ACEC-Backed National Infrastructure Development Bank Bill Introduced Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Steve Israel (D-NY), Keith Ellison (D-MN), and Anthony Weiner (D-NY) recently introduced the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2009 (HR 2521).

Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) The ACEC-supported measure would create and fund a new independent institution to direct public and private dollars toward large infrastructure projects. The concept has the support of the Obama Administration, and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the initiative during his recent appearance at ACEC’s Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. The Bank would evaluate and finance infrastructure projects with substantial regional and national significance. These projects would be limited to public mass transit systems, public housing, roads, bridges, drinking water and sewage treatment systems. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

The Bank would be initially capitalized with authorized appropriations of $5 billion a year for five years. Funding options proposed in the legislation include direct subsidies, direct loan guarantees, long-term tax-credit general purpose and infrastructure project-specific bonds. For more information, contact Diane Shea, ACEC’s director of environment and energy programs, at dshea@acec.org or (202) 347-7474.

• 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.

ACEC Offers Benchmarking Advisory Service For Member Firms ACEC has joined forces with The Family Business Institute to create the Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program, which provides Member Firm executives the opportunity to participate in an ongoing, professionally facilitated roundtable and best-practices program. The program brings together non-competing ACEC members whose firms are similar (in revenue and discipline) to discuss industry issues, opportunities, and strategies. The program includes peer critiques, intensive benchmarking, and targeted recommendations for firm development. For more information on the PPB program, click here.

Still Time to Gain Courtroom Skills, Add Legal Services, June 18-19, Philadelphia 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 a smart 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 will prepare 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.

Explore Ways BIM Benefits Productivity, Changing A/E/C Practices Building Information Modeling (BIM): The Promise and The Reality for A/E/C Firms October 29-30, Seattle Is BIM a competitive edge? Is it increasingly a factor in gaining new business for firms that utilize it? According to a McGraw-Hill SmartMarket Report,* “the benefits are tangible and the risks of not participating outweigh those of getting engaged.” To address current and future industry challenges, ACEC will present Building Information Modeling (BIM): The Promise and The Reality for A/E/C Firms on October 29-30 in Seattle. This 2009 version of the course will be an informative and timely look into the many components of the increasingly popular BIM interdisciplinary project delivery system. Course faculty will include industry innovators who are transforming the BIM multi-dimensional project planning concept into an A/E/C marketplace advantage. The 1½-day agenda will be segmented into reasons for change; exploring the technology and interoperability; implementation strategies and IT case study; an updated look into risk management and insurance for “BIM-ready” firms; and a new segment on BIM from the M/E/P perspective. This course will be ideal for firm principals planning, considering or beginning to implement BIM. For details and to register at best advance price, click here. *To update their SmartMarket report on the business value of BIM, McGraw-Hill is seeking participation of BIM users and non-users in an industry-wide survey on adoption of the system. Click here to access the confidential survey questionnaire.

Next Week Online: Seven Basics of Planning to Manage Performance If You Haven’t Planned It, You Can’t Control It June 17, 1:30-3 p.m. What is planning in its basic form? What is controlling in its basic form? How does employee performance relate to proper planning and control systems? Gary Bates, Roenker Bates Group, will work through questions on employee performance and shares “seven basic steps required to plan and control anything,” in this interactive online event. For engineering managers tasked with controlling dozens of project components, this seminar will help make the “people part” more successful. For details and to register for this seminar, click here.

Join Fellow Industry Leaders at Finance Forum, September 14-15 in Chicago 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 provides 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.

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