The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates an extensive engineering and scientific research laboratory system that supports the Army and the nation. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) includes seven unique laboratories at four geographic locations: Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, Vicksburg, Miss.; Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, N.H.; Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Champaign, Ill.; Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Miss.; Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, Vicksburg, Miss.; Information Technology Laboratory, Vicksburg, Miss.; and Topographic Engineering Center, Alexandria, Va. More information on ERDC is available through its website: http://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/erdc.html.

The laboratories welcome professional visitors. Groups of ACEC members wishing to tour one of the ERDC facilities should contact Billy Bridges, ERDC Public Affairs Director, at 601-634-2504.

One of many changes made by ACEC Chairman Stephen Goddard was to combine ACEC committees that have similar goals and objectives. For example, Quality Management and Peer Review have joined forces to become the Quality Management and Peer Review Committee (QMPR).

"Both Committees have been very successful in bringing value to ACEC members and together, I’d like to see all the goals of the previous committee(s) at a minimum be met and ideally exceeded in the upcoming year," said Gary Loesch, Chair, QMPR Committee. "Quality management has a lot to offer the Peer Review Program and vice versa: Peer Review is all about quality."

The agenda for this new committee includes promoting the Peer Review Program, introducing the new Quality Management Guidelines, and further investigating the proposed Quality Certification Program. For more information, contact Anna Johnson (ajohnson@acec.org) at ACEC.

Emerging Business Opportunities in the European Union. Eastward enlargement of the EU creates many project opportunities for engineers. Take advantage of a "how to" manual on doing business with the EU, courtesy of our colleagues at EFCA, the European Federation of Consulting Engineering Associations. Click here for details.

"Developing character and vision is the way leaders invent themselves," according to Warren Bennis, a management expert, in his new book On Becoming a Leader.

As part of the first of five sessions in ACEC’s Senior Executives Institute (SEI), senior-level executives from A/E firms across the nation explore Bennis’ basic ingredients to leadership: Integrity, Passion, Guiding Vision, Trust, Curiosity, and Daring.

SEI is a unique training program focusing on public policy, advanced management, and leadership. As described by Keith Kuzio, President of Larson Design Group in Williamsport, PA, and the first of three executives from his firm to join SEI, "… the learning was much deeper than the typical ‘Do x, and y will result’ approach that is prevalent in the A/E training market today. SEI incorporated a rich variety of readings, including books, articles and case studies, presenting the most current, highly respected ideas in leadership and management.

"Through the interactive dialog, discussion, and role playing in the five sessions, I was presented with methods and learning models with which to transform our company from a typical profit-minded business to a high-powered learning organization," said Kuzio." Personally and professionally, my life has become calmer and more balanced, and I have established rich relationships with my classmates and instructors that will remain strong for a lifetime. But most significantly, through the SEI process I have become recharged and excited about the potential that exists within me and every employee in my organization."