Held at Black & Veatch headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas, the Summit included nearly 200 leaders from Kansas state and municipal government and the business community.

"A professional services tax damages a state's competitiveness with surrounding states," warned Raymond. "I don't think Kansas wants to go down that road."

"With a number of states considering professional services taxes, it's very powerful to bring our national organization to bear on this issue," said Paul Weida, vice president for government affairs, Black & Veatch. "ACEC hit a home run."

Federal highway and transit programs will shut down on September 30, unless Congress passes an extension. Without the extension, federal payments for highway and transit projects will cease and the gas tax and other fees supporting the Highway Trust Fund will lapse.

More than 1,500 ACEC Member Firms have contacted their Congressional delegations in the past two weeks in support of a funding extension and and a new long-term surface transportation bill.

Click here for a sample letter and contact information for House Members and Senators.

ACEC/IL mobilized more than 400 members to support the infrastructure investment at 15 public hearings, many of them testifying or submitting written statements.

"The engineering community in Illinois showed up and was counted," said ACEC/IL Executive Director Dave Kennedy. "We couldn't be happier about our success."

Early registrants can also take advantage of ACEC's discounted hotel rooms at Caesars Palace. Room prices will increase dramatically after September 9, especially for the weekend.

Click here for more information and to register for the Fall Conference.

Bucshon, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told the members that he recognizes the importance of a new transportation bill for Indiana and the national economy.

"The event—made possible thanks to the support of ACEC/PAC—was an excellent opportunity to meet personally with a key Congressman on transportation issue, and to help educate him on the unique concerns of engineering firms," said ACEC/IN PAC Champion Phil Beer, who was accompanied by President John Brand and Past Presidents Ross Snider and Greg Henneke.

Participants in ACEC's 2011 Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities will get an up-close look at emerging opportunities in sustainable development, including legislation, regulations and standards that are driving this growing market. The 3½-day course will examine the new ISI infrastructure rating tool, key sustainable design issues and processes, profit opportunities in sustainable development, and the growing applications of "green" engineering by today's top practitioners.

A special field trip to the nearby Smithsonian Environmental Research Center will provide exclusive access to the facility's ongoing research, including a wetlands area that is the subject of one of the world's longest-running studies of climate change.

Click here for agenda, faculty details and to register.

Whatever the condition of the economy—or the state of your firm—improving your cash management will enhance your business prospects.

In a timely online seminar, How to Improve Cash Management—The Essential Survival Tool, September 8, 1:30-3:00, financial specialist Paul Haglund will provide specific strategies for getting more cash through billings and collections, managing your cash inventory to maximize profits and optimizing your levels of working capital.

This webinar is a must for engineering firms of all sizes with an interest in improving and strengthening their cash flow. Click here for details and to register.

David Cohen, Matheson Financial Advisors, explores ownership transition planning and what A/E firms can do to navigate the current economic situation and prepare for the future.

Reignite Your Ownership Transition Plans is a timely webinar that provides compelling reasons for lower management to invest in ownership in firms. Topics include building an internal market for your shares; mechanisms for transacting ownership; tax strategies; shareholder's agreements; and pitfalls to avoid when transitioning stock internally.

Click here to register.

Ongoing economic turmoil is challenging leaders of A/E consulting firms on how best to survive, let alone thrive, Gerry Salontai, Salontai Consulting Group LLC, presents Five Traits of Best-in-Class Companies, a revealing look at what successful firms have in common.

Participants will learn the concepts of what these firms do and how they do it—to deliver better success in every category of the business.

Click here for details and to register.

In Writing the Perfect FONSI — Finding of No Significant Impact, Owen Schmidt, former senior counsel at USDA, demonstrates the finer points of a fail-safe technique for writing the perfect FONSI.

This webinar is a must for planners, environmental specialists, project managers, decision-makers, attorneys, and those in related fields who are responsible for preparing or reviewing Environmental Assessments (EAs) and FONSIs.

Click here to register.

ACEC's practical bottom-line course Essentials of A/E Financial Management and Firm Valuation, November 3-4, Orlando, will teach attendees how to use powerful accounting tools to energize their businesses.

Presented by David Cohen, principal, Matheson Financial Advisors, Inc., the course will cover project management financials, income statements, balance sheet development and interpretation, firm valuation, internal ownership transition planning, mergers and acquisitions, and related financial management issues—from ways to increase cash flow to benchmarking against other firms in the industry.

Click here to review the full course agenda and to register.

November 9-12, 2011, New Orleans

Business of Design Consulting, Nov.
9-12, New Orleans, updates the practices and functions that support successful A/E businesses. Attendees explore current best-practice management skills, gaining new strategic insights fundamental to success.

This highly regarded course delivers the collective state-of-the-art expertise of the industry's leading practitioners through curriculum custom-tailored to the A/E workplace, including leadership, strategy, planning, performance management, contracts and risk management, finance, business management, ownership transition, and marketing.

Click here for agenda and faculty details and to register at early-bird best price.