ACEC Chair Charles Gozdziewski and President & CEO Linda Bauer Darr on ACEC Measures in Response to COVID-19

ACEC News / Coronavirus

April 27, 2020

ACEC Chair Charles Gozdziewski and President & CEO Linda Bauer Darr on ACEC Measures in Response to COVID-19

To Our ACEC Members:

The pandemic has hit us all hard. Small, medium, and large firms are struggling with cash flow and keeping employees healthy and on the payroll. It is exhausting and it is frustrating. It feels like every day reveals new challenges that were unexpected and therefore not planned. And it is anxiety-provoking in a way we have not experienced in our lifetimes.

We understand. Like you we are considering workarounds to find ways to tighten our belts and take care of our team while continuing core operations in support of our member firms.

After careful consideration, we have decided to forego the scheduled CPI dues adjustment for FY21. We will begin our annual certification process this week to ensure your dues reflect any recent adjustments to your number of employees. We are also working with firms that are seeking a deferred payment plan. And we will continue to provide the resources so many of you have found valuable over the past weeks that help you navigate the pandemic challenges to your business. A few of the efforts we have underway include important advocacy work to help navigate federal assistance programs, webinars, surveys, roundtables, and our Coronavirus Resource Center. Let us know what more we can do.

So many of you have reached out to show your appreciation over the past weeks. Even though you were facing huge challenges in your own operation, you chose to check in with us and let us know that you value the work we are doing to support you. A few examples of what you told us:

• I am so impressed with how ACEC is helping us all. I continue to be touched by how much you all care about our businesses.
• Thanks to all of you at ACEC, its times like these that help the value of our relationships really shine through.
• I attribute our PPP loan acceptance and approval to ACEC.

These messages keep our team going and give them a sense of mission that is incredibly motivating. Thank YOU for that. It is appreciated more than you know.

But like our member firms, we must tighten our belts. We are reviewing and cutting back our cost of operations where we can find room to do so without compromising services. And for FY21, our team will do our part to do more with less by foregoing any planned salary increases and instituting a hiring freeze. We will continue to keep a close eye on the budget and adapt as needed to meet the financial challenges ahead while still continuing to provide you the excellent customer service you have come to expect from our team.

We wish you all the best during this challenging time and feel very honored to be representing an industry that is so vital to the health and safety of our nation, even more so in times like these. Thank you for all you do.

Stay safe,

Charles Gozdziewski
Chair, ACEC

Linda Bauer Darr
President & CEO, ACEC

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