For recent ACEC news, click below:
|
Energy
BIM and Lean Construction Yield "Significant" Efficiency
Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Lean construction practices, if used together as a tool and a process, respectively, can yield significant efficiency on construction projects... click here for more.
Water
Shallow Onsite Wastewater Treatment Offers Advantages
As the available supply of potable water struggles to meet the demand, onsite wastewater treatment gains an advantage by returning water to the aquifer as close to its origin as possible... click here for more.
Other
Sustainability is Critical to Next-Generation Infrastructure
A new paradigm for U.S. public works aligns multipurpose constructions with natural systems that are integrated into social context and designed for changes in climate... click here for more.
Click here for more News Briefs.
|
|
Over 600 Searchable Jobs Posted
Over 31,000 Searchable Resumes Posted
Over 2,300 Registered Employers
 |
|
Last Five "Help Wanted" Open Positions:
Environmental/Civil Engineer—Lancaster, NY
Transportation Engineer—Helena, MT
HVAC Design Engineer—Southwest VA
Electrical Engineer—Lakewood, CO
Geotechnical Engineer—Eureka, CA
A Sampling of Posted Resumes:
Mechanical/Electrical—7,904
Transportation—1,604
Environmental Engineers—1,587
Civil Engineers—5,260
Structural Engineers—1,852
Water/Wastewater—748
View These and Other Resumes and Jobs
on ACEC's Job Board
www.acec.org/jobbank |
|
Reach Engineering Students Through ACEC Job Board
ACEC’s engineering niche job board is part of the robust Engineering and Science and Career Network (ESCN), a joint effort of 39 engineering and scientific associations including ASCE and ASME. Job posting rates for ACEC members are modest, and services to job seekers are free.
Last week ACEC contacted more than 130 engineering colleges in the U.S. about the Job Board and urged graduating seniors (as well as students looking for internships) to make use of this valuable resource. If you have a position to fill—permanent, summer job, or internship—remember to use the Job Board. (Internship postings are free.) To receive 25 percent off your job posting fee, use the promo code “GRAD2011” (case sensitive). Offer expires June 30, 2011. Click here and and choose “Employers Click Here." |
Management Guides for the Successful Engineering Firm
|
Strategic Planning for Design Firms
Raymond Kogan & Cara Bobchek
A comprehensive guide to strategic planning for design professionals dedicated to the built environment — architects, engineers, environmental consultants, landscape architects, interior designers, and planners.
To order, click here.
|
Risk Management for Design Professionals
William G. Ramroth, Jr.,
In Risk Management for Design Professionals, architect and author William G. Ramroth explains the principles of effective risk management and how any design firm can apply them to every project.
To order, click here.
|
Project Management for Design Professionals
William G. Ramroth, Jr.,
Since design professionals rarely receive formal training on project management, the complex discipline can be a sink or swim proposition. Architect William G. Ramroth, Jr., taps the resources of his 30-plus years of project management experience to offer practical advice, instructions, and techniques to help you think strategically, plan carefully, and troubleshoot problems.
To order, click here.
|
Financial Management for Design Professionals
The Path to Profitability
Steve L. Wintner & Michael Tardif
An accessible guide to financial management, Financial Management for Design Professionals is written for design firm principals who are responsible for their firm’s finances but have little or no financial management education or experience.
To order, click here.
|
Save on Books by David Stone;
20% Off Through May 25, 2011
Discount has already been applied to website — No coupon needed.
|
Value Pricing for A/E and A/E/CM Firms
Accurately. Competitively. Profitably.
David Stone describes the necessary skills and "profit arithmetic" basics of setting fees. Whether you are a principal, project manager or aspiring project manager involved in putting a price on your services, you need the skills and insights explained in this book.
To order, click here.
|
|
Marketing in the 21st Century for Design Professionals
Learn how to raise your firm’s visibility, rethink your position in the marketplace, and gather important information about your competition—which can give you the upper hand in negotiations. You’ll also read how other firms use clever marketing and customer service methods to gain additional work, and discover why “cross-selling” is vital to your firm’s continued growth. To order, click here.
|
Wired to...Clients
Get Inside Your Customers’ Minds for Success in Business Development
In this follow-up to his highly regarded previous book Wired!, marketing advisor and author David Stone gets specific with the why and how of building trust-based relationships. Wired to . . . Clients gives you practical new insights and unique pathways to winning client confidence...and jobs.
To order, click here.
To browse the full catalog of publications and merchandise at the ACEC Bookstore, click here.
|
New Health Care Law, Hiring and Firing in Online Seminars
ACEC 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:
May
24—The New Health Care Law: What Your Firm Needs to Know Now, by Nancy K. Campbell, Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
Complying with today’s requirements, preparing for changes coming up.
June
1—The Five Failures of Strategic Planning (and How to Avoid Them), by Ray Kogan and Cara Bobchek, Kogan and Company
To employ strategic planning effectively, first recognize and avoid these most common pitfalls.
14—Best Practices and Limiting Risk in Hiring and Termination Decisions: Lessons from the Legal Front Lines, by Julia Judish, counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
How to implement hiring and termination practices to protect your organization and minimize legal risk, avoid common and costly pitfalls.
|
|
|
ACEC/U.S. Gov't Roundtable Seeks to Increase Overseas Infrastructure Work
Executives from 14 ACEC Member Firms participated in a high-level meeting this week with officials from the Departments of State and Commerce on how to increase overseas infrastructure work for U.S. firms.
ACEC members described conditions that discourage U.S. firms from pursuing overseas work, including tax policies, financing, corruption and the lack of preferences for American firms on U.S. funded projects.
Assistant Secretary of State Jose Fernandez and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Nicole Lamb-Hale said that they support policy changes that result in expanded exports of infrastructure services, and that a regular schedule of meetings with ACEC would be held to make that happen.
“This was a very constructive meeting and could lead to greater U.S. government support of U.S. infrastructure firms pursuing work overseas,” said Gary Adams, executive vice president of Parsons Corp. |
CEC/Texas Becomes ACEC/Texas
ACEC/Texas Former Chairman James Thompson |
The Texas Consulting Engineers Council (CEC/Texas) has changed its name to ACEC/Texas.
Texas is the 51st—and final—Member Organization of ACEC to subscribe to the common name since the effort was launched in 2001 to bring all 51 state organizations under one banner.
“We decided to take advantage of the national brand, said ACEC/Texas Former Chairman James Thompson of AECOM. “The name CEC/Texas is well respected and will always hold special meaning for our members, but we determined it was an appropriate time to join the rest of the nation in using the well-recognized and respected name of ACEC.” |
ACEC-Supported Offshore Drilling Bills Passed by House
The House cleared a package of ACEC-backed bills last week aimed at moving the nation toward greater energy independence.
HR 1230 would re-open lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Virginia, which were canceled or delayed in the wake of last year’s oil spill in the Gulf. HR 1229 would expedite decisions on drilling permit applications and extend current leases.
A third measure, HR 1231, would require the Department of the Interior to focus on lease sales with the largest known oil and natural gas reserves, as well as significantly increase off-shore energy production targets.
Similar legislation is pending in the Senate. For more information, contact Diane Shea at dshea@acec.org. |
What Your Firm Needs to Know Now About the New Health Care Law
Engineering firms must respond to dramatic—and potentially costly—changes to employee health care as provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act start to take effect.
Register now for ACEC’s online seminar—The New Health Care Law: What Your Firm Needs to Know Now, May 24, 1:30-3 p.m.—to hear Nancy Campbell of Snell & Wilmar provide a critical overview and describe the specific steps firms need to take right now.
Pieces of the law already in place include a small business tax credit, a higher penalty for Health Savings Account withdrawals, and a number of mandated benefits, including coverage of adult children up to age 26. Coming soon are W-2 reporting of the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage (2012), capping of Health FSA contributions at $2,500 (2013), large employer “pay or play” rules (2014), and a ban on pre-existing condition exclusions (2014).
Click here to register. |
ACEC/Indiana is Third State to Hit 2011 ACEC/PAC Fundraising Goal
ACEC/Indiana ACEC/PAC Champion Phil Beer |
ACEC/Indiana became the latest Member Organization to meet its 2011 ACEC/PAC fundraising target. The Hoosier State has reached its ACEC/PAC objective every year and joins Wisconsin and Hawaii, which already reached their 2011 goals.
“We’re very proud of our track record,” said Indiana PAC Champion Philip Beer of USI Consultants in Indianapolis. “The key to our success is the 100 percent support by our Board of Directors. They understand ACEC/PAC is the linchpin to our advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, including infrastructure funding, tax reform and QBS.”
For more information about ACEC’s political programs, contact Greg Knopp, ACEC’s executive director for political affairs at gknopp@acec.org or Elizabeth Coit, ACEC/PAC director at ecoit@acec.org. |
Take Survey to Provide Compensation Benchmarks to State DOTs
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 asks all Member Firms to participate in the Analytical/FMI 2011 A/E Executive Compensation 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. The survey should be completed by your Human Resources Director or Comptroller. Submission deadline is June 24, 2011.
|
ACEC and Coalition Allies to Rally for Highway Bill in D.C. on May 25
ACEC and a coalition of business associations calling for a robust and well-funded six-year federal highway reauthorization bill will hold the "Rally for Roads" on May 25 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Following the rally, members of numerous transportation-related associations, including ACEC, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, will climb Capitol Hill to urge their congressional delegations to support quick passage of the new reauthorization.
To participate in the rally or for more information, contact Matt Reiffer at mreiffer@acec.org. |
Gain Expert Witness Skills, Benefit Your Firm, Your Clients, Yourself
June 23-24, San Diego, CA
Have you been an expert witness? Is there a possibility you might serve as an expert witness—for your own firm or a client? Are people in your firm qualified as expert witnesses?
Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness, June 23-24, San Diego, provides the inside knowledge and the courtroom know-how you need to confidently serve in this unique and demanding role. Gain recognition as an expert and take the first step in earning the EXW (SM) designation offered by ACEC.
Click here for information and to register. |
Control Your Firm’s Destiny With Strategic Planning: 5 Pitfalls to Avoid
June 1, 1:30-3 p.m.
Strategic planning is crucial to the long-term success of a firm, but practitioners often struggle with its implementation because of several common pitfalls.
In this timely online seminar—Five Failures of Strategic Planning (and How to Avoid Them)—Ray Kogan and Cara Bobchek of Kogan and Company present real-life examples from engineering firms across the country to help you avoid the five most common failures of strategic planning.
Click here for information and to register. |
Minimize Your Hiring, Firing Legal Risks: an Online How-To Seminar
June 14, 1:30-3 p.m.
Employee decisions are among the most important in a firm, yet the hiring and firing processes are fraught with legal risk because of myriad state and federal laws restricting what employers can and cannot do.
Julia Judish, counsel with the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and a specialist in employment law, presents an important online seminar, Best Practices and Limiting Risk in Hiring and Termination Decisions: Lessons from the Legal Front Lines. Judish will discuss ways to implement hiring and termination practices to best protect your firm and minimize legal risk, and to recognize and avoid common and costly pitfalls.
Click here for details and to register.
|
Prepare for LEED Green Associate Credential With On-Demand Course
June 6-July 31
Green Buildings and Preparing for the LEED Green Associate exam is a first step towards the Green Building Certification Institute’s (GBCI) LEED Green Associate professional credential.
In partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, ACEC again offers this unique on-demand online course on the sustainable building concepts that are fundamental to all LEED Rating Systems.
The 32-hour course is “live” online 24/7 beginning June 6, 2011, and is accessible to registrants at their convenience through July 31, 2011. ACEC members may register for the course at a special discount price. For complete details on course content and to register, click here.
|
Register Now for Senior Executives Institute Class 17; Space Limited
Participants in ACEC’s Senior Executives Institute (SEI) acquire new tools and insights to prosper in the increasingly challenging A/E business environment. Current and up-and-coming executives with a minimum five years experience managing professional design programs/businesses are invited to register for this highly regarded leadership-building opportunity.
Next available is Class 17, which begins in September 2011. Click here for a complete SEI description and to register. For more information, contact Deirdre McKenna at 202-682-4328 or 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 |
|
|
