Movers and Shakers highlights the career advancements and accomplishments of high-level trailblazers working professionally in diverse areas of standardization, contributing every day to the strength and success of the U.S. standards and conformance community.
IEEE has awarded Paul Nikolich the 2025 IEEE Charles Proteus Steinmetz Award, recognizing his notable leadership in the development and advancement of global IEEE 802 network standards.
An IEEE Life Fellow, Nikolich served as chairman of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN standards committee from 2001 to 2024, providing oversight over thousands of dedicated participants completing hundreds of ratified IEEE 802 standards in wired and wireless communications networking. He also played a key role in developing broadband access standards, including the IEEE 802 LMSC and DOCSIS Cable Modem standards families, which have revolutionized global connectivity. As the owner of Nikolich Advisors, LLC and an angel investor, Nikolich invented, funded, and delivered new products and services that leverage these networking standards.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) announced that its executive director, Tom Smith, will retire effective December 31, 2025.
Smith has been with ASCE for almost 29 years, including 11 years in his current role. In this time, he helped expand the influence of ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Card, which was instrumental in helping secure passage of a significant federal infrastructure bill. He navigated ASCE through economic downturns and the COVID pandemic, defending challenges to engineering licensure and protection of scientific intellectual property rights; expanding ASCE’s leadership in standards, resilience, and sustainability initiatives; and producing two highly successful giant screen film and educational projects.
“Personally, it’s been a dream job to lead an organization that has been a part of my life since my student days, and I’m proud of the things we’ve achieved through the close partnerships we’ve built between our staff and volunteer leaders,” Smith said. “After almost three decades with ASCE, I’m eager to pursue some of my personal and professional passions in other ways and truly feel that the timing is right to pass the leadership mantle on to a new leader.”
Submit an Announcement
Contributions to Movers and Shakers may be submitted to [email protected]. All submissions are published at ANSI's discretion.
Career Opportunities
As a service to the U.S. standards and conformity assessment community, ANSI provides an online network connecting the most progressive companies with the most qualified individuals. Please visit ANSI's career opportunities webpage for details.
