Capitalize on Expertise as Expert Witness; Register by May 14 for Savings June 10-11, Denver, CO Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness, ACEC’s unique 1½-day course, will be presented June 10-11 in Denver to prepare participants for legal service with recognition and a certificate of course completion. The course is designed for professional engineers, architects and surveyors interested in earning credentials for legal service engagements professionally or as an added client service. Discussion will include deposition behavior, permissible out-of-court statements, ethics, pre-courtroom testimony preparation, courtroom demeanor, how to maintain credibility, the differences between a fact witness and an expert witness, plus the agreement and compensation for taking on an assignment. Attendees completing this course who wish to further enhance their professional credentials will have taken important first steps towards applying for the professional designation of Engineer Expert Witness (EXWSM). The deadline to register at the early bird best price has been extended to May 14. To register, click here.

New, Next-Level BIM Course Targets 'Increased ROI,' Bottom-line Benefits June 21-22, Orlando, FL ACEC’s new 2010 BIM course—Realizing BIM Potential for A/E Firms: Leveraging the Building Information Modeling Process for Increased ROI—is a focused, next-level exploration of the BIM process, presented by experienced practitioners, software experts, and A/E industry innovators. A/E company principals, project managers, COOs, IT managers and business development professionals of firms already using or familiar with BIM will get an inside look at how to maximize bottom-line benefits incorporating BIM into firm culture and services. Attendees of the June 21-22 course in Orlando, will hear from industry innovators who are successfully transforming BIM projects into a marketplace advantage. Key perspectives and sample topics include: Design engineer: A more efficient procurement process, plus reduced RFIs means fee savings Engineering firm technology leader: Assessing your investment and moving forward; adding value without breaking budgets Software developer: Interoperability and streamlining Owner: Expectations and possibilities M/E/P technology strategist: Taking a BIM model from design to construction to maintenance; software M/E/P ‘tips and tricks’ A/E risk management, legal expert: Contracts and data licensing agreements; short history for legal ‘lessons learned’ For course agenda highlights, faculty and to register, click here.

California Court: Engineering Firm Not Negligent, Pay Anyway May 20-21, San Francisco As a recent California appellate court decision demonstrates, A/E/C contracts are continuously being challenged in the courts. In the California case—UDC v. CH2M HILL—the court ruled that it was a design consultant’s duty to pay the legal costs of its developer client against a negligence action brought by a homeowners’ association—even though there was no underlying direct claim of negligence against that consultant. In the decision, though the consultant was found not negligent, the Court still imposed an obligation upon the firm to pay under the indemnity clause contained within the parties’ contract. Protect your firm’s interests and bottom line and learn about this case and indemnity clauses in general in ACEC’s upcoming course, Closing the Deal With A/E/C Contracts: Recognize Pitfalls, Negotiate Winners, May 20-21, San Francisco. Faculty presenter Justin Weisberg, attorney and EJCDC member, will address the A/E firm liability implications of the California case and examine other important changes to industry model contracts. This fast-paced course examines today’s “red-flag” industry contract provisions—the ones you need to understand and watch for if you negotiate and/or sign contracts for your firm’s services. Attendees will acquire the skills and principles of toe-to-toe contract negotiation to maintain professional standards and protect your business, from presenters James C. Brown II, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.; David Stone, Stone and Company; and Justin Weisberg, Arnstein & Lehr LLP. For details on the course, click here. To register, click here.

Best Practices for Keeping, Nurturing Your Firm’s Young Talent May 18, 1:30-3 p.m. Leaders in engineering firms are challenged by the apparent differences in values and goals within the 20-35-year-old demographic, and report struggling to find and implement strategies that will maximize the value and effectiveness of their young talent. Mike Baker, David Evans and Associates, and Geordie Aitken, Aitken Leadership Group, present Developing Future Leaders: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Growing 20- 35-Year-Olds in Leaner Times, online, May 18, 1:30-3 p.m. Using case studies, the speakers will illustrate methods and strategies for slowing the frustrating, costly “brain drain” exodus of skilled and promising young leaders. In today’s challenging economic reality, the methods outlined in this session will provide new ideas for firms interested in creating a professional environment in which their young leaders can thrive and contribute. For details and to register, click here.

Anti-ID Theft Policy Deadline is June 1, Credit-Granting Firms Must Comply May 19, 1:30-3 p.m. In 2008, the Federal Trade Commission issued new regulations providing that businesses that extend credit must establish a written ID theft prevention policy (the ‘Red Flags Rule’). Deadline for compliance is June 1, 2010. A/E firms could be subject to this rule, and even if a firm is arguably not covered, it is good business practice to have an anti-ID theft policy in place. Thomas A. Cohn, Venable LLP, presents an informative online seminar, FTC’s ID Theft “Red Flags Rule:” Will Your Firm Comply by June 1? on May 19, 1:30-3 p.m. Cohn will answer questions that every A/E firm should be asking about the Red Flags Rule: What is the rule? Who is covered? What should an ID Theft Prevention Program contain? What are the consequences of non-compliance? Cohn will also outline a course of action for firms to create a suitable program prior to the June 1, 2010 deadline. For details and to register, click here.

It’s the Right Time to Build Leadership: Register Now for SEI Class 16 In the course of five separate five-day sessions over an 18-month timeframe, ACEC’s Senior Executives Institute (SEI) participants acquire new tools and high-level skills and insights to prosper in our changed—and challenging—A/E/C business environment. The opening session, Your Vision & The World, offers a thoughtful and illuminating five days in Washington, D.C., with leading authorities and visionaries on the changing environment, economic trends, public policy, global practice, and leading a living company. Since its inception, SEI has attracted public and private sector engineers and architects from firms of all sizes, locations, and practice specialties, who are drawn to a highly interactive, energetic, exploratory and challenging learning opportunity. Class 16 begins in September 2010. Course size is limited, and registrations for Class 16 are being accepted. Executives with at least five years’ experience managing professional design programs or businesses are invited to register for this highly regarded leadership building opportunity. For an overview of the full SEI program and to register, visit the ACEC SEI website. To inquire, contact Deirdre McKenna at dmckenna@acec.org.

 

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, Editor/Designer