Tips to Increase Your Membership ROI Tip #5: Participate in ACEC Conventions By bringing your staff to ACEC’s semi-annual Conventions, your firm can take advantage of many membership benefits in a single, intense burst. Over the course of three days, your staff can participate in dozens of educational programs on key industry trends and business practices—often earning them at least 20 PDH credits—attend sessions with key federal procurement officials, receive legislative updates, hear addresses by national figures, participate in committee meetings, and enjoy numerous opportunities to network with fellow professionals from around the country. “ACEC Conferences are an excellent opportunity to learn about new business trends and practices,” said Edward Schiller of TVGA Consultants in Elma, New York. “The conference environment provides a great resource in the ability to network and interact with peers and industry experts.” Click here to add members of your staff to your ACEC roster. They will receive information about upcoming ACEC Conventions, as well as Last Word and Engineering Inc. For more information about the 2009 ACEC Fall Conference in Palm Springs, Calif. October 7-10, click here.

Let 100 Years of Industry Excellence Boost Your Marketing Efforts Include the new ACEC 100th Anniversary Issue in your firm’s marketing portfolio to create a dynamic marketing package for clients. Enhancing your client communications with the 100th Anniversary Issue of Engineering Inc. demonstrates your affiliation with an industry leader that has a century of proven professional quality, influence and excellence. It also reinforces engineering’s important role in the nation’s development over the past century. Combined with your firm’s existing professional profile, the 100th Anniversary Issue will reaffirm that your company is among the industry’s best. Order copies of ACEC’s 100th Anniversary Issue today by clicking here, or by contacting Jackie Pysarchuk at jpysarchuk@acec.org.

CASE Workshop Examines Sustainable Design Opportunities and Risks ACEC’s Council of American Structural Engineers (CASE) will present a special afternoon workshop, How Can Structural Firms Benefit by Understanding Sustainable Design? on August 19 in Chicago. Held in conjunction with the CASE 2009 Summer Meeting, the workshop will provide an overview of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and other recognized rating systems, cover core principles of sustainable building practice and examine environmental impact mitigation through industry case studies. In roundtable discussions, participants will explore technical and business opportunities and barriers within the sustainable design process. Scheduled speakers include Dirk Kestner of Walter P Moore; Helen Torres of Thornton Tomasetti; Terry McDonnell of Halcrow Yolles; Roy Wilson of George Butler Associates, Inc.; and Don Allen of the Steel Framing Alliance. Click here for more information and to register for the workshop. On-site participants will earn four PDHs.

Vig Wins ACEC Drawing for Jade Necklace Timothy Vig won the prize drawing among early registrants for the 2009 ACEC Fall Conference in Palm Springs. Timothy Vig, president of USKH in Anchorage, Alaska, won the 2009 ACEC Fall Conference drawing for a 3.5-karat jade necklace. “The necklace looks beautiful and I’m excited to be able to surprise my wife with it,” said Vig. “And I’m looking forward to Palm Springs in October.” ACEC held the drawing among all members who had registered for the 2009 ACEC Fall Conference by July 1. The Conference will be held in Palm Springs, October 7-10. The necklace, which is valued at $1,250, was donated by William Jeffrey’s Jewelers. For more information about the 2009 ACEC Fall Conference and to register, click here.

July 22 Deadline to Submit Proposals for 2010 Spring Convention Approaching Fast Proposals for session presentations at the ACEC 2010 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit must be submitted to the ACEC Institute for Business Management by July 22. Convention dates are April 25-28, 2010, in Washington, D.C. Sessions are to be 75 minutes on topics under any of nine tracks: business management and quality, finance, human resources, information technology, leadership, legal and risk management, business development, project management and project delivery. Featuring a unique combination of educational programming, Capitol Hill visits, the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, networking opportunities, tours and exhibits, the Annual Convention has historically attracted an impressive roster of design professionals with wide-ranging professional education interests. Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. EDT, July 22, 2009. For full descriptions of track topics, benefits of presenting, and the presentation entry form and requirements, click here.

Senior Executives Institute Has Final Few Openings for September Class 15 Since the inception of ACEC’s prestigious Senior Executives Institute (SEI), engineers and architects from firms of all sizes, locations and practice specialties have been drawn to this highly interactive, energetic, exploratory and challenging learning opportunity. Through five separate four- or five-day sessions over 18 months, participants will acquire new tools to prosper in the changed—and challenging—A/E/C business environment. SEI faculty methodologies include lectures from prominent policy makers, meetings with public and private sector professionals, group discussions and case study work, self-evaluation and individual work, presentations and discussions with industry leaders, and extensive reading on cutting-edge leadership and management topics from the most highly regarded contemporary thinkers. A few openings remain for Class 15, which begins in September. Executives with at least five years’ experience managing all aspects of professional design programs or businesses are invited to register now for this important leadership building opportunity. For more information, click here or contact Deirdre McKenna at 202-682-4328 or dmckenna@acec.org.

BIM Course Examines Latest Technology, Process Risks and Advantages 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 1-1/2 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.

Business of Design Consulting Offers Survival Course in Basics, Newest Tactics The Business of Design Consulting: Managing for Success in a Climate of Change October 21-24, St. Louis, MO ACEC’s Business of Design Consulting: Managing for Success in a Climate of Change is a unique and comprehensive update of the elements and functions of the successful A/E business…in the context of a challenging business environment. Content covers the eight key areas of business management, finance, marketing, risk management, contracts, leadership, human resources, and information technology—plus real-world technical examples presented by leading practitioners in the A/E workplace. Created for owners, principals, executives, and managers of A/E firms, this state-of-the-art look at the key components of your operation is a cost-effective investment for succeeding in a more competitive than ever environment. For details and to register at the early bird price, click here.

Get Ready to Add New Expert Witness Services With Certificate Course Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness October 29-30, Dearborn, MI Adding new services such as expert witness capabilities to your firm’s portfolio is a shrewd business strategy, particularly as an extension of existing skills and expertise. However well-qualified your key staff may be, though, only the court-savvy engineer should take on potentially lucrative assignments as an expert witness in legal proceedings. Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness, ACEC’s unique 1-1/2 day course to qualify engineers, architects and surveyors for recognition as expert witnesses, will be presented Oct. 29-30 in Dearborn, MI. Participants earn a certificate of course completion equipping them for legal service. For details and course agenda, click here. In completing this course, attendees take an important first step towards qualifying for the professional designation of Engineer Expert Witness (EXW). For information on the EXW designation program, e-mail ebajer@acec.org.

A/E Industry Finance Forum Set for 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.

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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