In The News

Reminder: Renew Your Engineering License on Time

Every year the Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors see many incidents where people have gone without renewing their licenses. This could stem from a number of innocent reasons - people moving and not receiving their renewal licenses, thinking they have renewed when they have not, or just simply forgetting.

Here are some easy steps for making sure that your license is not expired:

1. Go to the Division of Registrations web site at www.dora.state.co.us/registrations and click on Registrations Online Services.

2. Select the option for “I have an individual license.”

3. Click the link for “Set up your password” and follow the instructions.

4. Once you have logged into your account, check your mailing address and update it if it is not correct.  Please add your email address or update it, too. 

5. Also, check your license status to be sure it is active and note the expiration date in your calendar to remind yourself of when it is time to renew your license the next time.

6. Make note of your password, and when your license is 45 days away from renewal, come back to the site to renew your license electronically.

7. This is perhaps the most important step: Tell every other licensee that you know in your company, in the next office, in your association, on your projects, in your social circles, and in your neighborhood to go through steps 1-6 too!

Future Leader Professional Development Workshops
Brought to you by ACEC-CO

If you can attend only one training seminar in 2011, this is it!

• Eight 'people-management' workshops = 32 Professional Development Credits
• Enlightened management techniques for improved methods of communication
• Hands on activities to develop interpersonal and leadership capability
• Network and exchange ideas in the engineering - design - construction industry
• Interpersonal practice to be more comfortable dealing with clients, staff and co-workers
• Select from 2 workshops: Level I for supervisors, or Level II for experienced managers

These outstanding skill-building workshops are available to you at an exceptional value— $999 registration fee for ACEC members. Here is what some of the graduates have said about their experience:

“The Future Leaders program is highly recommended. It was very useful course especially for someone who has just begun managing others.”

”A great jumpstart to your project manager career. Full of good ideas and techniques. This has been a valuable class for me as a project manager.”

”I will benefit from Future Leaders and will look back on course materials to develop my skills as I progress as a manager.”

To learn more visit www.acec-co.org and select seminars/programs on the left menu bar then click on the gold Future Leader logo. You can read about the workshop dates, titles, descriptions and how to register. Or contact Jennifer Shaw at the ACEC/CO office, 303-832-2200, jennifer@acec-co.org.

Join other engineering rising stars to become the next generation of Future Leaders.

Classes Start March 1, 2011. Reserve space NOW~~Limited seating is available.

Marketing and Business Development

ACEC/CO Offers its PR & Marketing Counsel to Member Firms  

ACEC/CO is offering a new free service to members to further assist you with enhancing your business practices.
Each month, our Public Relations Consultant, uli Creative, LLC will be available to members to provide two hours of complimentary consultations from 1-3 p.m. following the monthly ACEC/CO PR Committee meeting in the ACEC office conference room.  PR meetings are typically scheduled the third Wednesday of each month.  Members may sign up to meet with the consultant by calling ACEC/CO at (303) 832-2200 to schedule a meeting up to one hour.

Our PR consultant provides ACEC/CO with strategic marketing and public relations guidance, leadership and professional services to further the visibility of the organization and consulting engineering.  As a part of their service provision to ACEC/CO they will provide members with advice regarding your marketing, public relations and brand/creative issues.  

Consider taking advantage of this free opportunity to answer your PR and marketing questions and receive assistance with a range of professional services activities including development of press releases, reviews of business correspondence, marketing and PR plans and marketing materials, and  Web sites; discussing events marketing, proposal reviews and answering new business development questions. Our consultant will listen to your needs and provide advice and direction.  Consultations are ideal for small firms that do not employ full-time marketing professionals and for those who wish for an unbiased review and sounding board for marketing and PR programs.

News From National

President's Report

The political sea change brought about by the mid-term elections now presents unique challenges and opportunities for our industry.  Infrastructure funding will continue to be a tough fight amidst concern for fiscal austerity; but Republican gains also present new opportunities on the tax and regulatory front that can benefit our members.  We have reached out to the new Congressional leadership to press our agenda, and are inviting the incoming House Speaker John Boehner and new T&I Committee Chairman John Mica to our annual Convention, March 30-April 2, 2011.  Also, we need your help in the final ACEC/PAC fund-raising push this month that will help our allies retire their campaign debts and strengthen ACEC with the new Congress.  

Best wishes for a happy holiday season!

General

• National mid-term elections brought a more conservative Congress to Washington to address fiscal issues – presenting both added challenges for passage of infrastructure legislation and lowered threat levels for anti-contracting out and related measures.
  
  
• ACEC/PAC-backed candidates won in 86% of races overall and 94% of U.S. Senate races.

• 56 ACEC state leaders – representing 28 state organizations, the Business Insurance Trust and the Council of Professional Surveyors – were briefed on Council objectives and programs at the annual leadership orientation at ACEC headquarters.
  
  

Government Affairs

• Supported the draft proposal from the bi-partisan co-chairs of President Obama’s fiscal commission – especially the gas tax increase and infrastructure investment recommendations.
  
  
• Agreed with AASHTO to develop a joint response to soon-to-be-released rules from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on A/E procurement; reaffirmed commitment to focus on AASHTO Audit Guide compliance; and assisted ACEC/Illinois in favorably addressing Audit Guide compliance issue related to field rates.
  
  
• Joined with AGC in a letter to leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee advocating repeal of 3% withholding in the next tax bill moving through Congress.

• Joined industry allies in lobbying Senate leaders to act this year on a bill that would limit the liability of engineering and construction firms which worked at Ground Zero.

• Participated in the first of a series of discussions between the U.S. and Brazilian governments to facilitate the involvement of U.S. A/E firms in Brazil’s planned $1.2 trillion infrastructure improvement program.

• Presented engineering industry perspectives on infrastructure resiliency issues at a conference sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security.
  
  

Institute for Business Management

• Bookstore specials included 10% off all EJCDC documents and products during November and December, and a Thanksgiving week “We’re Thankful for Our Customers” special featuring a 10% discount throughout the bookstore.
  

Engineers in the News

Bob Felsburg, Principal of Felsburg Holt & Ullevig, has been appointed by the Dean of the College of Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University to a three-year term on the Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (IPAC). The Council is a select group of representatives from industry, government, academia and the profession who advise the College on academic issues and on current trends and future directions in engineering, thus providing a direct linkage between the College and the engineering profession.

Apex Design recently hired Danny Montoya as traffic engineer and Bart Przybyl, PE, as transportation engineer.

PBS&J has been recognized by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) as the Consultant of the Year for work on the I-15 Express Lanes project. The award was presented at the UDOT Engineering Conference in Sandy, Utah.

Eric Bernhardt, PE, has joined Terracon’s Fort Collins office as a geotechnical department manager.  

URS Corporation recently added David C. Lady as a water resources engineer in its Glenwood Springs office. URS also recently hired Derek Brown, PE, as regional director, federal construction management.

Ashley Panter has joined HDR as a transportation engineer-in-training. The firm also named Darin Freeman as a senior bridge engineer, Jeff Stapleton senior transportation manager, and Stephen McQuilkin as senior transit project manager in its Denver office.

Mountain States Construction recently named several ACEC/CO member firm employees as 'Top 20 Under 40' winners: T. Andrew Earles, Wright Water Engineers; Ryan Nataluk, Stantec Consulting Services Inc.; Matthew B Schlageter, Martin/Martin Inc. and Michelle Swanson, the RMH Group Inc.

Patrick F. Horn, PE, civil engineering principal of Martin/Martin Inc. has completed the process and examination to become a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). He earned the certification through the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc. (ASFPM).

Shaffer Baucom Engineering & Consulting recently hired Mr. Greg Mitchell, PE as senior mechanical engineer.

Peter Binney, PE, has joined Merrick & Company as the firm's national director of sustainable infrastructure. Merrick also hired Torin Haskell as business development director for the geospatial solutions group. Robert Streblow has joined The Merrick Consultancy, a management, technical, and operations consulting service provider focused on the renewable, refining, and utilities markets.

ACEC National Programs and Events

ACEC/SFC Winter Seminar - "Improving Your Business Operations"
Small Firm Council (SFC), in partnership with the Family Business Institute and ACEC Business Insurance Trust, has developed a seminar tailored to the specific needs of small firm principals in improving their business operations. At the end of this program you will walk away with a new perspective on managing everyday challenges in a small firm. you will learn new insights and practical techniques in management areas.

This seminar will be held January 28-29, 2011 at the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown, San Diego, CA. Click here to view the brochure and registration information.

ACEC Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities: Opportunities in Expanding Markets
This course examines key sustainable design issues and processes, and showcases the growing applications of “green” engineering by some of the leading practitioners in the United States today. The agenda systematically lays out the complex interdisciplinary challenges of real-world sustainability problems, and explores ways to expand a firm’s business practice in sustainable engineering and facilities planning—particularly in the markets of transportation, buildings, and water projects.

This four-day certificate course program will be held February 1-4, 2011 in San Antonio Texas. For more information, view the course brochure, and to register, click here. For questions, contact La’Creshea Makonnen, 202-682-4338 or lmakonnen@acec.org.

ACEC Annual Convention and Legislative Summit
"Opportunities and Challenges - The New Congress and the Future of the Industry" Early-bird registration is now open for the 2011 ACEC Annual Convention and Legislative Summit to be held March 30 - April 2, 2011 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC. Hear from Incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner (invited), Incoming Transportation and Infrastructure Chair John Mica (invited) and former U.S. Representative Tom Davis on the political dynamics of the New Congress and what it means for our Industry! Click here for the Annual Convention web site.

800 Grant St Suite 100

Denver CO 80203

303-832-2200; Fax 303-832-0400

www.acec-co.org

acec@acec-co.org