Last Call: Advertising Deadline For Anniversary Engineering Inc. Is February 10 This year marks ACEC’s 100th year anniversary of service to its Member Firms and the industry. A highlight of the year-long observance will be an attractive commemorative March/April issue of Engineering Inc., featuring a compelling decade-by-decade chronology of Council contributions, along with Member Firm achievements over the past 100 years. Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of a historic issue that will soon go to print. Special advertising space in Engineering Inc. is still available to: Celebrate your own firm's contributions to ACEC and the industry; Commemorate the important role of engineering in the nation's progress; Congratulate ACEC for its 100 years of service. To join the 100th year celebration and assure your firm's prominence in this historic publication, contact Nina Goldman at ngoldman@acec.org or 202-682-4325.

ACEC-Recommended Protections For Engineers Included In Levee Safety Report The National Committee on Levee Safety (NCLS) recently presented a report to Congress that includes several ACEC priorities for protecting engineering firms and other contractors undertaking levee inspection activities. The NCLS was created by Congress in 2007 to develop recommendations on a national level regarding the safety of the nation’s levees. The Committee is chaired by the Corps of Engineers and includes participation by FEMA, ACEC, and other public and private entities. Five of the report’s 20 recommendations developed by ACEC are: Swiftly address emerging levee liability issues thus reducing the potential liability of engineering firms and/or government agencies that perform engineering services for levee systems. Change levee “certification” to “compliance determination” to clarify that such work does not constitute a safety guarantee or warranty. Develop and adopt national levee safety standards to identify best engineering practices and standard of care. Develop tolerable risk guidelines to understand options to reduce risks and achieve better informed decisions in an environment of uncertainty. Develop and implement a public involvement and education/awareness campaign to improve the public’s understanding of the role of levees and the risks involved. These recommendations were developed as part of a position paper ACEC provided to the Committee during its deliberations prior to the release of the final report. Click here to access a copy of the ACEC position paper. Click here to access the full draft report to Congress.

ACEC Initiative Promotes Engineering To Middle/High School Students ACEC has published Choose Engineering as Your College Major—an attractive career choice brochure for middle and high school students. “The brochure focuses on the creativity and accomplishments of engineers,” said ACEC President Dave Raymond. “Our message is that these professionals are conquering the next frontier, applying new knowledge, and building a better world for tomorrow.” Member Firms, schools and other organizations can order bulk copies of the brochure to distribute at events such as “National Engineers Week” or meetings with high school science clubs. The brochure is linked to the ACEC website. By clicking here, students can learn about ACEC’s engineering scholarships, order books about engineering careers, link directly to the engineering programs at more than 350 colleges and universities, or visit the ACEC Job Board to gain further knowledge about jobs in engineering. Click here to order bulk copies of the brochure, or contact Mary Jaffe at 202-347-7474.

Infrastructure Contracts for America www.contractscentral.net

Register Now for the ACEC Insider’s Look at the Economic Stimulus Package The Economic Stimulus Package—An Inside Look February 12, 3-5 p.m. Join us for a timely, interactive, online seminar for an advance look at the specifics of the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act and what it could mean for the engineering industry and your firm. The stimulus package will include two key components advocated by ACEC: significant infrastructure funding increases and beneficial changes in the tax code to promote more business investment. The transportation sector will be a major beneficiary, along with water, energy and school and other public construction. Janet Kavinoky, executive director of Americans for Transportation Mobility and senior lobbyist and policy expert on transportation infrastructure issues at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will describe the ins-and-outs of transportation funding. Marc J. Gerson, Miller & Chevalier and former majority tax counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, will outline the promised business tax benefits. And Diane Shea, ACEC director, environmental programs, will examine the environment, energy and water portions of the stimulus package. For details and to register, click here. Online Seminars On BIM Implementation, ‘Career Futuring’ Set For Next Week Lessons Learned in Implementing BIM and IPD in a 900-Person Multidisciplinary Firm February 10, 1:30-3 p.m. Sean Smith, Gresham Smith and Partners, explores implementation strategy in a case study of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) in a large, multi-market firm. Registrants will examine the correlation between the IPD team and the steering group for a firm’s overall implementation, and the ups and downs of the corporate transition. For details and to register, click here. Career Futuring: Five Steps That Create Long-Term Career Protection February 11, 1:30-3 p.m. Lynne Waymon, Contracts Count, offers strategies for keeping your career plans on track through organizational earthquake, downsizing, layoff or outsourcing. Explore the myths and realities about job security, and how to utilize five tried and true strategies to stay competitive and be “the only” choice when opportunity arises. For details and to register, click here. Green Transportation Course to Focus on Tools and Techniques Engineering Sustainable Infrastructure: Opportunities in Green Transportation and Water Projects March 26-27, Dearborn (Detroit), MI This highly focused new course "reframes the conversation about sustainable development," looks at it in a business context, outlines tools and techniques, and examines the exciting and expanding future opportunities of sustainable design in specific engineering markets. Presenting faculty are recognized experts: Michael Replogle, Living Cities Program, Environmental Defense Fund; David R. Stewart, Stewart Environmental Consultants; and Bill Wallace, Wallace Futures Group, LLC. For details and to register, click here. BIM 2009 Course Examines Risks, Rewards of Interdisciplinary Project Delivery System Building Information Modeling (BIM): The Promise and The 2009 Reality for A/E/C Firms March 26-27, Seattle, WA Addressing the present and future of industry challenges, Building Information Modeling (BIM): The Promise and The 2009 Reality for A/E/C Firms is an informative and timely look into the many components of this increasingly important interdisciplinary project delivery system. ACEC presents the 2009 edition of this detailed overview course, March 26-27, in Seattle, for COOs, IT and project managers, and company principals. Course faculty represent diverse perspectives and first-hand experience in adoption of BIM. Agenda topics include: A Reason for Change; Exploring the Technology and Interoperability; Implementation Strategies and IT Case Study; BIM in the Field; Fabrication in the BIM Environment; and an update on Risk Management & Insurance for "BIM-Ready" Firms. For details and to register, click here. Add Courtroom Skills to Engineering Expertise With Expert Witness Course Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness March 19-20, Kansas City, MO Many engineers may well be professionally qualified, but only the court-savvy, prepared and prudent engineers are prepared for potentially lucrative assignments as an expert witness in legal proceedings. Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness, ACEC's unique new one-and-a-half-day course, set for March 19-20, Kansas City, prepares your engineers for legal service with recognition and a certificate of course completion. Designed for professional engineers, architects and surveyors interested in earning credentials for legal service engagements, the course will be presented by recognized experts Alan B. Croft, an experienced litigator and trial attorney; Fred Schoenlaub, Feldhausen & Schoenlaub, PC, a former judge and veteran international construction attorney; and Guy Vaillancourt, president, Woodard & Curran, who has served clients as a testifying expert for the past 15 years. For details and to register, click here. BDC Equips Leaders For Managing To Succeed In Challenging Environment The Business of Design Consulting: Managing to Succeed in a Challenging Economic Environment March 25-28, Orlando, FL ACEC's perennially popular Business of Design Consulting adds a new course subtitle to better convey the focused 2009 approach to strategies for a successful A/E business: Managing to Succeed in a Challenging Economic Environment. Early registration is open for the course set for March 25-28, Orlando. Content covers the eight key areas of leadership, human resources, contracts, risk management, information technology, finance, business management and marketing—all in the context of the current economic climate and the long view of essential business functions, plus real-world technical examples. For owners, principals, executives, and managers of A/E firms, this contemporary look at the building blocks of your business is a cost-effective investment for surviving the current A/E business challenges and succeeding in a more competitive-than-ever future. For details and to register, click here. The American Council of Engineering Companies 1015 15th St., NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005-2605 Phone: 202-347-7474 - Fax: 202-898-0068 www.acec.org - E-mail:acec@acec.org Alan D. Crockett, Director, PR • Ann Brandstadter, Editor/Designer