Vol. XXVII, Number 3
January 20, 2006
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 |
 |
ACEC Means
Business
|
Marketing, Customer Service Titles At ACEC Bookstore
Good marketing draws customers to your business, and good customer service keeps them coming back.
Keep your business skills fresh and sharp with these marketing and customer service selections from the ACEC Bookstore.
Clientship
Members $49/non-members $69
Click here to order.
12 Clichés of Selling (And
Why They Work)
$12.95
Click here to order.
Behavioral Advantage
$27.95
Click here to order.
Forbes Book of Business Quotations
$17.95
Click here to order.
Customer Service Training 101
$21.95
Click here to order.
Visit the ACEC Bookstore at http://store.acec.org. |
|
Mark Your Calendars Now for the Business of Design Consulting
March 1-4, 2006 Tampa, FL
Be sure to attend this flagship program for the engineering firm of the 21st Century.
This intensive four-day workshop offers up-and-coming design firm leaders an in-depth look at eight different management areas for improved management and leadership skills.
Includes hands-on modules on critical topics.
Click here for more information and to register. |
|
January Online Seminars
Get a jump on your 2006 professional development hours with an ACEC online seminar.
This convenient format gives you important training right at your desktop.
Online seminars are held from 1:30pm to 3:00pm ET.
Members $199/Non-members $249
January 24
The Key Obstacles to Business Growth—Recognizing the Warning Signs of Success and Responding Effectively
Kirk Dando, Dando Advisors
Click here to register.
January 25
Retirement Plan Trends in the Engineering Industry—What Works and What Doesn't
Nancy Barrett, Wachovia Securities
Click here to register.
|
|
|
|
|
Congress Rolls Out Lobby Reforms
House and Senate leaders this week unveiled proposals to reform the rules governing lobbying.
While congressional Republicans and Democrats differ on some details, both parties are advocating a range of new reforms, including restrictions on gifts and travel as well as tighter reporting requirements by lobbyists.
House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-IL) and Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) proposed extending from one year to two the ban on lobbying by former lawmakers and senior staff. Former House members also would lose access to the House floor.
Also being considered is a prohibition on congressional travel funded by private organizations, as well as tougher lobbying disclosure requirements that could affect the ability of lobbyists and House members to include earmarks in pending legislation.
Congress is expected to focus on these reforms soon after returning for the new session, which begins January 31, with the goal of having a final package finished by early March.
"Congress needs to act to restore public confidence," said ACEC President Dave Raymond. "As with most advocacy organizations, ACEC follows the law and adheres to high ethical practices. The proposed reforms will not affect ACEC's operations. We will continue to work our issues hard, and exercise our right to petition our government as guaranteed by the Constitution."
|
|
ACEC Launches 2006 QBS Awards Program; Nominations Now Being Accepted
Paul Haglund, chairman of ACEC's Management Practices Committee |
ACEC is kicking-off its 2006 National QBS Awards Program this week, and is calling on state organizations to submit nominations to recognize public and private entities that make exemplary use of the QBS selection process at the state and local levels.
"Besides highlighting how well the QBS process works, the awards program provides ACEC with real-life examples that help to promote QBS to policymakers," said Paul Haglund, chairman of ACEC's Management Practices Committee. "Those examples can go a long way in educating decision makers that QBS is the best way to select design professionals."
ACEC has partnered with the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in administering the program over the last eight years, with the two associations alternate hosting of the annual awards program. NSPE will host this year's award presentation at its annual convention in Boston in July.
For more information and to obtain a nomination form click here, or call Roger Jordan at 202-347-7474.
|
|
'06-'07 ACEC Committees Being Formed
ACEC's 2006-2007 committees are now being organized and committee appointments will be made soon. If you are interested in serving on one or more ACEC committees and have not yet submitted your participation form, click here and submit your form today.
All forms received by Monday, January 23 will be included. Even if you would like to continue to serve on your present committee, please submit the form to let us know of your continued interest.
For a description of the 2005-2006 committee goals, click here.
If you have questions about the committee process, contact Mary Ann Emely, ACEC's Vice President of Operations, 202.682.4300 or memely@acec.org.
|
|
|
Special Delivery For ACEC/PAC
ACEC/PAC Illinois Trustee David Oates (left) of Oates Associates in Collinsville, IL delivers PAC contributions from Illinois members to ACEC Chairman Ed Mulcahy (center) and President Dave Raymond. The contributions enabled ACEC/Illinois to meet its 2005 fundraising goal and ACEC/PAC to have a record-breaking year. |
|
|
Small Firm Council Meeting Set for March
The increasingly popular Small Firm Council (SFC) Winter Meeting and Principal Seminars is set for March 3-4, 2006 in Atlanta, GA.
The SFC Winter Meeting has become a favorite among small firm owners in providing an important forum for discussions on the specific business challenges faced by small firms.
This year, SFC has teamed with ZweigWhite to kick-off the meeting with a one-day presentation on Strategic Business Planning for Growing Firms. The popular CEO Roundtable Discussion and open discussions with professional liability, business, and health insurance providers are also part of the meeting agenda.
"The tailored seminars are an ideal fit for small firm principals that need an intense and concise seminar that provides new insights and practical techniques owners can implement immediately, says H. Kenneth White, former SFC Chairman.
Click here for more information about the SFC Winter Meeting, or contact Roger Jordan at 202-347-7474 or rjordan@acec.org. |
Copyright © 2006 by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photographic, or other means without the prior written permission of ACEC.
Click here to review past editions of the Last Word.
Click here to subscribe to the Last Word.
|
|
