A record 1,300 ACEC members attended the ACEC Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. in April, meeting with 300 Senators, Congressmen, and Capitol Hill staffers to urge passage of long-term transportation, water/wastewater infrastructure, and energy legislation.
ACEC/Nebraska was well represented at the conference and our members took advantage of the many great speakers and programs available throughout the conference.
A highlight of the conference was a session with the leaders of three top U.S. engineering firms who shared insights on how they are addressing market challenges.
HDR Chairman/CEO George Little forecast that long-term constraints on federal and state financing will force more private and local funding for needed infrastructure. ARCADIS CEO Steve Blake described his firm's strategy of developing "home markets" throughout the world: "Brazilians run Brazil for us," he said. "Chinese run China." Paul Gardiner, president of Cardno USA, described how acquisitions have fueled his Australian-headquartered firm's growth in the U.S. market.
Legislative Briefing with Steve Hall, VP of Government Affairs, ACEC National
Of course, one of the featured activities is visiting our federal elected officials on Capitol Hill. After a private legislative briefing with ACEC VP for Government Affairs Steve Hall the night before, our members marched to Capitol Hill and spent the day speaking with our representatives on issues near and dear to our industry.
Outside our Nation's Capitol: Jackie McCullough; Rob Brigham; Roger Helgoth; Jack Baker; Kyle Anderson; John Olsson
We met with the elected officials AND their staff. Members had an opportunity to express the importance of passage of long term funding programs for infrastructure and they also shared the frustrations experienced when dealing with bureaucratic red tape that does not add value to the project - only delays.
With Senator Ben Nelson: John Olsson, Rob Brigham; Jackie McCullough; Senator Nelson;
Roger Helgoth; Kyle Anderson; Jack Baker.
Jack Baker, Congressman Smith, Rob Brigham and Kyle Anderson discuss
issues important to the engineering industry.
Visiting with Senator Joahnns: Leslie Peterson; Mike McMeekin; Senator Johanns; Roger Helgoth; John Olsson.
With Congressman Lee Terry; Jackie McCullough; John Olsson; Mike McMeekin; Kyle Anderson; Congressman Terry; Rob Brigham; Jack Baker; Roger Helgoth
The American Council of Engineering Companies
of Nebraska or ACEC/Nebraska provides private
engineering firms with the tools and educational
opportunities to be better business owners
and managers.
ACEC/Nebraska represents over 45 consulting
engineering firms doing business in Nebraska.
We are the only organization devoted exclusively
to the business and advocacy interests of
engineering companies. Our members
are engaged in a wide range of engineering
and construction projects that propel the
nation’s economy and enhance and safeguard
America’s quality of life.
Please contact ACEC/Nebraska today to find out
how you can join and help promote Nebraska’s
engineering industry. Call 402-476-2572.
Greg Knopp, Executive Director of the ACEC National Political Action Committee presented the Outstanding Achievement Award In Recognition of Attaining the 2011 PAC Goal
to ACEC Nebraska President, John S. Olsson and ACEC Nebraska President Elect, Jack Baker during the ACEC Natinal Conference in Washington, D.C.
The American Council of
Engineering Companies, or ACEC, provides private consulting engineering firms with
the tools and educational opportunities to
be better business owners and managers.
ACEC is the only national
organization of engineers engaged in the practice
of consulting engineering. It is comprised of
51 state and regional Member Organizations, representing
more than 5,600 independent engineering firms
throughout the United States. ACEC’s member firms
offer expertise in a wide range of engineering
disciplines.
The American Council of
Engineering Companies/Nebraska (ACEC/N) represents
over 45 consulting engineering firms doing business
in Nebraska. Its mission, consistent with the
goals of the national organization, is to improve
the quality of life in Nebraska by strengthening
the business environment for and image of the
consulting engineering profession.
Engineered components give
us greater mobility, more work and recreational
opportunities, and a better overall quality of
life than we would otherwise have. The components
of our “build environment” --- roads, bridges,
tunnels, buildings, sewers, water-treatment systems,
hazardous-waste disposal, and others – make people’s
lives safer, cleaner and more comfortable.
Engineers figure out how
to suspend a bridge, clean rainwater, build earthquake-resistant
buildings or heat and cool a 40-story building.
The consulting engineer, an independent entrepreneur
with specialized expertise, is the technical
professional who investigates the physical challenges,
then develops the best, most innovative and effective
solutions possible.
ACEC/Nebraska
Information
Member Firms Click here for
a list of ACEC/Nebraska members
Want to Become a Member? Click here to find more information on how
to become an ACEC/N member firm.
Our Board of Directors review all membership applications at the Board Meetings. Click here to start your applications process.
Click the video to hear Senator Ben Nelson's comments on ACEC's accomplishments and the contributions of the engineering industry. (click on movie)
ACEC Nebraska protects
your interests in the Legislature
We are an advocate for the promotion and protection
of our members business interests at local,
state and national levels.
ACEC Nebraska sponsors seminars, conferences
and workshops
We provide resources for engineering companies
to improve their business practices, efficiency,
profitability and quality. ACEC/Nebraska
provides opportunities for professional development
at the state and national level.
ACEC Nebraska is your liaison with state
and local agencies
We provide opportunities for member firms to interact
with public clients including city governments
and state agencies.
ACEC Nebraska offers cost-saving benefit
programs
Our members have access to ACEC’s discount programs
which are designed to help control your firm’s
costs and increasing our member's bottom-line.
ACEC Nebraska promotes our industry
We provide opportunities for engineers to effect
positive change within their profession and opportunities to give back to their profession.
ACEC Nebraska publishes an annual directory
Our membership directory is mailed to local, city
and state officials to use as a reference when
selecting consulting engineering firms for public
projects.
ACEC/NEBRASKA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Promote the legislative interest of ACEC/N. Review, draft,
monitor and act on legislation that could have an impact on member firms' bottom line.
Communicate legislative issues to our members and the members of the legislature. Sponsor Legislative Day to assist members in meeting their legislators.
ACEC/NEBRASKA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Recruit prospective members
and retain current members of ACEC/N. Encourage member involvement
in the Council and its programs, as well as to
ensure ACEC/N is meeting all members needs.
ACEC/NEBRASKA PAC COMMITTEE
Secure and distribute funds for political
candidates running for state or local office and
ballot initiatives affecting our industry.
ACEC/NEBRASKA BUSINESS PRACTICES COMMITTEE
Establish education programs for the Council’s
members to obtain Professional Development Hours
for participation. Promote Qualifications Based Selection
as the method for procuring engineering services
in Nebraska. Protect our firms from unfair business practices.
ENGINEERING PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEES
Serve
as a liaison, provide dialogue, present issues
of concern, problem solve, and build/improve
relations with officials representing our public partners.
Omaha Public Works
Lincoln Public Works & Utilities
Nebraska Department of Roads
Corp of Engineers
INTEGRATED PRACTICES COMMITTEE
Develop opportunities to educate ACEC/Nebraska
members and public and private clients about alternate forms of project delivery. Serve as an educational resource to public and private owners on all types of design methods,
and encourage the exclusive use of professional
Qualifications Based Selection, QBS.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
Develop industry-wide consensus positions and national leadership on issues important to environmental engineering firms; develop a proactive legislative & regulatory advocacy program and communicate with members on environmental issues that may affect their business.
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Promotes public awareness of the practice of engineering and ACEC/Nebraska. Publicizes awards programs and all other committee and council activities.
SMALL FIRMS COMMITTEE
Principals meet to discuss issues
commonly faced by smaller consulting firms.
ACEC/NEBRASKA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Dan Park, Co-Chair
(PAC)
Ron Bottorf , Chair
ACEC National PAC Chairperson
Dan Thiele, Chair
ACEC Nebraska PAC
BUSINESS PRACTICES COMMITTEE
Randy Kaster, Chair
ENGINEERING PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEES
Mike Piernicky, Chair
Omaha Engineering Partnership Sub-Committee
Jim Wathen, Chair
Lincoln Engineering Partnership Sub-Committee
Doug Holle, Chair
Transportation/NDOR
Sub-Committee
Dan Owens, Chair
Corp of Engineers
Sub-Committee
INTEGRATED PRACTICES
COMMITTEE
Matt Kronaizl, Chair
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
Eric Obert, Chair
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE Kristin Camp, Co-Chair
Leslie Peterson, Co-Chair
SMALL FIRMS COMMITTEE
Tom Senne, Chair
The Nebraska Transportation Funding Conference
Senators Deb Fischer and Brad Ashford along with their legislative colleagues presented a one day event, which brought together Nebraska's political, business and community leaders to discuss the state's surface transportation funding needs and explore new solutions to create strong statewide support for a robust transportation program in Nebraska.
ACEC/Nebraska Hosted Nebraska Department of Roads Workshop
Over 100 participants, including over 35 NDOR personnel attended the popular workshop held December 6, 2011. Committee Chair Doug Holle, Schemmer Associates, led the afternoon session.
The agenda included briefings from NDOR's Monty Fredrickson, Director; Moe Jamshidi, Director of Operations; Mike Owen, Planning and Project Development and Jim Wilkinson, Local Projects Division.
Special presentations were made by Howard Lubliner from the Kansas Department of Transportation and Mike LaVoilette from HNTB. Howard's presentation focused on evaluating dissimilar safety improvements and lessons learned by KDOT in implementing the Highway Safety Manual's design-level crash prediction tools for the two-lane rural highways.
Mike LaVoilette shared HNTB's recent success with accelerated bridge projects.
was held April 26, 2011 at the Embassy Suites in LaVista. The ¾ day event began at 10:30 with CEO Roundtables discussing issues of interest for all size firms.
Following lunch, our keynote speaker Dr. Mike Freel from Bellevue University spoke on Strategic Management: Starting at the Finish Line. He looked at applying a process that goes beyond the traditional view of strategic planning
– a process that starts at the finish line to help guide decisions on how to get there.
The remainder of the afternoon was filled with speakers of interest including:
Steve Hall, ACEC VP for Government Affairs, with a session on the status of federal programs.
Phil Best, XL Insurance, discussed the risk and liability of green design;
Bruce Smith, Woods Aitken Law Firm, discussed recent court decisions and how they affect your firm;
Kevin Woolley, ACEC Business Insurance Trust, shared the opportunities available to ACEC members;
and special guest Micah Kreikemeier from the University of Nebraska talked about how playing football for
the Nebraska Cornhuskers prepares you for the real world.
The afternoon concluded with 4 concurrent sessions and was followed by a reception.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2011
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD
WINNERS!
GRAND AWARD
UNO MAMMEL HALL
Farris Engineering
for the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration
ACEC Nebraska, as a Member Organization of ACEC National, is given the opportunity to participate in the ACEC
Scholarship Program. All applications must be submitted to ACEC/Nebraska and at that time screened and approved for subsmission to the national judging. ACEC/Nebraska can submit two candidates for the 2012 year scholarship--one applicant for the ACEC General Scholarship and one applicant for the Specialty CASE Scholarship. The CASE applicant must be enrolled in a Master's degree.
Application deadline to ACEC/Nebraska for the 2012 Scholarship Program is Friday, March 16, 2012.
