New Executive Committee Members Elected Orrin B. “Mac” MacMurray 2007-2008 Chairman ACEC's Board of Directors has elected four new members to ACEC's Executive Committee who will begin their terms at the May 2007 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. John Hennessey III, who is a partner of Hennessy & Williamson, in New York, has been elected to serve as chairman in 2008-2009, succeeding Orrin B. "Mac" MacMurray who begins his term as chairman this May. John F. Hennessy III 2008-2009 Chairman The other newly-elected members are: David D. Kennedy, vice chairman and senior principal of Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, San Francisco; Raymond F. Messer, president and chairman of the board of Walter P. Moore and Associates, Inc., Houston; and Gregs G. Thomopulos, president and CEO of Stanley Consultants, Inc., Muscatine, Iowa. They will join Thomas G. Ahneman, Richard L. Corrigan, David M. Oates, and Ralph J. Palmer on the 2007-2008 Executive Committee. In addition, ACEC/Florida Executive Director Frank Rudd will serve as the NAECE Representative on the 2007-2008 Executive Committee.

David D. Kennedy Vice Chairman-elect Raymond F. Messer Vice Chairman-elect Gregs G. Thomopulos Vice Chairman-elect Frank Rudd NAECE Representative

Annual Convention Line-up Features Hardball's Chris Matthews, Columnist George Will Chris Matthews, host of Hardball with Chris Matthews Chris Matthews, the popular host of the nightly talk show Hardball with Chris Matthews, will present his "in your face" viewpoint on the nation's political landscape at the upcoming 2007 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit, May 6-9 at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. Matthews has distinguished himself as a broadcast journalist, George Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist newspaper bureau chief, presidential speechwriter, and best-selling author. He will offer his insights during the Convention's Opening General Session on Monday May 7. Later that day, the Convention's Keynote Luncheon features Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and TV political analyst George Will, who will deliver his bold outlook on the direction of the nation. Other Convention highlights include a special "State Dinner" developed by former White House Chef Walter Scheib, on Sunday May 6, the 41st Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on Tuesday May 8, timely education sessions on business management, and outstanding social and networking activities. Easy Convention registration is available by clicking here. Register online and receive an additional five percent off the published price*. Bring two people from your firm to and receive an even deeper registration discount! Washington D.C. is a popular destination in the Spring so make your hotel reservations early! Contact the Grand Hyatt Hotel directly at 202-582-1234 and reference ACEC. The room rate is $245 plus tax. ACEC's room discounted rates are available through April 17 or until the rooms in the block are gone, whichever occurs first. Further information is available by contacting meetings@acec.org or call 202- 347-7474. *Does not apply to 2nd member price and cannot be combined with any other discounts.

Senate Committee Adds Tax Relief To Minimum Wage Package The Senate Finance Committee has approved an $8 billion package of ACEC-supported tax benefits for small businesses, which will be added to legislation to boost the federal minimum wage. The package includes an extension of an expensing benefit that permits smaller firms to deduct the cost of qualified assets or property through 2010. The legislation also includes several technical changes to make it easier for more firms to take advantage of the tax benefits of being a subchapter S corporation. The House has already approved legislation to increase the minimum wage from the current level of $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour over a period of three years. Unlike the Senate bill, the House measure does not include any tax offsets for business. The full Senate is expected to vote on the minimum wage package within the next few weeks. President Bush has indicated his willingness to sign into law legislation that offers a balance between a minimum wage increase and tax relief. ACEC and its business allies will continue to advocate for small business tax relief as this package moves through the legislative process.

It Pays To Be In The Know; Respond by January 31 To Find Out How For just a little time and effort, the latest A/E/C industry market information can be at your fingertips free of charge. Simply complete the 2007-2008 Design & Construction Industry Trends Survey questionnaire that was recently mailed to all Member Firms. Click here to take the survey electronically or click here to download a PDF of the survey. Do so by January 31 and receive a FREE electronic copy of the survey results—a $400 value. ACEC's Design & Construction Industry Trends Survey provides current statistics on Member Firm business practices, finances, profitability, and emerging trends. The survey not only presents basic financial and employment data, but also important facts on current management concerns, project delivery, and key legislative trends. For further information, please contact Jill Holcomb, Manager, Education Technical Support, jholcomb@acec.org.

BDC Course In Portland, Ore., March 7-10; Early Bird Rates in Effect Business of Design Consulting March 7-10, Portland, Ore. ACEC's Business of Design Consulting (BDC) is for design professionals seeking to sharpen their business practice knowledge to compete more successfully. Attendees will hone management skills in leadership, HR, contracts and risk management, IT, finance, and business management and marketing, with insights from leading practitioners who specialize in the A/E/C environment including: Peggy Pound, Picus Group; David S. Cohen, Matheson Financial Advisors; Thomas Porterfield, Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc.; Paul Doherty, K. Hovnanian Homes; and David Stone, Stone and Company. Previous BDC participants applaud the program as "a wealth of useful information" and note that "the interaction with other design professionals from such diversified geographical locations was enlightening." Click here for more information and to register. Upcoming Seminars Online, On-Target January 24: Developing and Implementing Winning Strategies for Engineers, Architects and Construction Companies Clare Ross, The Clare Ross Organization Click here for more information and to register. February 7: Secure Retirement: Redefining the Retirement Planning Paradigm David Waters and Tom Porcello, Prudential Retirement Services, and Nancy Barrette, Wachovia Securities Click here for more information and to register. February 13: A/E Tax Deductions Update: How Your Firm Can Benefit Susan Bennett, Ernst & Young Click here for more information and to register. February 14: Trends in Business Ethics that Affect Engineers Dave Gebler, SmartPros Click here for more information and to register.

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