More than 1,000 ACEC members are registered for the 2011 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. next week, just at the time that Congress will be debating several key industry issues.

These include a new multi-year aviation bill and the repeals of both the 3 percent withholding mandate and the new Form 1099 filing requirement. In addition, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be holding hearings on a new six-year highway bill.

“This presents an ideal opportunity for ACEC’s citizen lobbyists to advocate on behalf of our industry,” said ACEC President Dave Raymond. “And ACEC Chairman Jerry Stump will be testifying before the T&I Committee."

Click here for information and to register for the Convention.

ACEC has voiced its support for the Good Samaritan Protection for Construction, Architectural, and Engineering Volunteers Act (H.R. 1145), sponsored by Representatives Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Jim Matheson (D-UT).

The legislation gives A/E and construction firms qualified immunity from liability when providing services or equipment on a volunteer basis in response to a declared emergency or disaster.

H.R. 1145 is a key piece of ACEC’s legal reform agenda, which also includes legislation being drafted by the Council to provide liability relief for paid engineers working in a range of emergency situations.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the U.S. Commercial Service has asked ACEC to identify Member Firms interested in participating in the rebuilding effort.

The firm names will be forwarded to the Japanese government. For more information, contact Mark Steiner at msteiner@acec.org.

If you or your firm would like to make a donation to the relief efforts, click here.

Engineering firms are facing increased liability risk due to a big uptick in litigation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage/hour requirements.

On March 24, ACEC presents the online seminar, Exempt vs.Non-Exempt Under the Fair Labor Standards Act: What Engineering Companies Need to Know. Jason Schwartz, an attorney with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, will describe pitfalls under FLSA and state regulations that are specific to engineering firms, and outline steps that firms can take to avoid liability.

For more information and to register, click here.

ACEC/Michigan Executive Director Ron Brenke

ACEC/Michigan Executive Director Ron Brenke has been named to Michigan’s new Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Advisory Committee.

The committee will examine the State Revolving Fund process and provide recommendations to increase investment in sewage collection and treatment systems.

ACEC encourages Member Firms to participate in the new ACEC/ZweigWhite Financial Performance Survey of Architecture, Engineering, Planning and Environmental Consulting Firms. The deadline for participation has been extended to April 8. To get a link to the survey questionnaire, contact Jeff Beard at jbeard@acec.org.

The survey will provide current composite information on a number of key business indicators, including firm growth rates and profit margins, bonus and personnel remuneration amounts, business strategies for the next three, five and ten years, and a breakdown of client base by region. Individual Member Firm responses are confidential.

ACEC Member Firms that participate in the survey can purchase the final report at a discount of 25 percent off the regular price (for a net cost of only $109).

State DOTs and A/E firms are relying heavily on nationwide salary surveys to benchmark executive compensation in the wake of the revised AASHTO Audit Guide.

ACEC is asking all Member Firms to participate in PSMJ’s 2011 A/E Management Compensation Benchmark Survey. Your firm’s participation will improve industry compensation data, provide State DOTs with accurate information and give you the tools to benchmark executive compensation and be FAR compliant.

To participate in the survey, click here. Download the questionnaire, save it to your hard drive, and follow the instructions to submit your data by March 25.

You will need a firm code number to complete the survey. If you are not already on PSMJ’s Surveys e-mail list, send a request to PSMJ2011Benchmarks@PSMJ.com and you will get a number by return e-mail. Mention that you are an ACEC member.

March 31, 1:30-3 p.m.

Consolidation within the A/E/C industry through merger and acquisition is an exploding trend that is on the minds of many firm leaders.

In a timely, informative online seminar, A/E/C Mergers and Acquisitions: Marriages of Necessity or Convenience?, Michael Landry and Hunt Davis of FMI Advisors, Inc., will give participants an incisive look at A/E/C industry mergers, addressing competitive pressures in the industry, key staff issues, the impact of public companies, hot market sectors, and attributes of an attractive takeover target.

Firms diving into the M&A process will hear how integration planning and understanding differences in cultures can help smooth the way forward. Click here to register.

ACEC’s online seminar Responding to Requests for Discounts or Unilateral Fee Reductions drew more than 160 Member Firm participants. To purchase and download the recorded session, click here.

In the program, P. Douglas Folk of Folk & Associates outlined the ways firms can deal with client requests for discounts or reductions, including legal challenges and the application of Federal Acquisition Regulations.