BIM Course Targets Owner Perspective, Adding IT Value, Improved Results June 21-22, Orlando, FL Realizing BIM Potential for A/E Firms: Leveraging the Building Information Modeling Process for Increased ROI is ACEC’s new 2010 next-level exploration of this challenging and increasingly owner-specified process. Presented June 21-22, Orlando, FL, the course focuses on fine-tuning the BIM process by adding technology value without breaking budgets; improving interoperability and streamlining workflows; reducing RFIs for fee savings; ensuring M/E/P inclusion; optimizing integration of BIM into firm culture and services; legal lessons learned; and managing risk. Faculty represent key perspectives involved in the overall process: design engineer, firm IT management, software developer, owner, M/E/P integration technology expert, and legal and risk management. They are innovators who have successfully transformed BIM projects into marketplace advantage. A/E company principals, project managers, COOs, IT managers and business development professionals of firms already using or familiar with BIM will get a cutting-edge, first-hand look into diverse opportunities for maximizing their bottom-line benefits and moving forward with BIM. 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 a course brochure featuring agenda highlights, faculty bios and registration information, 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, senior associate IT director, Wright-Pierce, presents Public Infrastructure Planning and Design in an Age of Changing Climate: Responding to Opportunities, an interactive online seminar. Using 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 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.

Protect Your Business, Learn About Recent A/E/C Court Cases June 8, 1:30-3 p.m. Attorneys Kent Holland, ConstructionRisk.com LLC, and Lauren McLaughlin, BrigliaMcLaughlin PLLC, compile and discuss the 2009 and early 2010 “cases to watch” involving contractors and project owners against design professionals. In this informative online seminar, 2009-2010 A/E/C Court Cases Review: Lessons Learned, June 8, 1:30-3 p.m., the presenters will provide a valuable and precautionary recap of the changing A/E/C legal landscape. Cases will address limitation of liability, indemnification, licensing, procedural issues such as certificates of merit and time limitations on filing suits, electronic discovery, and the economic loss doctrine. For details and to register, click here.

BIM-Based Asset Management: Opportunities With Existing Buildings June 9, 1:30-3 p.m. “Ninety-five percent of all buildings and facilities contained in an owner’s portfolio over the next decade already exist, so implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions for maintaining existing facilities makes obvious sense,” says Jim Watson, director of Federal Programs, Facilities Lifecycle Group, MACTEC Engineering & Consulting, Inc. Watson presents Why Owners Want Your BIM Model for Asset Management, an online seminar on June 9, to make the case for why the BIM model is increasingly in demand by owners, describing it as “the dashboard that integrated the stovepipes that exist in most entities regardless of size.” Seminar participants will view a pilot of the BIM-based Asset Management Solution to the challenge of integrated facilities management, and the reduction in total ownership costs generated by its implementation. For details and to register, click here.

Get Ready for 'New Normal': September SEI Class Has Limited Openings 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