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Volume XXIII, Number 1
January 11, 2002

1015 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-7474
Fax 202-898-0068
www.acec.org

E-mail acec@acec.org

Ellen Mullally, Editor
Francis George, Production Manager
___________________

 ACEC Means
Business

There’s Still Time To Join!   

ACEC seeks industry professionals from member firms to help design and implement national policy decisions and action items through committee service. All interested candidates should apply to ACEC by Jan. 30. An application is available at www.acec.org.

Get Wired!

Marketing your firm involves telling your clients what you can do for them that your competitors can’t. Wired! by David Stone shows you how to effectively market your firm’s services. Order Wired! or any other ACEC publications online; fax: (202) 789-7220; or mail to: ACEC, Attn: Publications, 1015 15th Street, NW, Suite 802, Washington, DC 20005 (reference Order W-332).

Please include your Mastercard, Visa, or American Express number with the expiration date, name on credit card/contact name, firm name, address (shipping and billing), phone/fax number, and e-mail address on mail or fax orders.

Watch Your Mail!

It’s time for the annual Membership Certification Update, as required by ACEC’s bylaws. Forms will be mailed later this month. If you have any questions, please call Stephanie Colbert at 202-347-7474.

Get Marketing Results

Do your marketing efforts yield the results you’re looking for? Do you adjust marketing strategies as your clients evolve? If you want to transform you firm into a market-driven organization with successful, cutting-edge strategies, make plans to attend the 2002 Marketing Summit: Strategies For Engineering Firms, Jan. 18-19 at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach, Calif. The meeting is co-sponsored by ACEC and the Society For Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). For more information, go to www.acec.org or call Roger Doucette at 202-347-7474.

Proposal Bootcamp   

If you want to improve your proposal hit rate and enhance the effectiveness of your proposals, then Proposal Bootcamp is for you. There are seven locations and dates to choose from:

¨ Feb. 7-8, Newport Beach, Calif.
¨ Feb. 21-22, Las Vegas
¨ March 7-8, Chicago
¨ March 21-22, Orlando, Fla.
¨ April 11-12, Denver
¨ April 25-26, Seattle
¨ May 2-3, Boston

Call Roger Doucette at 202-347-7474 for more information or go to www.psmj.com to register.

Business of Design Consulting

Learn the best practices in the engineering industry, improve your business operations and advance your professional career at ACEC’s Business of Design Consulting seminar Feb. 23-27 at the Hyatt Orlando in Orlando, Fla. This 5-day event examines many topics, including project management, marketing/business development, leadership, communication skills, human resources, information technology, financial management and risk management. For more information or to register, go to www.acec.org (under Continuing Education) or call Roger Doucette at 202-347-7474.    

Knowledge Is Power

Is everyone in your company staying up to date on national legislative and policy developments, organizational changes, and other industry news by receiving the weekly Last Word via e-mail? If others in your company are not receiving these weekly e-mails, have them contact Francis George today at fgeorge@acec.org.

GA Report

This week's edition:
 January 11, 2002

ACEC Gets Blacklisting Rule Rescinded

The Bush Administration recently took the final step in repealing the so-called "blacklisting" regulations that were issued in the closing days of the previous administration. The regulations, if allowed to take effect, would have effectively barred companies from federal contracts based on a mere allegation of wrongdoing.

ACEC and others in the business community succeeded earlier this year in convincing the Bush Administration to put a hold on the new regulations, arguing that federal procurement law and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) already provide ample authority for disqualifying firms that fail to uphold the law. This latest action represents the conclusion of ACEC’s successful campaign to repeal these flawed regulations, ensuring that the business relationship between engineering firms and the federal government remains fair and objective.

Bush Signs ACEC "Brownfields" Legislation  

President Bush signed into law ACEC’s "Brownfields" legislation this morning. The new law provides $200 million over the next three years for cleanup of the former industrial sites known as Brownfields and $50 million for states to create their own Brownfields programs. ACEC worked with congressional staff to draft the legislation, submitted written testimony, and coordinated grassroots support for its passage.    

FAA Funding Chief Briefs ACEC Members


ACEC Government Affairs Director
Steve Hall (L) discusses aviation
funding issues with Barry
Molar at the ACEC First Friday
Breakfast in Washington, D.C.
Barry Molar, manager of the Airports Financial Assistance Division at the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Airport Planning and Programming, told attendees at ACEC’s First Friday Breakfast this morning he anticipates continued record levels of funding in 2003 for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). AIP, the main federal funding mechanism for airport construction projects in the United States, is currently funded at $3.3 billion, and Molar said that security-related improvements should receive the highest priority in the months ahead.

ACEC Nominee Appointed To State Department Advisory Panel

Derish Wolff, president and CEO of The Louis Berger Group Inc., has been appointed to a nine-member Industry Advisory Panel for the State Department’s Overseas Building Operations (OBO). The members of the panel will advise OBO on areas such as security, emergency operations, design, construction, and seismic issues related to U.S. missions abroad.     

Professional Liability Insurance Rates Rising    

ACEC’s Risk Management Committee is making available the results of a 2001survey of professional liability insurance carriers, which includes information from professional liability carriers on rates, claims, special services and general procedural issues.

The results, which were compiled by the Risk Management Committee and representatives from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), is an important resource for ACEC members seeking the best rates and services from a wide range of insurance carriers.

Committee member Charles Kopplin, a principal with Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer & Associates Inc., has written a summary of the survey results, which can be accessed by clicking here. Among other findings, the survey found that, after years of decline, rates are poised to increase at least 10 to 15 percent in 2002.

Don’t Miss ACEC’s Spectacular 3-in-1 Washington Event

The Engineers Salute America brochure is in the mail for ACEC’s Federal Markets Conference (FMC), Consulting Congress Day (CCD), and Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Gala in Washington, D.C., March 11-13. For immediate access to the brochure, go to https://www.acec.org/Events/esa.pdf. Register today by printing out the registration form and faxing it to 202-682-4361.

Learn about homeland security and new markets, meet and influence key members of Congress, and attend an elegant black-tie affair honoring engineering’s finest. President Bush has been invited, and congressional leaders have confirmed their participation.

All of the activities are being held at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The hotel is offering attendees a discounted rate of $205 single/double occupancy if reservations are made by Feb. 15. Call the hotel at 202-582-1234 or 1-800-233-1234 and reference "ACEC" to receive the special rate.

For additional information, call Susan Doyle (CCD), Roger Doucette (FMC) or Susan Courtney (EEA Gala) at 202-347-7474.

CEO Retreat Coming Soon

Business owners and principals can review successes, evaluate goals, and create a strategic plan for achieving them at ACEC’s CEO Retreat April 10-12 at the Radisson Suite Beach Hotel in Marco Island, Fla.

The retreat offers networking opportunities, case studies, and educational speakers and sessions on the financial aspects of ownership transition and the vital signs that propel a company. In addition, attendees will receive 11 Professional Development Hours.

Register before March 8 for the discounted rate of $545 for members and $695 for non-members. For more information, go to http://www.acec.org/meetmein/seminars/ceo.pdf or call Roger Doucette at 202-347-7474.

ACEC’s Annual Convention: A Sure Thing!

Mark your calendars. ACEC’s 2002 Annual Convention will be held May 12-15 in the entertainment capital of the world: Las Vegas! This year’s convention features noted speakers Henry Petroski, Donna Shirley and Amanda Gore. And the Marketing, Human Resources, and Information Technology tracks are back by popular demand.

Convention headquarters is the beautiful Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The rate is $139 single/double occupancy. Make your reservations by calling 1-888-746-6955 and referencing "ACEC." The reservation cut-off date is April 12.

Full registration materials will be available next month. Be sure to check ACEC’s Web site, www.acec.org, for convention updates and for instructions on how to register online.     

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