DeSign of the Times is an online newsletter for members of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania.

THE PRESIDENT'S SAY

News from ACEC/PA President Chester L. Allen, PE.

This will be my last letter before our ACEC/PA Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa April 15-19. If you have not registered and can attend, please do so quickly, as we promise an exciting time in a beautiful place. We are thrilled to have sessions in transportation (Mutual Gains experience from FLDOT & Reynolds, Smith and Hill), water (Director of Water for Collier County, Fla., with an exciting project to share), Design/Build (Skanska – one of the largest D/B contractors in America), Risk Management (Ames and Gough), Benefits (Commonwealth Benefits) and a representative from ACEC national on economic stimulus/reauthorization of the next transportation bill. With the weather still remaining cold here in Pa., the warm Florida sunshine should do us all some good.

Much has been accomplished over the last month since sending out the February newsletter. First, the economic stimulus package is before our eyes and ears daily; this is good news. I can never remember a time when transportation infrastructure, and to a lesser degree water infrastructure, has been prominently mentioned on television, in newspaper front pages and in editorials. We all know that the stimulus bill will indeed help to jumpstart the construction business by putting people back to work, but it is only a small drop in a large bucket to solving Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs. We have heard this from both Senator Rob Wonderling, Chair of the Senate’s Transportation Committee, Representative Joe Markosek, Chair of the House’s Transportation Committee, and Deputy Secretary Rick Hogg of PennDOT.

Our Transportation Task Force met with PennDOT on March 10. As this was Deputy Secretary’s Rick Hogg’s last meeting with the Task Force, ACEC/PA extended our thanks to him for all issues that had been accomplished over the last three years, namely executive compensation, accelerated bridge program, construction inspection certifications and procedures, and other subcommittee activities.

Secretary Hogg emphasized again that PennDOT is poised to allocate 50 percent funding for stimulus monies in 120 days, but plans to obligate the remaining 50 percent just two months later (or some six months earlier than that required by Congress). He also estimated that another 300 inspectors will be needed to help staff stimulus projects, in addition to the 1,100 inspectors used for regular PennDOT construction programs. Obviously, this offers exciting opportunities and challenges for ACEC members to meet PennDOT’s needs. Secretary Hogg also met with us the following morning for our Government Affairs Breakfast. He has developed a good relationship with ACEC/PA during these last several months and expressed his thanks for all we have done to support PennDOT. We wish him the best in his retirement.

To promote long-term transportation funding in Pennsylvania, we are going to use materials produced by Mike Ryan of Michael Baker, Inc. in his position as the Harrisburg ASHE President. Mike has done an outstanding job of defining the need and has some wonderful graphs to give to legislators. Shortly, we will be sending out these materials with our ACEC/PA logo on them to use in meetings with our legislators to educate them on the serious transportation needs that we face as a Commonwealth. The goal is not to have them think that transportation needs are solved now that we have an economic stimulus package. I trust each of you will volunteer to assist our three chapters as meetings are scheduled with one or more of your representatives during the month of April. It is our goal to meet with every legislator in the state on this matter.
 
On March 11, our CFO Roundtable Forum sponsored Darrell Oyer, a national expert on FAR, for a two-hour presentation on Contracting with the US Government in Harrisburg. There were over 40 in attendance and Darryl did a wonderful job educating us on many aspects of the Federal Acquisition Regulations from his personal experience. The slides and FAQ from this presentation are posted on the ACEC/PA Web site for your review. If Darrell returns to the area to speak, I would encourage you to send a representative to the session.

I am pleased to report that the Leadership Development Workshop held on Friday, March 20 at the Harrisburg Hilton was well received by those attending. This workshop covered such topics as Characteristics of Effective Leaders, Situational Leadership Theory, Assessing Leadership Style, Assessing Employee Readiness and Applying Theory to Actual Situations.

Please mark your calendars for our next Legislative Reception on May 12 at the Harrisburg Hilton. We would like a great representation of folks from ACEC/PA from across the state. Since the legislature is in session, please invite your representatives and senator to come to the event.

Please remember that we will be celebrating 50 years as an organization in Pennsylvania this year. Contact Kate Sherman immediately if you have anything to add to the booklet of memories that is being finalized showcasing these 50 years as an organization. Hurry as time is getting short for your input.

We welcome A&A Consultants, Inc. of Pittsburgh, and Reinaman Engineering Group of Mechanicsburg as new members. We trust both your firms will attend our chapter meetings and get involved in committees of your choice as you continue in our organization.

Wishing you a very successful spring 2009 and increased business!

Chester L. Allen, P.E.

President, ACEC/PA

SPECIAL NOTICES

ACEC/PA Transportation Action Alert 2009

ACEC/PA Members Take Action on Transportation Funding Article

Transportation Weekly Newsletter Article:
House Passes $18.7 Billion Water Quality Bill

Recovery and Reinvestment Act Web Sites

Legislative Reception:

THE BUZZ

Help ACEC/PA Celebrate 50 Years: Share your photos, stories, and projects

In celebration of ACEC/PA’s 50th anniversary, the Public Relations Committee is planning to publish a booklet chronicling milestones of the association’s history.

If your firm has anecdotes, photographs, noteworthy projects, engineering events, or you know a founding member whom we could interview, please contact Kate Sherman ASAP: ksherman@acecpa.org or 717-540-6811. (In addition, we are searching for a graphic designer or printer who would be willing to contribute time or share costs!)

SAVE THE DATE

April 15-19: Register today! ACEC/PA Annual Membership Meeting
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa

ACEC/PA Events Calendar

ACEC NATIONAL

Check out the latest in national engineering news with online issues of Engineering Inc. magazine.

April 26-29: ACEC 100th Annual Anniversary Convention & Legislative Summit, Washington, DC. Details & registration.

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ACEC/PA
2040 Linglestown Road
Suite 200
Harrisburg, PA 17110
P: 717.540-6811

We welcome submissions to DeSign of the Times! Please forward your information to ksherman@acecpa.org by the 15th of each month.