Rep. Heath Shuler Rep. John Boozman Legislation Introduced To Honor ACEC For 100 Years Of Industry Service Congressmen Heath Shuler (D-NC) and John Boozman (R-AR) have introduced legislation recognizing ACEC on its 100th anniversary. The bipartisan resolution congratulates ACEC for its many achievements and service to the engineering industry. The resolution (H.R. 447) notes that ACEC Member Firms have been responsible for the nation's infrastructure, energy and industrial advances. The legislation's sponsors anticipate that the House will vote on H.R. 447 later this summer.

ACEC's Professional Liability Insurance Survey Continues Through June 5 The 2009 ACEC Professional Liability Insurance Survey of Member Firms for Fiscal Year 2008 will run through Friday, June 5. This annual survey collects information on Member Firms' professional liability insurance, their claims experience, and the impact of the threat of litigation. An email with a link to the survey has been sent to the key contacts of Member Firms. If your firm has not yet received this link, click here to access the survey. Member Firms that respond to the survey will receive a free copy of the complete results upon request. "This information is crucial to determining the professional liability insurance landscape which our members must work with. It also provides important data for our tort reform efforts in Congress," said Charlie Geer, senior vice president of Kimley-Horn and Associates and chairman of the ACEC Risk Management Committee. "I strongly encourage each Member Firm's headquarters office to participate in this survey." The results of the survey will be compiled and a summary published in the July/August 2009 issue of Engineering Inc. Complete survey results will be available for sale through the ACEC Bookstore.

Three Engineering Students To Receive 2009 ACEC Scholarship Awards Ipshita Thomas Kendra M. Schenk Rita Lederle ACEC's Committee of Fellows has selected three engineering students to receive 2009 ACEC Scholarships. Ipshita Thomas, who recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, will receive the $10,000 ACEC Scholar of the Year scholarship. Kendra M. Schenk, who is entering her senior year at Purdue University, will receive the $7,500 Kennedy/Jenks Consultants Scholarship. Schenk will earn her bachelor's degree in science and civil engineering in May 2011. Rita Lederle, who is a senior at the University of Minnesota, will receive the $5,000 Small Firm Council Scholarship. Lederle will receive her bachelor's degree in civil engineering in December 2009. ACEC will recognize the three award winners at the upcoming Fall Conference in Palm Springs, Calif. For further information about ACEC Scholarships, contact Daisy Nappier at dnappier@acec.org.

Industry Trends Survey Questionnaire Deadline Extended To May 22 You still have time to participate in ACEC's 2009-2010 Industry Trends Survey questionnaire. ACEC has extended the deadline for returning the completed questionnaire to May 22. To access the survey questionnaire online, click here. Firms participating in the survey will receive an electronic version of the final report—indispensable for strategic planning and benchmarking against industry norms—free.

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.

Corps of Engineers' Chip Smith to Detail Wetlands Permitting Issues Online On Thursday, June 4, ACEC presents a unique online seminar featuring Chip Smith, assistant for Environmental, Tribal and Regulatory Affairs, USACE. Smith will discuss the array of regulatory and permitting issues governing wetlands and related property and waterways: what various agencies do; what recent regulatory and court actions mean; and what various permitting processes might entail. Smith will also share related insights of interest to any firm working in wetlands and related environments. The focus of the interactive seminar will be on the impact of the Rivers and Harbors Act and the Clean Water Act requirements on applications for Corps of Engineers permits for development near waterways—including wetlands—as influenced by the new administration, court decisions, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Click here to register.

Business of Design Consulting Updates Management for Challenging Economy 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 such as: 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.

Seminar Can Provide New Courtroom Skills And Legal Services To Portfolio 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.

Denver Course Focuses on Green Civil Projects, Civic Planning 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.

Online Seminars Detail Climate Impact on Engineering Practice, BIM and IPD The Climate Project: Impact of Global Climate Change on Engineering Practice May 26, 1:30-3 p.m. In response to research from the scientific community on the changing global climate, engineers are increasingly faced with having to engage the issue of climate change in design. Raymond Sirois, Wright-Pierce Engineers, looks at several examples of recent climate impacts on local infrastructure and how it is changing and challenging engineers' approach to design. Click here to register. Lessons Learned in Implementing BIM and IPD in a 900-Person Multidisciplinary Firm May 27, 1:30-3 p.m. Among the hurdles to overcome in adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) practices at larger firms is the challenge of implementation. Sean B. Smith, Gresham, Smith and Partners—and a faculty member for ACEC's popular course BIM: The Promise and the Reality for A/E/C Firms—explores the implementation strategy of his own organization with multiple locations, markets and services. Click here to register.

A/E Finance Leaders to Gather for Fall Forum; Registration Opens ACEC's Finance Forum for industry finance professionals has opened registration for the next meeting, set for September 14-15 in Chicago. The popular Forum event gives attendees the opportunity to network with peers and exchange valuable information and best practices. Planned topics for the fall meeting include the economic downturn, the stimulus package, cash flow, acquisitions, ESOPs and additional areas of interest that may arise. The Forum is open to members and non-members. Click here to register.

Senior Executives Institute Has Limited Openings for Class 15 A few openings still remain for Class 15 of ACEC's Senior Executives Institute (SEI)—a two-year series of five meetings—which begins in September 2009. SEI curriculum is specific to the complex contemporary world in which design professionals practice, with executives enrolled in the program increasing their personal knowledge, skills, business acumen, and awareness of their environment. Emerging as more effective leaders, they can better clarify matters of importance to themselves and their businesses, enabling the emergence of new and compelling visions, goals and strategies. Click here for details and to register; or contact Deirdre McKenna, at 202-682-4328.

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 · Gerry Donohue, Designer