For recent ACEC news, click below:
The ACEC Index compares the stock performance of ACEC’s publicly held Member Firms with the NYSE Composite Index and Total U.S. Construction Spending.
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Buildings/Land
USDA To Fund $242 Million in Infrastructure Improvements
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced investments in 28 states to improve needed infrastructure in rural communities... click here for more.
Changing Urban Infrastructure to Combat Climate Change
Cities are already responsible for some 80 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, and that number is expected to increase as the global population approaches 9 billion and becomes increasingly concentrated in urban centers...click here for more.
Water
Rainwater Harvesting Reaps Low-cost Sustainability Benefits
Rainwater is a major unharvested water source available for reuse and reclamation because rainwater treatment generally involves less technology... click here for more.
Transportation
FHWA Releases Final Noise Abatement Rules
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a final rulemaking for 23 CFR 772, Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise and Construction Noise, that updates the Highway Traffic Noise Analysis and Abatement Policy and Guidance...click here for more.
"Complete Street" Design Focuses on All Users
Ensuring the safety of all travelers, not just motorists, is at the core of a new approach for building transportation systems, called "complete streets"... click here for more.
Click here for more News Briefs.
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"ACEC Online Job Board is...targeted to our industry."
“We at Stanley Consultants feel the ACEC Online Job Board is one of the most effective tools to find new hires. Our Human Resources staff trust and respect it and it is targeted to our industry.”
Gregs Thomopulos, CEO & Chairman
Stanley Consultants, Inc.
Employers are increasingly looking to niche job boards for their recruiting needs because mass market job boards often don’t have the right candidates. By using a niche job board, such as the ACEC Job Board, you get direct access to a focused group of qualified engineering talent specific to your needs.
Save money and reach thousands of candidates. With over 525 posted A/E/C industry jobs and more than 25,000 candidate resumes, the ACEC Job Board’s advanced search features produce effective, specific results for both job seekers and employers.
Save 20 percent on any posting or package by using the discount code TARGET at checkout. Savings end next Friday, so don’t delay.
For more information, contact Nina Goldman at 202-682-4325 or write ngoldman@acec.org.
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Over 550 Searchable Jobs Posted
Over 25,000 Searchable Resumes Posted
Over 2,200 Registered Employers |
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Last Five "Help Wanted" Open Positions:
Operations Manager—Albuquerque, NM
Independent Quality Assurance Manager—Golden, CO
Entry Level Structural Engineer—Houston, TX
Civil Engineer II—Dickinson, ND
Sr. Highway/Roadway Project Manager—Tulsa, OK
A Sampling of Posted Resumes:
Geotechnical Engineers—1,225
Water Resources/Wastewater Engineers—1,766
Transportation—1,519
Civil Engineers—2,414
Structural Engineers—1,649
Environmental Engineers—1,597
View These and Other Resumes and Jobs
on ACEC's Job Board
www.acec.org/jobbank |
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Effective Family Ownership with ACEC Bookstore Resources
Ownership Transition: Options and Strategies, Third Edition
Lowell Getz and Paul Lurie
To order, click here.
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9 Elements of Family Business Success
A Proven Formula for Improving Leadership & Relationships in Family Business
Allen E. Fishman
To order, click here.
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Perpetuating the Family Business
50 Lessons Learned from Long Lasting, Successful Families in Business
John L. Ward
To order, click here.
Click here to see all of the publications and merchandise available at the ACEC Bookstore.
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Defend Overhead Rates; BIM for Bosses Highlight Online Seminars
ACEC business online seminars provide critical business information for Member Firms navigating current market challenges and seeking new business opportunities.
Here’s a look at upcoming topics:
September
14—Project Management for Design Professionals, by Bill Ramroth, Jr.
Start right, finish strong… here’s how, A-Z.
15—Wired to Clients—Insights on Getting Inside Your Customers’ Minds, by David Stone, Stone & Company
Trust-based relationships: why they’re crucial, how to build them.
21—What is the Right Value for Your Firm? by David Cohen, Matheson Financial Advisors
Firm internal/external sale in your future? Start building more shareholder value now.
23—Private Partnerships for Public Needs: PPPs and Surface Transportation by Jim Hatter, Federal Highway Administration
PPPs gaining favor with DOTs: models, risk transfer, finance tools explained.
28—BIM for Bosses, by Eric Wing, C&S Companies
A realistic view of benefits, end goals, implementation processes.
October
5—How to Write the ‘Perfect’ NEPA Cumulative Impact Analysis, by Owen Schmidt, former Senior Counsel, USDA
Understanding the necessary and that which can be left out to get to ‘perfect.’
6—R&D Tax Credit and Your Bottom Line by Larry Nealy, Axiom Solutions
Might your ‘day-to-day’ activity qualify for Tax Credit?
7—Survival and Success: Essential Project Management Practices for Sub-Consultant Structural Engineers, by Scott Braley, Braley Consulting
First seminar in CASE fall program.
12—Insider’s Guide to Developing and Defending Overhead Rates, by Paul Haglund, Paul Haglund Consulting
Be ready for increased government client scrutiny.
13—Project Partnering: Principles, Techniques, and Benefits, by Gary Bates, Roenker Bates Group
Project Partnering’ $uccess for design professionals.
14—Understanding and Using AIA C401 Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant: Deconstructing AIA B101, by Bill Geisen, GraydonHead
Second in CASE fall seminar series.
28—Understanding and Using AIA C40l Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant: Uses and Modifications, by Bill Geisen, GraydonHead
Third in CASE fall seminar series.
November
2—Effective Use of Government Contracts to Optimize Liability Protection by Ray Biagini, Esq., and Herbert Fenster, Esq., McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
High potential consequence activities require extra special vigilance.
11—Retirement Plans—Which Plan is the Best Fit for Your Firm? By Robert Kuna, Wachovia Securities
Fourth in CASE fall seminar series.
16—Systematic Client Feedback: How to Get It, Use It, and Benefit From It, by Mike Phillips, DesignFacilitator
Ten usable criteria for monitoring your firm’s ongoing performance.
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Download AASHTO Audit Guide Online Seminars
ACEC's popular series of online seminars detailing the new AASHTO Uniform Audit and Accounting Guide are now available for purchase and download on-demand through the ACEC Bookstore.
To order, click on the seminar title of interest:
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| ACEC Supports Obama's $50B Initiative, but Urges Passage of Multi-Year Bills
ACEC commended President Obama for his Labor Day announcement of a new $50 billion transportation initiative, but called on him to work with Congress to gain passage of the multi-year aviation, water and surface transportation bills pending on Capitol Hill.
“Infrastructure investments have been shown to stimulate the economy more than other fiscal measures,” ACEC President Dave Raymond wrote in a letter to the White House. ”These initiatives represent the core of a very effective jobs and economic package that can be accomplished this year.”
To see a copy of the letter, click here.
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| Fall Conference Features Important IT Market Strategies
The upcoming ACEC 2010 Fall Conference will be held at the El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico, October 17-20. For more information on El Conquistador, click here. |
Member Firm CIOs and IT professionals will have a full agenda of technology focused sessions at the upcoming ACEC 2010 Fall Conference in Puerto Rico, October 17-20.
For information on the CIO track, click here. To learn more about the Fall Conference and to register, click here.
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| ACEC Urges Continued Member Action on Transportation Bill
As part of a coordinated national campaign, hundreds of ACEC members have contacted their House and Senate members, calling for immediate action on the stalled six-year surface transportation program.
ACEC urges all Council members to write to their representatives, generating the kind of local pressure needed to motivate Congress to act.
Click here to access a sample letter, which members can personalize with firm-specific information, print on letterhead and fax to their Members of Congress and Senators.
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| ACEC/Indiana, ACEC/Massachusetts Support Pro-Business Candidates
Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) (center) met with ACEC/Indiana Executive Director Stephanie Morse (left) and Ross Snider, vice president of USI Consultants in Indianapolis (right) to discuss infrastructure spending and a better tax climate for business. |
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Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA) (second from left) discussed industry issues with ACEC/Massachusetts members at HNTB’s Chelmsford office recently. Pictured left to right are ACEC Vice Chairman Robin Greenleaf; Rep. Tsongas; Paul Yarossi, HNTB Holdings; Ko Ishikura, Green International Affiliates; and Mary Hall, GZA GeoEnvironmental. |
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| ACEC Scores More QBS Wins
ACEC successfully challenged two recent agency procurements for A/E services that failed to properly use Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS).
The procurements were for stream flow assessments for the Bureau of Land Management and an Air Force contract for bridge inspections.
ACEC reminded the contracting agencies of the benefits of QBS and identified the potential violation of the Brooks Act. After considerable dialogue, the agencies reissued the procurements to comply with federal regulations.
Member Firms are asked to alert ACEC to potential QBS violations and are encouraged to participate with the ACEC Federal Agency and Procurement Advocacy Committee, which promotes the interests of ACEC members engaged in contracting with the federal government. For more information, contact Mark Steiner, Senior Policy Director, at msteiner@acec.org.
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Update A/E Business Skills for Success; Best-Price Extended to Sept. 10
September 29-October 2, Atlanta, GA
Led by an all-star faculty of business experts and successful A/E industry practitioners, The Business of Design Consulting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Atlanta, is a comprehensive update and analysis of the key business practices that drive the successful A/E firm.
Experts on best-practices include:
- Rod Hoffman, S & H Consulting LLC, on leadership and human resources
- Colvin Matheson, Matheson Financial Advisors, on finance, business management and ownership transition
- Tom Bongi, Catlin Design Professional, on contracts and risk management
- Matt Hirst, Caldwell Richard Sorensen (CRS), on information technology
- David Stone, Stone and Company, on marketing
Advance best-price has been extended to Sept. 10. For details, and to register, click here.
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For Your Firm, Your Clients, Yourself: Expert Witness Training a Big Value
November 11-12, Orlando, FL
Litigation is a fact-of-life in the A/E industry. Firms need professionals who are comfortable with courtroom procedures to serve the firm (or clients) as an expert witness.
Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness, ACEC’s one-of-a-kind course, is being offered November 11-12, in Orlando, to prepare participants for legal service.
Topics 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, and agreement and compensation for taking on an outside assignment.
Click here for details and to register.
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| Evaluate Your Firm’s Financials for Key Measures and Actionable Data
ACEC’s newest course, Essentials of A/E Financial Management and Firm Valuation, Nov. 4-5, Phoenix, will equip you with the interpretive skills, understanding and savvy to maximize the use and value of your project and firm financials.
David Cohen, finance expert and principal, Matheson Financial Advisors, Inc., will help participants extract and apply key financial measures such as break-even overhead rate, target billing multiplier and labor utilization percentage; examine various performance, liquidity and leverage ratios; and benchmark these results to improve shareholder value.
Click here for details and to register. |
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Project Management Seminar is Primer of Practical Instructions, Techniques
September 14, 1:30-3 p.m.
Author, educator and architect William Ramroth presents an introductory overview of project management for design professionals.
The online seminar is a primer of practical advice, instructions and techniques based on Ramroth’s book of the same title. Topics will cover every aspect of project management, including:
- The importance of project management
- Characteristics of a good project manager
- Organization of multi-disciplinary design teams
- Planning the project
- Project budget, schedule, and quality control
- Client management
- Project management rules of thumb
Click here to register.
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Trust-Based Relationships Vital; Find Out Why, How to Build Them
September 15, 1:30-3 p.m.
Success in the A/E business is built on relationships.
Marketing expert David Stone gets specific with the why and how of building trust-based relationships in a practical online seminar, Wired to Clients—Insights on Getting Inside Your Customers’ Minds.
Connecting with your clients on the technical level in a proposal isn’t enough. If you haven’t also bonded with them on a personal level through your business development activities, your chances of winning the job are diminished. This online seminar provides practical new insights and pathways to winning client confidence and jobs.
Click here for details and to register.
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HR Forum to Meet in Boston; Sales & Marketing During Fall Conference
HR Forum, October 7-8, Cambridge, Mass.
Sales and Marketing Forum, October 17, Puerto Rico
The HR Forum agenda is being finalized, with the focus on updating issues of current interest, including employee communication and retention; legal, medical and benefits discussions; and recognition and rewards practices. Click here to register.
The Sales and Marketing Forum meets on October 17 during the ACEC 2010 Fall Conference in Puerto Rico. Conference registrants can attend at no additional fee or participants can register only for the Forum. A/E industry marketing maven David Stone will walk attendees through a self-appraisal of their overall marketing function, and introduce new ideas for re-purposing and re-energizing sales efforts firm-wide to step-up to today’s intensely competitive environment. 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, Editor/Designer |
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