Vol. XXVI, Number 46
December 9, 2005
1015 15th Street, NW 8th Floor Washington, DC 20005-2605 202-347-7474
Fax 202-898-0068 www.acec.org
E-mail acec@acec.org
Alan D. Crockett, Director, PR Ann Brandstadter, Editor/Designer |
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ACEC Means
Business
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25% Holiday Discount On ACEC's Job Board
Purchase your job listing on ACEC's Job Board before January 1, 2006 and receive a special holiday discount of 25 percent.
The discount applies to the 3-job posting package, the 10-job posting package, as well as single job postings. With the multi-posting packages, you can buy now and post later.*
Go to ACEC's Job Boardwww.acec.org/jobbank/ and click on "Employers". Choose "new" or "existing" user and make your posting selection. When asked for a promotional code, type in "hohoho" and your price will be recalculated with the special 25 percent holiday discount.
All job listings are posted for 30 days. Make sure your job openings are posted when job seekers begin searching for new opportunities in 2006.
* 3-packs are good for 6 months from date of purchase; 10-packs expire in one year from date of purchase. |
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Great Holiday Gift Ideas From ACEC
Now is a great time to visit the ACEC Bookstore to get holiday presents for your staff, clients, family and friends. ACEC has perfect gift ideas for any engineer on your list, including tree ornaments, engineering apparel, desktop items, and ACEC gear.
Click here to see our full selection.
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Leadership Titles At The ACEC Bookstore
Be sure to explore an assortment of leadership titles at the ACEC Bookstore.
The Lead Dog Has the Best View
Gordon Culp & Anne Smith
$45.00
This book examines what it takes to make the crucial transition from project manager to project leader, by providing a person-centered, results-driven approach to project leadership not found elsewhere.
Click here to order.
Managing and Leading: 52 Lessons Learned for Engineers
Stuart G. Walesh
$55.00
In Managing and Leading, the author reflects upon 40 years of engineering and management experience, and shares "lessons learned" in 52 short essays that will advance your management and leadership skills.
Click here to order.
Growing Your Company's Leaders How Great Organizations Use Succession Management to Sustain Competitive Advantage
Robert M. Fulmer & Jay A. Conger
$27.95
Growing Your Company's Leaders offers the results of a study involving five global corporations: Dow Chemical, Dell Computer, Eli Lilly, Pan Canadian Petroleum, and Sonoco.
Readers will learn what these and other high-profile organizations are doing to identify, secure, and prepare the next generation of leaders.
Click here to order.
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SAVE THE DATE: Winter 2006 Business Of Design Consulting
March 1-4, 2006 Tampa, FL
Join us in Tampa, FL, March 1-4, 2006, for ACEC's flagship business management program, the Business of Design Consulting.
This intensive multi-day course offers up-and-coming design firm leaders the chance to look in-depth into a variety of management areas.
Individual modules feature hands-on activities, extensive discussion, and interactive workshops to help you get the most from this learning experience.
Fees before February 11:
Members $1,395/Non-Members $1,595
Fees on or after February 11:
Members $1,595/Non-Members $1,795
Click here for more information and to register. |
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Last Chance For 2005 PDHs!
Successful Media Relations: A Growth Tool
Mike Reilly, Reilly Communications
December 14 Online
Join us for our final online seminar of the year and receive 1.5 more PDHs* in 2005.
Public relations and marketing pro Michael Reilly will outline his five proven strategies to support growth, and advise on how to position a firm through media relations.
Click here to register.
* Please note that these PDHs may not apply in all states. Check with your state's board of registration for specific requirements. ACEC is registered provider #00003 for the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.
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Metro Washington Latest To Reach ACEC/PAC Goal As Year's End Nears
ACEC of Metro Washington has become the 16th Member Organization to reach its 2005 ACEC/PAC fundraising goal, only three weeks before the end of the year.
ACEC/MW joins a growing list that now includes: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Washington, and Wyoming.
Several State Member Organizations are making determined end of the year fundraising drives to meet their respective goals, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, South Dakota, and Utah.
This was the first time ACEC/MW met their PAC goal, raising over 75 percent of their goal since August.
ACEC/MW's fundraising drive was led by President Debby Orsak of Cagley & Associates, ACEC/PAC Trustee Fredric Berger of the Berger Group, Legislative Chairman Rich Khalil of A. Morton Thomas & Associates, National Director Jim Spencer of Volkert & Associates, and Executive Director James Johnson.
The effort culminated at a special program in early December that included briefings by ACEC lobbyists on the Council's legislative program and the role the PAC plays in protecting the industry's interests.
"So many of our members work for federal agencies, and know firsthand the importance of an aggressive, proactive advocacy effort," said Orsak. "ACEC/PAC is an integral part of that effort, which is why we are very pleased to end the year on such a high note."
Added Khalil: "The question is simple: We can either get engaged through ACEC/PAC and help to shape the congressional playing field, or leave it to others and live with the consequences. We choose to get engaged."
 Recognizing ACEC/MW's first time goal achievement are from the left: Rich Khalil, ACEC/MW legislative chairman; Steve Hall, ACEC Vice President; Debby Orsak, ACEC/MW president and Jim Spencer, ACEC/MW national director. |
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 * Click on image to view a larger version of this map. |
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SBA Makes Interim Increase to Size Standard
The size standard used to determine an engineering firm's eligibility for small business programs and federal contracts has been increased in the interim under a recently published rule by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Under the rule, the size standard for engineering services increases to $4.5 million from $4 million in annual gross receiptsan 8.7 percent increase. SBA says the intent is to maintain the value of size standards in inflation-adjusted terms, and to restore eligibility to businesses that may have lost their small business size status due solely to price level increases, rather than from increased business activity.
SBA also implemented the interim rule to avoid penalizing firms unnecessarily while the agency continues its two-year-long deliberations to permanently restructure size standards. It is unclear whether there will be any additional adjustments to the size standard once SBA finalizes its restructuring initiative.
SBA's restructure proposals have included implementing both an employee-based and gross revenue-based size standard on engineering services. ACEC has argued that two size standards would be burdensome and unnecessary on our industry and that SBA should maintain a size standard based on gross receipts only. ACEC also argued that an inflationary adjustment was necessary.
ACEC will continue to work with SBA as they move forward with their size standard initiative.
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ACEC Briefs Chinese Engineering Delegation On Industry Issues, Importance of QBS
 ACEC Membership Director Patrick Brookover (center) participates in the traditional tea ceremony with Yu Xianzhong, CAPEC senior executive vice president (right) and Jason Wang, president, Sparkles International Development Corp., and coordinator of the 11-member CAPEC delegation U.S. Tour. The CAPEC tour included a visit to ACEC for an industry issues briefing. |
ACEC provided an in-depth industry briefing this week for members of the Chinese Association of Plant Engineering Consultants (CAPEC), who visited Washington D.C. as part of an eight-day U.S. fact-finding tour.
The 11-member CAPEC delegation also included Chinese government officials. ACEC briefed the group on laws and regulations affecting the U.S. engineering industry; the challenges and issues facing the profession, and the importance of using Qualifications-Based Selection in selecting engineering services nationally and internationally.
During their U.S. tour, CAPEC members also met with ACEC member firms, the World Bank, and several project sites. Established on in 2004, the CAPEC is the only nonprofit trade organization in China's plant engineering consulting industry.
Yu Xianzhong, CAPEC senior executive vice president said through an interpreter that the ACEC visit was "the climax" of the delegation's U.S. tour. "ACEC is a very strong and very active speaker for the interests of the engineering industry in the U.S.," Yu said. "We are impressed with ACEC's efforts to oversee the industry's growth and development, and how successful it has been in the legal and regulation environment to protect the interests of its members." |
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