ACEC/Colorado Culminates Multi-Year Indemnification Battle With Victory ACEC/Colorado member Narender Kumar of Kumar & Associates (fourth from the left) and National Director Mark Hamouz of LONCO (far left) observe Governor Bill Ritter sign legislation to protect engineering firms from indemnification clauses. Capping a two-year effort by ACEC/Colorado, Governor Bill Ritter signed legislation into law last week, which will protect engineering firms and other construction contractors from indemnification clauses that force firms to assume the liability for actions outside of their control. Despite passing both chambers of the Colorado legislature by large margins over the past two years, the bill was vetoed by the previous governor. Governor Ritter disagreed with his predecessor and recognized that the legislation was "one that would be good for Colorado businesses." "This is a big win," said ACEC/CO National Director Mark Hamouz of LONCO, Inc., following the bill signing ceremony with Governor Ritter. "The previous environment in which engineering firms could be liable for the mistakes of others was a frightening situation. Today's signing creates a fair and equitable allocation for contractors in the state." Colorado's victory follows the signing of similar legislation in California by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger late last year.

ACEC/Kentucky Meets 2007 ACEC/PAC Target ACEC/PAC Champion of Kentucky Ron Gilkerson ACEC/Kentucky has become the latest Member Organization to achieve its 2007 ACEC/PAC fundraising target. The Bluegrass State joins Wisconsin and Montana in meeting their 2007 fundraising goals, with several states following close behind. "Stepping up to support ACEC/PAC continues to be a major priority for Kentucky firms," said Ron Gilkerson of GRW Engineers Inc., in Lexington. "Actions taken by Congress impact us all, which is why every firm needs to take an active interest in supporting ACEC/PAC." ACEC/PAC trustees representing each Member Organization have set a national fundraising goal of $700,000 for 2007. Each state has been assigned a specific fundraising target based on membership strength. Member Organizations in Tennessee and Wyoming are rapidly closing in on their ACEC/PAC fundraising goals for the year. Click here to see the progress of each state in achieving its ACEC/PAC goal for 2007 and the name of the PAC Champion leading the state fundraising effort. For more information about ACEC/PAC, contact Corie Simmons at 202-682-4314 or csimmons@acec.org.

Understand Lobbying From A Lawmaker's Perspective At Annual Convention The upcoming ACEC Annual Convention in Washington will feature a unique training program that will have participants playing the role of Congressional members to better understand how lawmakers stake out positions on important issues. The "Congressional Insight Program," sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), will be offered to Convention attendees during morning and afternoon sessions on Monday, May 7, and a morning session on Tuesday, May 8. The sessions will feature expert facilitators who will guide members through the myriad of decisions elected officials must make, from hiring staff to picking committees, to determining positions on issues. "This is really a unique program that's a must-do for any business person who deals with elected officials," said Tara Smith, the director of public affairs at NAM. "The program will help you to understand how elected officials think, giving you key insights and skills that you can use in talking to politicians and shaping their views on the issues you care about." ACEC members are urged to reserve a spot at one of the sessions as seating is limited. The program is open to all Convention registrants. If you are registered for the Convention and have not signed up for a training session but wish to do so, contact meetings@acec.org. Registrants will be contacted by ACEC staff to select their preferred session. For more information and to register for the Convention, click here.

Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities Highlights ACEC Summer Course Schedule Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities July 16-19                  Denver, CO In partnership with Colorado State University, and on location at CSU's Denver Center, ACEC will present Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities, July 16-19, as a Summer Institute certificate program. The course will systematically lay out the complex interdisciplinary challenges of real-world sustainability problems, demonstrate key environmental planning and design processes, and showcase actual applications of integrated engineering. Click here for information. Building Information Modeling (BIM): The Promise and the Reality for A/E/C Firms June 7-8                   Philadelphia, PA A must for firm leaders and project managers considering expansion into BIM, this course offers an in-depth look at the BIM multi-dimensional project planning concept. Click here to register. Project Management for Project Leaders June 11-12                   Evanston, IL This joint ACEC/Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering immersion course in state-of-the-art project leadership introduces new management skills and techniques. Click here to register. The Business of Design Consulting (BDC): A Best Practices Educational Event for the Engineering Firm of the 21st Century June 20-23                   Boston, MA This is the leadership course previous attendees have called "outstanding," "well worth the time," and "a great learning experience." Click here to register.

Upcoming Online Seminars Failed Dams and Levees: Examining Engineering Liability April 26, 1:30-3 p.m.                   1.5 PDHs Edward A. Thomas, Michael Baker Corporation looks at the history and definitions of "strict" and "absolute" legal liability relative to dams and levees, their different treatment by the law under "duty of care" in "non-natural use of land," and defenses in liability actions resulting from dam and levee failure. Click here for details and to register. The Seven Hidden Reasons Employees Leave… and Stay May 16, 1:30-3 p.m.                   1.5 PDHs Leigh Branham, Advanced Management Institute, reviews the real reasons employees leave, noting that almost 90 percent of exiting employees say they left because of "push factors" related to management practices. This online seminar provides practical ideas and best practices that companies can use to fight turnover. Click here for details and to register.

Copyright © 2007 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.