More Than 1,000 Celebrate ACEC's Centennial Convention in Washington D.C. The world-renowned Capitol Steps comedy troupe kicked-off the 100th Anniversary Convention celebration with hilarious political satire.

Outgoing Chairman John Hennessy addresses Opening General Session. A filled-to-capacity Centennial Reception and Dinner featuring the Capitol Steps opened ACEC's 100th Anniversary Convention in the nation's capital. More than 1,000 members and guests attended the three-day meeting. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, CNN Political Analyst David Gergen and Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, were among the notable speakers. More than 40 education sessions covered a wide range of current business topics.

Incoming Chairman Tim Psomas spoke about the Council's future. The Engineering Excellence Awards Gala—a black-tie affair hosted by Emmy Award-winning comedian Ross Shafer—honored the best engineering achievements of the year. "There was just so much to enjoy," said Travis Conklin of Engineering Associates in Cody, Wyo., "There were the Capitol Steps and General Van Antwerp. I especially appreciated the CEO Roundtable." "The education sessions were exceptional," said Philip Beer of USI Consultants in Indiana. "Seeing the Capitol Steps live was great," said Jan Rozga of CH2M HILL. "The speakers were fabulous, especially David Gergen. The session on 100 Years of Engineering Business Practices was very interesting." More Convention Highlights: ACEC/California's Timothy Psomas succeeded John Hennessy as ACEC's 2009-2010 chairman; and five new members joined the 2009-2010 Executive Committee with Gerry Stump as chairman-elect. New national vice chairs are Robin Greenleaf; Bartlett Patton; and Kenneth Wightman. ACEC/Kansas Executive Director Scott Heidner will serve as the NAECE representative. ACEC's Board of Directors adjusted the membership dues cap from 2,140 employees to 5,000, to be implemented over a three-year period by one-third each year; passed a bylaws amendment allowing national membership eligibility for surveying firms; and passed a bylaws amendment allowing reciprocity with states on affiliate membership. Robert Atkinson, chairman of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, provided an update on his commission's call for an increase in the federal gas tax and the need to transition to a mileage-based financing system to address the nation's transportation funding crisis. Congressmen John Duncan (R-TN), Kendrick Meek (D-FL), and John Boozman (R-AR) highlighted the Convention's legislative programs. "Citizen lobbyists" conducted more than 200 visits to Congressional offices to support important ACEC legislative initiatives. CDM was awarded the 2009 Grand Conceptor Award signifying the year's best engineering achievement for the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System—among the 168 projects honored at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala. In recognition of ACEC's 100th Anniversary, leaders of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) presented the Council with a crystal memento with the inscription: "Commemorating a Century of Leadership in our Industry." Officials from the Association of Canadian Engineering Companies also presented ACEC with a beautiful painting to recognize the Council's centennial achievement. ACEC former chairs presented ACEC President Dave Raymond with an award for 10 years of exemplary service to the Council.

Chris Newcomb, left, chairman of the Association of Canadian Engineering Companies, presents the Council a scenic painting of Canada's famous midnight sun in recognition of ACEC's 100th Anniversary. Also pictured from the left, ACEC/Canada President Jeff Morrison, Chairman John Hennessy, Incoming Chairman Tim Psomas and President Dave Raymond.

CNN Analyst David Gergen discussed challenges faced by the Obama Administration during the Opening General Session. Business Community Critical To Progress Says Gergen During the Opening General Session, CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen painted a mixed picture of the Obama Administration, pointing out that the Administration has very few business people in leadership positions, and the business community is wary of the Administration's seemingly anti-business attitude. However, he predicted that: "When the dust settles, there will be a new landscape between the government and business," and that "The future will depend not just on politicians, but also on how the business community responds. Business leaders need to rebuild the trust with the American people that has been shattered."

Van Antwerp Stresses Core Reliance On Private Sector Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, provided an inspirational presentation and bright picture of the Corps and its partners in the engineering industry. He underscored the Corps' reliance on the private sector for the execution of its projects. Van Antwerp reported that the Corps has 700 stimulus projects worth $4.6 billion that have "already been authorized and funded. We see an opportunity to run at full capability," he said. In these difficult economic times, Van Antwerp also called on attendees to adopt a fresh and optimistic view of their businesses. "Some people approach their work thinking 'what do I have to do today,'" he said. "Instead, look at your business and say, 'what do I get to do today?'"

Convention Lobbying Effort Yields Success ACEC/Illinois members met with Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), center, to advocate for key industry issues. From left to right: Mohammed Shabbir Hassan (seated), URS; Pedro Cevallos-Candau, Primera; Rep. Biggert; Peter Mesha, Wight & Company; and John Bouse, Gage Consulting Engineers. ACEC's "citizen lobbyists" scored several successes during the industry lobbying effort at the Convention. Members secured support for repeal of the onerous 3 percent withholding mandate, and educated House and Senate offices on the looming funding crisis facing the Highway Trust Fund. They also focused on final passage of a new water infrastructure program, and stressed the importance of contracting out to the engineering industry as an effective means to deliver innovative infrastructure improvements to the public. "Hill visits really do work," said Peter Strub of TranSystems in South Carolina, noting that soon after his meeting with Congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC), the Congressman contacted him to confirm that he had signed on as a cosponsor of the 3 percent withholding repeal legislation. Floyd Damron of CH2M HILL in Alaska reported a similar success story in the Senate, securing newly elected Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) as a cosponsor of the repeal legislation.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), left, at a fundraiser in his honor at the Annual Convention, praised the work of ACEC in educating Members of Congress on the need for increased funding for water and transportation infrastructure.

Winning Was The Name Of The Game For ACEC/PAC, Contributors ACEC/PAC Sweepstakes Winner Harold Cannon, center, holds his $2,000 winning sweepstakes check and is joined by ACEC Chairman Tim Psomas and ACEC/PAC Director Elizabeth Coit. ACEC/PAC enjoyed strong fundraising success at the 2009 ACEC Annual Convention, with nearly $115,000 raised to support the Council's political program. At the ACEC/PAC Sweepstakes drawing, the winners were: Terry Neimeyer, KCI Technologies, Hunt Valley, MD, who won $10,000. Thomas Collins, Collins Engineers, Inc., Chicago, who won $5,000. Harold Cannon, Cannon & Cannon, Knoxville, TN, who won $2,000. Chris Robertson of Shannon & Wilson in Seattle who was the $1,000 prize winner. He donated the prize money back to ACEC/PAC to further support ACEC's legislative initiatives.

CDM's Groundwater Replenishment System Wins 2009 Grand Conceptor Award The Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System in Fountain Valley, Calif., was named the year's best engineering achievement at the Convention's 43rd Engineering Excellence Awards. Designed by CDM, it is the world's largest facility for transforming wastewater into drinking water. The project was chosen from 168 submissions for its innovative engineering design and impact on society. Located in drought-plagued Orange County, California, the project includes a multi-stage cleansing process that produces 70 million gallons per day of recycled water that exceeds drinking water standards. The water is added after treatment to an underground aquifer—the district's primary water source—satisfying the needs of half a million residents.

Grand Conceptor Award winners on stage at the EEA Gala from the left are: Richard Corneille, CDM vice president, Bruce Chalmers, CDM associate, and Doug Davert, chairman, Orange County Sanitation District. ACEC President Dave Raymond and ACEC Chairman John Hennessy applaud the winners.

Other top 2009 Engineering Excellence Award winners are: GRAND AWARDS Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind. Walter P Moore—Houston, Texas Great River Energy Headquarters, Maple Grove, Minn. Dunham Associates, Inc.—Minneapolis, Minn. One Rincon Hill, San Francisco, Calif. Magnusson Klemencic Associates—Seattle, Wash. High Road Bridge Over Long Run Creek, Lockport, Ill. Teng & Associates, Inc.—Chicago, Ill. City of Buffalo Wastewater Treatment Facility, Buffalo, Minn. Bolton & Menk, Inc.—Mankato, Minn. Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Maryland and Virginia Potomac Crossing Consultants—a joint venture of Parsons Brinckerhoff; URS; and Rummel, Klepper & Kahl—Baltimore, Md. Andersen Corp. Steam Generating Facility, Bayport, Minn. TKDA—St. Paul, Minn. HONOR AWARDS The Ohmi-Ohdori Bridge, Shiga Prefecture, Japan The Louis Berger Group/J.A. Brennan Associates—Washington, D.C. Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China Leslie E. Robertson Associates, R.L.L.P.—New York, N.Y. One Bryant Park, The Bank of America Headquarters, New York, N.Y. Jaros Baum & Bolles—New York, N.Y. 17th Street Canal Interim Closure Structure, New Orleans/Metairie, La. Linfield, Hunter & Junius, Inc.—Metairie, La. Pentagon Memorial, Arlington, Va. Alpha Corporation—Dulles, Va. Grand Avenue Bus Depot and Central Maintenance Facility, New York, N.Y. Gannett Fleming Engineers and Architects, P.C.—New York, N.Y. I-35W Bridge, Minneapolis, Minn. FIGG Bridge Engineers, Inc.—Tallahassee, Fla. Leachate Treatment Goes "GREEN" with PHYTO, St. Louis, Mo. Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.—St. Paul, Minn. Marina Barrage and Reservoir Singapore, Republic of Singapore CDM—Cambridge, Mass. Red Mountain Freeway, Mesa, Ariz. Stanley Consultants, Inc.—Phoenix, Ariz. S.W. Minnesota Wind Transmission Upgrade Project, Worthington, Minn. Burns & McDonnell—Kansas City, Mo. The High Line Project, New York, N.Y. HDR Engineering, Inc.—New York, N.Y. The Lewistown Narrows, Lewistown, Pa. The EADS Group, Inc.—Altoona, Pa. U.S. 90 over St. Louis Bay, Pass Christian, Miss. HNTB Corporation / Burns Cooley Dennis, Inc.—Plano, Texas Utah State Capitol Seismic Base Isolation and Restoration, Salt Lake City, Utah Reaveley Engineers + Associates—Salt Lake City, Utah Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Wash. Magnusson Klemencic Associates—Seattle, Wash.

*Special Stimulus Extra! For a limited time, participants in on-site, multi-day ACEC courses will take home a $200 BONUS coupon—for personal or firm use—to apply to the registration fee of a future ACEC on-site course.

Take Advantage Of "Good Old Days" Price: Manage To Succeed With Business of Design Consulting Business of Design Consulting: Managing to Succeed in a Challenging Economic Environment June 3-6, Portland, ME There's no better time to update your A/E business management know-how—at a stimulus registration price you can't afford to miss—than with a focused four-day course that has become an industry standard. Set for June 3-6 in Portland, ME, ACEC's Business of Design Consulting: Managing to Succeed in a Challenging Economic Environment examines and updates every element and function of the successful A/E business in the context of today's challenging marketplace. Presented by leading practitioners who specialize in the A/E environment, course curriculum is custom-tailored to your workplace, focusing on the essential business topics not offered by engineering schools: business management, finance, marketing, risk management, contracts, leadership, human resources, and information technology. If you are an owner, executive, principal, business administrator, project manager (all levels), human resources manager, or manager of facilities and/or infrastructure projects, this ACEC course is a cost-effective investment in your firm's future. For details and to register, click here.

Be More Savvy, Avoid Risk—May Course Clarifies Model Contract 'Red Flags' Recognizing the Snares and Pitfalls in A/E/C Industry Contracts May 28-29, Philadelphia Recognizing the Snares and Pitfalls in A/E/C Industry Contracts is a one-and-a-half-day course that will equip your firm's engineers, architects, project managers, contracting officers, specifiers and others to avoid risk, with important up-to-date knowledge in critical contract areas, especially important in a competitive economy. Sessions will cover two dozen key provisions in model contracts that are vital in protecting your business and maintaining your firm's professional standards. Presenting faculty are James C. Brown II, vice president, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., and Justin L. Weisberg, Arnstein & Lehr LLP. Attendees earn 11 PDHs. For details and to register, click here.

Get Competitive Edge With Advanced Project, Program Management Course And Best Price By May 8 Advanced Project and Program Management for the Engineering and Construction Industry June 8-9, Cambridge, MA ACEC and Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering bring Advanced Project and Program Management for the Engineering and Construction Industry curriculum to the East Coast this summer. The targeted two-day course will be presented June 8-9 in Cambridge (Boston), MA, providing contemporary insights into topics of vital importance in a challenging economy, including: Becoming "Project Fiduciary" in Uncertain Economic Times New Information Systems and Their Contributions to Projects Management of the Environmentally and Economically Sustainable Project Project Risks and Mitigation Measures Creative Funding Mechanisms—Program Economics Path Forward in Program Execution for Increased Fees, Repeat Business Faculty are Stephen Mulva, associate director, Construction Industry Institute; Jerry Novacek, president NovaConGroup; and Ahmad Hadavi, associate director, Master of Project Management, Northwestern University. Expand your knowledge of new delivery systems and contracting formats and discover innovative management techniques to increase projects and program revenues. Attendees earn 16 PDHs. For details and to register, click here.

Add Legal Services to Portfolio With New Courtroom Skills Plus Engineering Expertise Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness June 18-19, Philadelphia In challenging economic times, adding new services that capitalize on your firm's existing skills and expertise is an important business strategy. Only the court-savvy, prepared and prudent engineer should take on the potentially lucrative assignment of being an expert witness in legal proceedings. A sell-out in its recent debut, ACEC's Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness course will again be presented on June 18-19 in Philadelphia. The course prepares participants for legal service with recognition and a certificate of course completion and 11 PDHs. Designed for professional engineers, architects and surveyors interested in earning credentials for legal service engagements, attendees will learn from expert faculty about courtroom demeanor, how to maintain credibility, the differences between a fact witness and an expert witness, deposition behavior, permissible out-of-court statements, ethics, pre-courtroom testimony preparation, visual aids and more. For agenda details and to register, click here.

Get Ready for Sustainability Market Business With July Certificate Course Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities: Opportunities in New Markets July 13-16, Denver ACEC and Colorado State University developed this course for engineers and planners seeking advanced training on civil infrastructure projects and town/regional planning approaches to sustainable design and construction. Constructioneer magazine recently noted that "Companies proficient in green building methods and building green facilities... will be at an advantage as they pursue opportunities to participate in the federal stimulus program." A sell-out previously, this timely presentation is expected to draw an even greater-than-usual response. Topics include sustainable development in a business context, sustainable design tools and techniques, impacts of development and projects on the environment, sustainable design for specific engineering markets (urban water management, transportation, buildings) and client interaction on sustainable projects. For agenda, faculty, and to register, click here.

Invite Your Clients To EPA Online Update: Stimulus Funding for Water, Sewer Projects Economic Stimulus Program Funding: EPA Local Water & Sewer Projects May 21, 1:30-2:30 EDT James A. Hanlon, director of the EPA Office of Wastewater Management, will provide a special inside update on the $6 billion in new funding available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for local water and wastewater projects through State Revolving Funds. The May 21 online seminar will be interactive and Hanlon will answer questions submitted by registrants. This major infusion of federal funds is expected to generate new business for engineering firm clients in the environmental sector and the industry overall. Firms specializing in water projects or interested in expanding into this sector will find this online seminar a unique opportunity to hear details on ARRA requirements and EPA's most recent guidance document, as well as updates on specific topics still being negotiated. To register, click here.

Next Week's Online Seminars Examine Risk Management Status, and How to Boost Proposal Win Rates Risk Management Report Card: Would Your Firm Earn A, F, or Incomplete? May 12, 1:30-3 p.m. A successful risk management program involves more than insurance procurement and saying "no." Join Erin Austin and Jack Beemer, David Evans and Associates, Inc., and a panel of experts describing the kinds of risk management gaps and exposures being addressed in their own programs. Participants will consider how risk issues can be efficiently resolved by implementing some of the panel members' recommended best-practices "without hurting business." Click here to register. Increase Your Win Rate With Powerful, Persuasive Proposals May 13, 1:30-3 p.m. Clare Ross, The Clare Ross Organization, got this good word from a participant in a previous online seminar: "We won three jobs recently; two I was personally involved in and implemented some of the principles I learned in your online seminar. Thanks!" This practical online seminar answers key proposal-writing questions, including: What are the essentials? What are key content points the decision-maker wants to see? How can you create a compelling value proposition that leaps off the page? What are best ways to differentiate your firm from the competition? How can you write better proposals faster to meet deadlines? Click here to register. To browse Clare Ross' newest book, Beyond Strategic Planning, Second Edition, 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