| SATURDAY, APRIL 9 |
| 1 pm—5 pm |
Registration and Bookstore Opens |
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| SUNDAY, APRIL 10 |
| 7 am—7 pm |
Registration and Bookstore |
| 7 am—9 am |
Officer Breakfasts |
| 9 am—4 pm |
Board of Directors Meeting and Roundtable Discussions |
| 1:30 pm—5 pm |
Optional Activity: High Tea and Shopping
Click here for details. |
| 5:30 pm—6:30 pm |
NAECE and ACEC Staff Reception |
| 5:30 pm—6:30 pm |
First Timers' Reception
First-time meeting attendees and guests are invited to attend this reception with ACEC's leadership. |
| 6:30 pm—8:30 pm |
Opening Reception with Exhibitors
Fun, food, drinks and networking opportunities extraordinaire! Registered attendees and guests invited to attend. |
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| MONDAY, APRIL 11 |
| 7 am—7 pm |
Registration and Bookstore |
| 7 am—8 am |
Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 8 am—9 am |
Opening General Session
Speaker: Major General Don Riley, Director of Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Major General Don Riley, Director of Civil Works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will kick off the opening general section with an overview of his agencies priorities in the coming year for both its civil works and military construction programs. Riley will provide an update on the progress of USACE 2012 and highlight the important role of the private sector in carrying out the Corps' mission. |
| 9 am—12 noon |
CEO Roundtable Discussions
Participate in one of these small group sessions where each discussion is led by a CEO or senior principal: small firm (1-30 employees), medium firm (31-100 employees), medium/large firm (101-250 employees), large firm (251-500 employees) or very large firm (501+ employees). |
| 9 am—5 pm |
Hospitality Lounge
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| 10:15 am—10:45 am |
Networking Break with Exhibitors
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| 12 noon—2 pm |
Welcome Luncheon and Debate:
Speakers: James Carville and Mary Matalin
Join two of America's most famous political consultants from opposite ends of the political spectrum (who also happen to be husband and wife) for an inside look at Washington issues and politics. |
| 2:15 pm—3:30 pm |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Client Expectations of Perfection and Cost Recovery Efforts
Speakers: Jack Beemer, David Evans and Associates, Bend, OR; Charlie Geer, Kimley-Horn & Associates, West Palm Beach, FL; Robert Fogle, HNTB, Kansas City, MO; David Oates, Oates Associates, Collinsville, IL; Greg Sauter, DMJM+Harris | AECOM, Iselin, NJ
This session will explore USDOT Inspector General and state Department of Transportation cost recovery efforts and other unrealistic client expectations. The session will discuss options to combat this trend expecting perfection and report on relevant ACEC activities. |
Legal/Risk Management |
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Association Management Session: Tools and Techniques for Successful Fundraising
Speakers: Linda Auglis, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Washington, DC; Jay Simpson, ACEC/NY, Albany, NY
This session will outline what's been tried, what has failed, and what has worked in a variety of fundraising initiatives.
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Human
Resources |
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A CASE Study in Risk Management
Speakers: The Steering Committee of the CASE Risk Management Program
This session will examine risk management and loss prevention for structural engineers, focusing on the new CASE Risk Management Program recently initiated.
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Legal/Risk Management |
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Consulting Skills — How to Become a Trusted Advisor
Speaker: Leigh A. Mires, Walter P. Moore Associates, Houston, TX
This session will discuss the various consultative skills and tools necessary to move you from being merely the expert to becoming a trusted advisor with your client.
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Business Management |
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New Session Added! The Small Firm in the International Market
This briefing will focus on the significant opportunities and risks associated with a small firm entering the international market. Two panels will discuss how small firms can utilize existing client relationships to participate in government-sponsored projects; how large companies depend upon small business partners in the international arena; the criteria and methodology applied in determining small business set-asides; resources available to small firms; risks; and other relevant issues. Panelists will include representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SBA, USTDA, USAID, and several large and small international firms. |
Marketing |
| 2:30 pm—5 pm |
Optional Activity: First Ladies Tour
Click here for details. |
| 3:30 pm—4 pm |
Networking Break with Exhibitors |
| 4 pm—5:15 pm |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Association Management Session: Effective Government Relations
Speakers: A panel of ACEC Lobbyists and Executives
What is effective government relations? This session will offer "do's" and "don'ts" on achieving your group's legislative goals and becoming recognized as the voice of your constituency. |
Marketing |
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ESOPs in Engineering Firms: A Case Study
Speakers: James G. Steiker, SES Advisors, Inc. and Eric Flicker, Pennoni Associates, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Attorney James Steiker will provide an overview of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and explain how an ESOP functions as both an ownership transition method and an employee benefit plan. Former ACEC Chairman Eric Flicker, of Pennoni Associates, Inc. will discuss his experience with ESOPs and how his firm has successfully used an ESOP to achieve succession and to recruit and reward employees.
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Finance |
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What to Say and How to Say It When Every Minute is Worth A Million Bucks
Speaker: Sharon Youngblood, Youngblood Consulting, Inc., Tucson, AZ
Learn tips for professionals to present like a pro and "wow" them with content and delivery from the first 30 seconds until the contract is signed.
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Marketing |
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Unrational Leadership: A Development Program for Integrating Self, Career, and Firm Objectives
Speakers: Charles Fleetham, Project Innovations, and Russell Gronevelt, Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment, Inc., Farmington Hills, MI
This case study will show you how one firm employed an innovative training program to align personal, career and firm goals and how the program helped the firm increase its energy, double its size and deliver record profits.
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Leadership |
| 4 pm—6 pm |
Council of American Structural Engineers (CASE) Reception
Join CASE members and guests at an informal reception to honor the recipient of the CASE Past Chairmen's Award for outstanding contributions to the structural engineering profession. |
| 5:30 pm—6 pm |
Officer Photos |
| 6 pm—10 pm |
Engineering Excellence Awards Gala
Click here for details. |
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| TUESDAY, APRIL 12 |
| 7 am—5 pm |
Registration and Bookstore |
| 7 am—8 am |
College of Fellows and Life Fellows Breakfast |
| 7 am—8 am |
ACEC Retirement Trust Breakfast (Invitation only) |
| 7 am—8:30 am |
Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 8 am—11:45 am |
Congressional Issues Briefing and Lobby Training Session
In preparation for ACEC's "citizen lobbyists" to converge on Capitol Hill, ACEC's government relations staff and outside experts will educate members on priority issues and key message points, as well as offer useful tips and guidance on lobbying lawmakers.
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Government Affairs |
| 8 am—5 pm |
Legal Counsels Forum I
Attorneys of ACEC member firms discuss important legal issues related to the A/E industry. Note: Separate registration fee required.
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| 8:30 am—10:30 am |
Spouse/Guest Breakfast
Click here for details. |
| 8:45 am—10 am |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building Skills for Public Projects - How to Help Agency Project Managers, Elected Officials, the Project Team and Key Stakeholders Reach Agreement
Speaker: Robert C. Fisher, RESOLVE, Denver, CO
In this skill-building session, learn the principles and practices for conflict resolution. An expert mediator will demonstrate how to achieve greater success in competing for jobs, implement solutions for clients, and improve your reputation for achieving results. |
Project Delivery |
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Quality—Why Clients Are So Hard to Please
Speaker: Robert vanArsdall, XL Design Professional, Chapel Hill, NC
This session will explore the parameters of quality from both the engineers' and the clients' view, and show why engineers need to approach quality from the clients' perspective.
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Business Management |
| 9 am—5 pm |
Hospitality Lounge |
| 10 am—10:30 am |
Networking Break with Exhibitors |
| 10:30 am—11:45 am |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Professional Development for Women
Speaker: Diane Chamness, Chamness Consulting Inc., Milwaukee, WI
Participants in this upbeat and interactive session will learn how to move ahead in business by identifying a personal strategic plan and learning to operate from a place of strength.
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Human Resources |
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Mastering the Marketplace: How to Differentiate Your Firm
Speaker: Suzanne Lowe, Expertise Marketing, LLC, Concord, MA
In this session, you will learn why and how, to avoid the creation of competitively weak differentiation platforms through real-world examples of the foundations of effective differentiation and the six criteria engineering firms should use to determine what is the best fit for them.
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Marketing |
| 12 noon—1:45 pm |
Incoming Chairman's Luncheon and Awards Program
Hear the vision for ACEC from 2005-2006 Chairman Edward Mulcahy, TransSystems, Corp., Kansas City, MO.
Recipients of the Past Chairman's Award, Community Service Awards, SEI graduates and Peer Reviewed Firms, will also be honored.
Registered spouses/guests are invited to attend.
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| 2 pm—5 pm |
Capitol Hill Visits
| Government Affairs |
| 2 pm—3:15 pm |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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How Technology Innovations Can Improve Your Business
Speakers: Terry D. Bennett, P.L.S.-L.P.F. and Paul McRoberts, Autodesk, Inc., Manchester, NH
This session will explore the key industry business drivers that are shaping the technology, product and solution capabilities in the A/E/C industry.
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Information Technology |
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Staying on the Straight and Narrow: A Look at Selected Roles of the Design Professional During Construction Administration
Speaker: Kenneth A. Slavens, Brown & James, P.C., St. Louis, MO
This presentation will show you how to train personnel to deal with and document construction administration issues. The session will review contract provisions, dispute resolution issues, site safety, and other issues central to effective and efficient contract administration.
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Project Delivery |
| 2:30 pm—5 pm |
PAC Optional Tour: One of a Kind Tour of Washington, D.C.
Click here for details.
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| 3:15 pm—3:45 pm |
Networking Break with Exhibitors |
| 3:45 pm—5:00 pm |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Measuring Marketing and Sales—Costs and Outcomes
Speaker: Janet S. Sanders, The Clayton Consulting Group, Innsbrook, MO
Explore tools and techniques to understand what marketing "really" costs, how to determine appropriate marketing and sales metrics, and how to evaluate overall efficiency and effectiveness of marketing and sales efforts.
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Marketing |
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The Future Workforce—Five Sweeping Trends and How They Will Affect Engineering Companies
Speaker: Harriet Hankin, CGI Consulting Group, Inc., Malvern, PA
Longer life expectancy, more household types, multiple generations, diversity, and spirituality/social responsibility are changing the workplace. Using examples, expert insights, and tools, this session will spark creativity and help firm owners lead the way into the future.
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Human Resources |
| 5:15 pm—6:15 pm |
Senior Executives Institute (SEI) Alumni Reception
Join alumni of the Senior Executives Institute, ACEC's premier leadership development program, for an informal networking reception. This is a great opportunity for graduates of prior classes and those interested in the SEI program to meet face-to-face and share the SEI experience.
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6:00 pm—10:30 pm
UPDATED! |
Chairman’s Banquet, Award of Merit Honoree and ‘Capitol Steps’
The 2005 Distinguished Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by ACEC to an individual, will be presented to Neil Armstrong. Armstrong was Commander of NASA’s first moon landing mission and the first man to walk the moon’s surface, in 1969. Entertainment will be provided by the ‘Capitol Steps’.
For registered attendees and guests. Dress: Black Tie-Optional
You won’t want to miss the nationally acclaimed ‘Capitol Steps’ satirical revue, immediately following the Award of Merit presentation. The ‘Capitol Steps’ are sponsored by ACEC’s PAC. Read more about how you can support the PAC by by clicking here.
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| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 |
| 7 am—5 pm |
Registration and Bookstore |
| 7 am—8:30 am |
PAC Sweepstakes Breakfast
Click here for details.
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| 8 am—12 noon |
Legal Counsels Forum II
Note: Separate registration fee required.
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| 8 am—5 pm |
Professional Business Forums
Business forums for Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, Information Technology, and Emerging Leaders will address specific areas in each topic and provide an excellent platform for idea exchange. These thought-provoking discussions are moderated by leaders of A/E firms from each discipline. Emerging Leaders Forum will meet from 8 am—12 pm.
Note: Separate registration fee required if not paying the full convention fee.
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| 8:30 am—9:45 am |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Sustainable Design for Engineers
Speaker: William Wallace, LLC, Wallace Futures Group, Steamboat Springs, CO
Sustainability represents the number one megatrend that will change the rules of global business. Innovative companies will find ways to gain relative advantage via lowering costs, differentiating products and services, leveraging experience and core competencies, and discovering new market and geographic strategies. Come hear from a leading expert who wrote ACEC's new textbook on sustainability.
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Project Delivery |
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Getting Outside the Box: Alternative Stock Plans and Equity Compensation
Speaker: Colvin Matheson, CFA, Matheson Financial Advisors, Inc., Falls Church, VA
This session is tailored for principals who manage the ownership and stock process at their firms and who are interested in "outside the box" equity tools.
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Finance |
| 8:30 am—5 pm |
Market Opportunities Briefings
Representatives from a variety of federal agencies will provide insights into effective contracting business with the Federal Government. Learn about new market opportunities, what projects are receiving billions of dollars budgeted and how best to contract for the projects. Participating federal agencies include:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Naval Facilities Command
- General Services Administration
- National Park Service
- Department of Defense
- U.S.D.A.
- U.S. Trade and Development Agency
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Marketing |
| 9 am—5 pm |
Capitol Hill Visits
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Government Affairs |
| 9 am—5 pm |
Hospitality Lounge
|
| 9:45 am—10:15 am |
Networking Break with Exhibitors |
| 10:15 am—11:30 am |
CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
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Driving Business Results Through E-Learning
Speaker: Cynthia D. Crenshaw, PhD, AMI, Napa, CA
This session will offer case studies to illustrate how e-learning can drive business results, impact employee productivity and sustain an organization's competitive success. Assessing an organization's readiness and understanding the critical components of an effective e-learning initiative are essential to its success within an organization.
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Information Technology |
| 11:45 am—1:30 pm |
Networking Lunch with Exhibitors
Join us for a casual lunch in the exhibit hall. Registered spouses/guests may register to attend.
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