“Right now, local transportation agencies are stuck in the mud because they have neither the financial resources, nor the certainty of a six-year federal program, to get the job done,” Raymond said. “We need a transportation bill now.”

Several hundred participated in the rally, organized by a coalition of transportation-oriented groups, including the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, Ironworkers Union and others.

Members of Congress addressing the rally included Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and David Vitter (R-LA), and Congressmen John Duncan (R-TN), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Tom Petri (R-WI), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Heath Shuler (D-NC) and Bill Shuster (R-PA).

One bill eliminates liability for engineers if the project is designed and built to Tennessee Department of Transportation standards. The other caps jury awards for non-economic and punitive damages. The governor is expected to sign both bills.

“We were out in front on both of these pieces of legislation,” said ACEC/Tenn Executive Director Candy Toler. “These changes will be a huge benefit to our industry.”

The site features industry news, discussion forums and links to ACEC programs and services.

AECOM Chief Technology Officer Jim Walsh said, “This initiative will facilitate collaboration between ACEC and AECOM for mutual benefit on issues of importance to the engineering industry.”

Other ACEC Member Firms interested in establishing similar intranet sites should contact Leo Hoch, ACEC director of membership recruitment, at lhoch@acec.org.

The three firms—Hanson Professional Services, Springfield, Ill.; Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Bismarck, N.D.; and Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers, Lakewood, Colo.—were selected from among 4,049 firms nominated by Guard and Reserve service members.

“Hanson has always fostered a supportive culture for our employees who serve,” said Sergio Pecori, president and CEO of Hanson and ACEC treasurer. “We want them to know that their service is appreciated, that their families are being cared for at home during deployment, and that their job is waiting for them when they get back.”

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.

Member Organizations nominate award candidates, who must have at least five years experience as a principal or manager in an ACEC Member Firm.

Click here to access the Community Service Award program criteria and nomination form. MOs must submit all completed nomination forms to the Committee of Fellows by June 3. For more information, contact Daisy Nappier at dnappier@acec.org.

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 agenda and faculty details, and to register at early bird best price.

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.

Employee decisions are among the most important a firm can make, 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.

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.