Vol. XXIV, Number 29
August 8, 2003
1015 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-7474
Fax 202-898-0068
www.acec.org
E-mail acec@acec.org
Alan D. Crockett, Director, PR
Ann Brandstadter,
Editor/Designer

ACEC Means
Business

Website Viewership Achieves All-Time High In July

There is no vacation for ACEC's website during the lazy months of summer. The site received the year's highest viewership in July, with a record 1,611,436 hits, (units of web-traffic measurement.) This is a 48 percent increase from July 2002, when the website received 839,121 hits.

Operating Expenses Survey Now Available

In this tough economy, it's more important than ever for design and environmental firm leaders and financial managers to keep overhead costs in check. 2003 Operating Expenses Survey Of A/E/P & Environmental Consulting Firms includes the latest, most detailed benchmarking statistics available on operating expenses for firms just like yours. ZweigWhite has covered numerous areas of concern for design and environmental consulting firms—from marketing to human resources to finance to technology. Click here to order. #3675-16-03, $275.

The New ACEC State Licensure Guide

Stay current with the new ACEC State Licensure Guide. ACEC saves you time and effort by detailing P.E. licensing board requirements for all 50 states. This new CD shows you how to obtain your license through varying levels of education, professional development hours, work experience and testing depending on each state's requirements. You'll also receive application forms from each state. This is a comprehensive report that every engineer should keep as a handy desk reference. $149 ACEC members/$169 non-members.

Click here to order.

Take Your Firm From Good To Great

What are the universal distin-
guishing charac-
teristics that cause a company to go from good to great?

Jim Collins, best-selling author and management researcher, details those characteristics in Good to Great.

Collins won the Distinguished Teaching Award while teaching at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

His research team identified a set of elite companies that made the leap to great results and sustained those results for at least 15 years.

Read all about them in this best-selling book free when you purchase any of EJCDC's contracts/contract sets, listed here:

  		• NEW! Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Engineer for Professional Services
    (E-500) $100 members/$200 non-members
  		• NEW! Short Form Agreement between Owner and Engineer
    (E-520) $100 members/$200 non-members
  		• Engineer-Subconsultant Agreements Full Set (E-991) available on CD or for immediate download!
    $200 members/$400 non-members
  		• Standard Form of Joint Venture Agreement Between Engineers for Professional Services
    (E-580) $72 members/$144 non-members
  		• Standard General Conditions of the Construction Contract
    (C-700) $100 members/$200 non-members

    Click here to order.

    		 
    Mechanical/Electrical Committee Initiates Liaison With National Facilities Administrators


    Dale Jacobs, ACEC M/E Practice Committee chairman
    ACEC's Mechanical/Electrical Practice Committee has forged a new liaison with the National Association of State Facilities Administrators (NASFA). The new relationship will increase opportunities for ACEC member firms to be involved in construction and maintenance of NASFA projects.

    NASFA is an organization of facilities professionals representing state government agencies. Its members are involved in planning, managing and supplying services to the facilities management industry.

    "We believe this is a win-win situation for M/E's and the facilities administrators. Buildings will have better systems and run more efficiently because of this combination," said Dale Jacobs, chairman of the ACEC Mechanical/Electrical Practice Committee.

    McCain To Join ACEC In Phoenix


    Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
    U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) will be the special guest at a reception during the upcoming ACEC 2003 Annual Conference in Phoenix.

    The Arizona lawmaker and current chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, will appear at a reception from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 10, at the new JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa.

    As Commerce, Science and Transportation committee chairman, McCain will play a leadership role this year as Congress reauthorizes both the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21), and the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21).

    Sen. McCain is preparing to run for re-election in 2004. The reception in Phoenix will support his bid for another term as Arizona's senior Senator, and give ACEC members a unique opportunity to discuss key issues with one of the nation's most influential policy makers.

    "John McCain is a national figure and plays a pivotal role in Congress on issues that will impact our members for years to come," said ACEC Chairman Eric Flicker. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to bring Sen. McCain together with leaders in our industry to discuss these issues and the role our member firms play in moving America forward."

    Click here for more information on the conference and to register.

    2004 EEA Call For Entries Brochure Now Available Via Mail, Website

    The 2004 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Call for Entries brochure has been mailed along with the July/August issue of Engineering Inc. magazine. In addition, the brochure has been placed on our website at www.acec.org.

    The Call for Entries is the official eligibility form for engineering projects to be considered for the 2004 Engineering Excellence Awards.

    The deadline for entries to the national competition is January 9, 2004. The EEA Gala Evening will be held in conjunction with ACEC's Consulting Congress Day on March 16, 2004, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. Please contact your nearest Member Organization for details on submitting your entry locally. If you need additional assistance, please contact Daisy Nappier at dnappier@acec.org.

    Peer Review Program Updated

    The Peer Review website has been updated. Now there is new information on firms that have been reviewed, including feedback from presidents and chairmen who have had their firms reviewed. There also is new information on pricing and how to schedule your firm for a Peer Review.

    Click here to register your company for a Peer Review today! For more information on the Peer Review Program, please contact Kevin Wilson at kwilson@acec.org.

    Institute For Business Management
    Fall Seminars And Workshops

    Senior Executives Institute, Class IX, Session 1
    Boost your firm's success, enrich business relationships, and build business acumen and self-awareness at this exclusive ACEC leadership Institute. This course is limited to 26 executives per class and includes five sessions for a total of 21 instruction days over a two-year period. Register today by contacting Kevin Wilson at kwilson@acec.org.

      September 6-11   —   Washington, D.C.
    The Next Level: Planned Growth and Sustainable Success For Your Firm
    This workshop covers the strategies necessary to sustain success and high performance by providing you with specific tools and techniques to utilize in your firm. Click here to register.
      September 16   —   Washington, D.C.
    Valuation & Ownership Transition for A/E/P and Environmental Consulting Firms
    Plan a secure future for your firm by maximizing your firm's value. Know and understand the value of your firm, and be aware of all the ownership transition options available to you. Click here to register.
      October 22   —   San Francisco
    Business of Design Consulting
    This multi-day intensive course offers up-and-coming design firm leaders the chance to study nine different management areas. Individual modules feature hands-on activities, extensive discussion and interactive workshops to prepare you for difficult issues ahead. Click here to register.
      October 22-25   —   Nashville, Tenn.

    Save 20 Percent On Two HR Publications

    ACEC makes managing HR issues easier, and less expensive for you. Order any of these two popular Human Resource publications and save 20 percent:

    ACEC Job Descriptions
    Update your job descriptions to improve hiring and performance. ACEC has 51 different position descriptions currently in use by ACEC members. They range from entry-level to CEO positions. You'll get a combination of both traditional and information-age engineering industry position descriptions that will allow you to attract the employees you desire, and rewrite the position descriptions that already exist in your firm in accordance with current standards. In diskette or downloadable format. ACEC member price: $49/ non-member price: $74. Click here to order.

    ACEC Human Resources Guidelines
    It is now possible to write human resource procedures for your company and update them as often as you wish. These guidelines will show you how to hire and retain quality staff, and follow all hiring and employment regulations. With this guide you can build a team that makes your company more effective. Available for immediate delivery via download, or on diskette. Member price: $89, non-member price: $119. Click here to order.

    Click here to order at a discounted price both Job Descriptions and Human Resources Guidelines in downloadable format. Member price: $110.40, non-member price: $154.40.


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