volunteering with the Fort Mill History Museum.

Beth Hassenfritz, PE

Director of Engineering – City of Kannapolis

Beth Hassenfritz is a native of South Carolina and earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson University. She began her career with a consulting firm serving municipalities throughout the Carolinas before joining the City of Charlotte’s in-house design department in 2005.

During her time with Charlotte, Beth designed and managed a variety of transportation projects, including roadway improvements, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, roundabouts, and transit projects. She joined the City of Kannapolis Engineering Department in 2018, where she has directed and supervised projects across multiple city departments. Beth was promoted to Director of Engineering in 2024.

Outside of her professional work, Beth enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Kirk, and their five children.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be available upon request.

The cost is just $35 for members, $50 for non-members and SPECIAL $20 for Government Employees who pay no later than Friday September 18, 2026. Please note, rates increase on the Saturday before the event and there are no refunds for no-shows. Lunch will be provided and PDHs will be available upon request. This event is limited to 60 seats. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ashecpssecretary@gmail.com.

The Fourth Parallel Runway, Digital Twin Technology & Smart Infrastructure

Join ASHE Carolina Piedmont for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant aviation infrastructure projects underway in the Southeast. Ashton Watson, PE, CM, ACE, Director of Engineering for Charlotte Douglas International Airport, will discuss the planning, design, and construction of the Airport’s Fourth Parallel Runway and the innovative technologies supporting its long-term performance. The presentation will explore the development of a cutting-edge digital twin and pavement instrumentation system designed to enhance airport operations, support FAA research, and improve the future of airfield pavement management.

Thursday, August 27, 2026
11:30am – 12pm – Registration & Networking
12:00pm – 1:00pm – Program

Dillworth Neighborhood Grille
911 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Event Overview

Join ASHE Carolina Piedmont for an exclusive look at one of the largest aviation infrastructure programs in the Southeast. Ashton Watson, PE, CM, ACE, Director of Engineering for Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), will provide an update on the Airport’s ongoing capital improvements, including the development of the Fourth Parallel Runway and the innovative technologies being implemented to support its long-term performance and airport operations.

The presentation will highlight the design and implementation of a state-of-the-art instrumentation system and digital twin for the new runway and adjacent taxiways. Developed through a collaborative effort between Charlotte Douglas International Airport, UNC Charlotte, consultants, contractors, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the system incorporates embedded pavement sensors, weather monitoring technology, and real-time data acquisition to improve operational decision-making while advancing airport pavement research.

Attendees will gain insight into the unique engineering challenges of designing, constructing, and monitoring modern airport infrastructure, while learning how data-driven technologies are shaping the future of pavement management, airfield operations, and transportation engineering. Whether your interests are in aviation, highways, pavement engineering, construction, or emerging transportation technologies, this presentation offers a unique perspective on one of North Carolina’s most significant infrastructure investments.

Presenter:

Ashton B. Watson, PE, CM, ACE 

Director of Engineering, Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Ashton B. Watson serves as Director of Engineering for Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), where he leads the Airport’s $3+ billion Capital Investment Program and oversees major airfield, terminal, and landside infrastructure projects. With nearly 20 years of experience in aviation and transportation engineering, Ashton has successfully delivered more than 60 large-scale infrastructure projects spanning runways, taxiways, ramps, roadways, and airport support facilities.

Prior to his appointment as Engineering Director, Ashton served as Airport Engineering Program Director, where he directed many of CLT’s most significant capital improvements, including the Fourth Parallel Runway Program, South Ramp Expansion, North End Around Taxiway (NEAT), multiple award-winning taxiway rehabilitation projects, and numerous runway, roadway, and utility infrastructure improvements. Before joining CLT, he managed transportation projects for the City of Charlotte Department of Transportation.

Ashton earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from UNC Charlotte. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina, a Certified Member (CM) and Airport Certified Employee–Operations (ACE) of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). In addition to his work at CLT, Ashton serves as an adjunct professor and advisory board member for UNC Charlotte’s Aviation Innovation and Research Institute, where he helps prepare the next generation of aviation professionals.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be available upon request.

The cost is just $35 for members, $50 for non-members and SPECIAL $20 for Government Employees who pay no later than Friday August 21, 2026. Please note, rates increase on the Saturday before the event and there are no refunds for no-shows. Lunch will be provided and PDHs will be available upon request. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ashecpssecretary@gmail.com.

Learn how Charlotte is fast-tracking high-impact transportation projects through its Strategic Investment Areas program—using innovative delivery, strategic bundling, and targeted investment to transform key corridors.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
11:30am – 12pm – Registration & Networking
12:00pm – 1:00pm – Program

Dillworth Neighborhood Grille
911 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Event Overview

We invite you to join us for our May Lunch & Learn on May 20, 2026, featuring Mackenzie Nowacki, PE, from the City of Charlotte.

Mackenzie will present an overview of the City’s Strategic Investment Areas (SIA) program and how it is being used to align transportation, land use, and infrastructure investments along high-priority corridors.

Attendees will gain insight into how SIA projects support:

• Multimodal transportation initiatives
• Economic development opportunities
• Safety improvements
• Long-term, sustainable growth

This session will be especially valuable for engineers, planners, consultants, and public-sector professionals interested in urban mobility, funding strategies, and collaborative project delivery.

As Charlotte continues to grow, understanding how Strategic Investment Areas guide capital planning and implementation will be critical for those involved in local and regional transportation projects.

Presenter:

Mackenzie Nowacki, PE 

Engineering Program Manager – SIA Program Management Office – City of Charlotte

Mackenzie Nowacki is an Engineering Program Manager with the City of Charlotte, where she has served for the past eight years. She currently acts as Co-Lead of the City’s Strategic Investment Areas (SIA) Pilot Program, helping to advance innovative approaches to delivering transportation improvements more efficiently and strategically.

Originally from Western New York, Mackenzie earned her degree in Civil Engineering from the University at Buffalo. Prior to joining the City of Charlotte, she spent over six years in the private sector, gaining valuable experience in transportation engineering and project delivery.

Mackenzie is actively engaged in the professional community, serving as President-Elect of the APWA North Carolina Leadership & Management Division and as a board member of the WTS Charlotte Metro Chapter.

Outside of her professional work, Mackenzie enjoys spending time with her family, often chasing after her two young children, supporting her family’s businesses in the Music Factory, and taking her dog, Phyllis, on long walks.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be available upon request.

The cost is just $35 for members, $50 for non-members and SPECIAL $20 for Government Employees who pay no later than Friday May 15, 2026. Please note, rates increase on the Saturday before the event and there are no refunds for no-shows. Lunch will be provided and PDHs will be available upon request. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ashecpssecretary@gmail.com.

The American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) Carolina Piedmont Chapter proudly presents our 2026 Golf Tournament and Scholarship Fundraiser. This annual event brings our industry together for a day on the course to support the next generation of transportation professionals. All proceeds directly benefit our scholarship fund, helping local engineering students reach their educational goals

Event Details

• When: Tuesday, April 21st, 2026.
• Where: Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation.
• Check-In: 9:30 AM.
• Tournament Start: 11:00 AM.
• Entry Fee: $100 per person.

Sponsorship Opportunities

The “Swag Bag” Partnership

Give back to the students while getting in front of the pros!

We are looking for local firms to help us stock our 2026 ASHE Tournament Swag Bags. This is a fantastic, low-cost way to get your company’s branding into the hands of every golfer on the course.

• How it Works: Provide units of a high-quality “swag” item (think tees, hats, sunblock, or tech gadgets) to be included in our official player welcome kits.
• The Catch: To ensure a variety of items for our players, we accept donations on a first-come, first-served basis by category. We want to make sure every item in the bag is unique!
• Recognition: All swag donors will be recognized for their contribution to the Scholarship Fundraiser.

Ready to claim your spot in the bag?

Simply send an email to ashesecretary@gmail.com with the item you’d like to donate, and we will confirm if that category is still open.

How to Register

To secure your spot or sponsorship, please complete this registration form and return it via email to:
Mickey Geiser at mickey.geiser@kimley-horn.com.
2026 Golf Fundraiser Form

—– or —–

Pay Online

Driving innovation, safety, and collaboration in North Carolina’s rail system for a stronger, connected future.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
11:30am – 12pm – Registration & Networking
12:00pm – 1:00pm – Program

Dillworth Neighborhood Grille
911 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Event Overview

Join ASHE Carolina Piedmont as Troy Creasy shares an in-depth update on the transformative investments shaping the future of rail in North Carolina. This presentation will highlight record-breaking ridership growth on NC By Train services, major federal and state investments including the S-Line corridor from Raleigh to Richmond, mobility hub development across seven communities, and expansion opportunities through the FRA Corridor Identification Program.

Attendees will gain insight into how rail infrastructure is driving economic development, enhancing freight resiliency, improving passenger connectivity across the Southeast to Washington, D.C., and strengthening public safety. The session will also provide updates on Western North Carolina rail recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene and the Rail Division’s long-term capital program through 2035.

This discussion will showcase how strategic partnerships, federal funding, and forward-looking planning are positioning North Carolina as a national leader in passenger and freight rail innovation.

Presenter:

Troy Creasy, PE

Manager of Design & Construction – NCDOT Rail Division

Troy J. Creasy, P.E., serves as Branch Manager of Railroad Design and Construction for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Rail Division, where he provides statewide leadership over railroad agreements, consultant contract management, construction administration, and strategic project delivery. Prior to coming to NCDOT, Troy served in multiple engineering leadership roles with CSX Transportation. A licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina, Troy is committed to process improvement, operational excellence, and strengthening collaboration between state DOTs and railroad partners.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and is a graduate of the AASHTO Management Institute (Class of 2025). Troy also completed NC State’s 2022 NCDOT Executive Education Program, with focused study in finance, budgeting, and procurement strategy.

At the national level, Troy represents NCDOT on the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) Railroad–Light Rail Committee and has served since 2015 on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Railroad–DOT Mitigation Strategies Community of Interest. He currently contributes to two National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) panels advancing applied research for state DOTs and serves on NC State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) RailTAP Advisory Board.

In addition, Troy serves as Strategic Partnerships Chair for North Carolina’s COMTO chapter, where he supports small business engagement and workforce development across the transportation industry.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be available upon request.

The cost is just $30 for members or $50 for non-members who pay no later than Friday March 20, 2026. Please note, rates increase on the Saturday before the event and there are no refunds for no-shows. Lunch will be provided and PDHs will be available upon request. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ashecpssecretary@gmail.com.