Grow BIM Practice, Improve ROI; Register by May 24 to Save 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’ Hurry! Register by May 24 for best price. For course brochure featuring agenda highlights, faculty bios and registration information, click here.

Add Courtroom Skills to Professional Expertise, Offer Expert Witness Services 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). For course brochure featuring agenda highlights, faculty bios and registration information, click here.

Recognizing, Practicing Real-World Engineering Ethics... and Why It Matters May 26, 1:30-3 p.m. As professionals, engineers always seek to maintain the highest standard of professional behavior in day-to-day work performance. While “business ethics” issues frequently make headlines, the engineering profession faces its own particular ethical dilemmas. Ethics in Engineering: Theory and Real World Cases will be presented online by Steve Henn, SmartPros, on May 26. Henn will discuss why understanding, practicing, and maintaining professional ethics should be an ongoing, vital part of a firm’s culture; analyze the causes of unethical behavior; and provide an opportunity for participants to examine recognizable situations to identify circumstances where unethical behavior can occur. For details and to register, click here.

Helping Clients Meet the Challenges of Climate Change: Anticipate, Adapt May 27, 1:30-3 p.m. In an age of changing climate, where will the business opportunities for consulting engineers be found? Ray Sirois, Sr. Associate IT Director, Wright-Pierce, presents Public Infrastructure Planning and Design in an Age of Changing Climate: Responding to Opportunities, an interactive online seminar. Illustrated with case studies, Sirois will explore how infrastructure is likely to be impacted by climate change, and the A/E industry’s business and adaptation responses under various scenarios. Participants in this timely seminar will discover the engineering opportunities that are integral to the challenges of climate change and learn how to leverage the best up-to-date information available in serving client’s long-term interests and their own business strategies. For details and to register, click here.

Be Prepared for 'New Normal': New SEI Class Accepting Limited Registrations 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