J. Scott Gombar, PE
2017 FICE President

WOW, what an experience the 100th Annual Conference was! Thank you to all who attended the
FES/FICE Centennial Celebration and a special round of applause to our staff, volunteers and sponsors that made this year's Annual Conference a great success!  I would like to take a few moments to recognize some highlights from the conference.
 
Congratulations to all of the 2016 Engineering Excellence Awards Winners including our Grand Conceptor Award Winner, Finley Engineering Group for their Section 5 Palmetto SR 826/836 Interchange Project for FDOT District VI.  We had a great evening featuring 12 projects awarded to FICE member firms.  Thank you to all of the sponsors. The competition for 2017 is open with intent to enter forms due to Chad Faison by September 16th. Please submit your project or study that demonstrates innovation, complexity, achievement and value. Download your application today!
 
Our Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) Class of 2016 graduated over 30 Engineers at the Annual Conference.  This year's class committed to a fundraising campaign and handed the Florida Engineering Foundation a massive check for over $31,000.00.  Congrats to the Class of 2016!  Speaking of FELI, we are now accepting applications for the 2017 class , which will be Co-Chaired by our outgoing President, Tim Brodeur, PE. The dates and locations are confirmed and it promises to be another great class!
 
At our CELC Luncheon, our lobbyist Jon Johnson, Senator Simpson and Representative Caldwell gave us an update on the important issues facing engineers in the upcoming legislative session. As a CELC Member, you are ensuring that elected officials know that they are hearing the voice of Florida's engineers. Please consider joining today .

The 2017 FICE Board of Directors was installed at the Friday morning breakfast.  The installation of Officers was presided over by NSPE Past President, Tim Austin, PE, and ACEC Chairman, Peter Strub, PE, as well as joined by ACEC CEO and President Dave Raymond. Thank you to each of them for taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in our ceremony.

Also, a huge THANK YOU goes out to Tim Brodeur, PE! The past year, I had the privilege of serving as President Elect under his guidance and on behalf of the 2017 FICE Board of Directors, I would like to thank Tim for his dedication to our organization and the leadership he demonstrated throughout the year. 
 
Lastly, I am humbled and honored to accept the role of FICE President and I am looking forward to serving our member firms this year. A few items our Board will be working on this year include:
 
1. Defending the Consultant's Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA).
2. Continue to foster a great relationship with local governments and state agencies to enhance the working relationships and overall business environment between the consulting engineering community and public clients in Florida.
3. Advocating the importance of political giving, assisting ACEC/PAC, FEPAC and CELC meet annual goals which is used to help elect political candidates who are supportive of our engineering concerns.
4. Creating a new Energy Committee which will have a Director position on the Board as part of a membership growth strategy to move closer to achieving our stated vision. 
 
Vision:  To be the recognized advocate for all consulting engineers in Florida.
 
I am supported by an outstanding Executive Committee, Directors and Committee Chairs who volunteer their time, share their unique abilities and serve our members on the Board of Directors. But even with all of that talent, we cannot do it without the continued support of our member firms. 
 
Please get engaged and stay engaged!

4th Annual Florida Automated Vehicle Summit
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel
November 29-30, 2016 
Hosted by the  Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE)


The 4th Annual Florida Automated Vehicles Summit is an event dedicated to showcasing Florida's progress in preparing for automated vehicles. With an organized agenda full of industry experts, keynote speakers, and ongoing live demonstrations, attendees will have the opportunity to gain insight into what Florida is doing to create the ideal climate for the implementation and deployment of autonomous and connected vehicles technologies. Live demonstrations showcasing connected and automated technologies will provide a visualization of the positive impacts these technologies will have on Florida roadways.

The Florida Automated Vehicles Initiative is leading by example with pilot projects, research projects, and open dialogue to ensure Florida serves as a leader in the application of these exciting technologies. 

For more information visit  www.fleng.org.

FICE is pleased to welcome the following firm as a new member:
 
G.M. Hill Engineering
Jacksonville
 
G.M. Hill, Engineering, Incorporated, founded in 2001 and based in Jacksonville, Florida, provides structural engineering services for the architectural and construction industry, specializing in building and bridge structures. Expertise includes steel, reinforced concrete, masonry, pre-cast and timber structures for institutional, educational, government, healthcare, commercial and private sector projects. GMHill is certified 8(a), SDB, DBE, WOSB and JSEB.

Gina M. Hill, PE                               
President
FELI Class of 2017 - Now Accepting Applications

We are excited to announce that FICE is now accepting applications for the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) Class of 2017!

Application - If you are ready to apply, please click here to obtain the full Application Form, complete and submit.

Intent to Apply - Intend to apply, but are not yet able to complete the full application? Please click here to obtain the one-page Intent to Apply form, complete and submit to inform us of your interest in participating in the FELI Class of 2017.
Applications must be postmarked by August 31, 2016.

Confirmation of the FELI Class of 2017 and notification of acceptance will transpire in September. The first FELI session will be held in November, 2016 and will conclude in August, 2017, based on the proposed schedule.

For more information, please visit Fleng.org  or contact Kathy M. Keiffer, CMP, at kkeiffer@fleng.org or 850-224-7121. Website updates will be made soon, so please check back for additional information.

Joint FICE and AWRA Meeting - Sept 30 

Meeting Location
Jacksonville, FL 32217

Preliminary Agenda
Dr. Jim Houston, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (invited)
Karl Hankin, Director of the Division of Projects, St. Johns River Water Management District
Jessica Fritche, CDM Smith, Inc.
Jason Engle, Water Resources Engineering Branch Chief, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer

For more Information >>

Representative Lake Ray, PE
 delivered the keynote address August 5th during our Centennial Annual Conference.  Representative Ray is currently running for US House District Four.


Kimley Horn and Associates Inc
 received the 2015 PAC award August 5th during the Centennial Annual Conference in Ponte Vedra.  This award recognizes a FICE firm who contributes at the highest level to both FL ACEC PAC and Consulting Engineers Legislative Council (CELC).
 
(Pictured L to R - Jason Webber, PE and Andrew M. Cummings, PE )

The Consulting Engineers Legislative Council (CELC)
met August 4th during the Centennial Annual Conference. CELC Members' commitment assures stability within the engineering profession in Florida.  This annual luncheon was attended by 40 CELC members.
Our guest speakers included - Senator Wilton Simpson (R-18) and Representative Matt Caldwell (R-79).

(Pictured L to R - Peter J. Sheridan, III, PE, Paul G. Foley, PE, Representative Matt Caldwell (R-79), Timothy P. Brodeur, PE, J. Scott Gombar, PE, Peter M. Moore, PE, LEED AP, Senator Wilton Simpson (R-18).
PE Legislative Days
February 7-8
 
316 W. Tennessee Street
Room Rate - $139 + tax
 
 
Staying involved in the political process is the key to YOUR associations success in Tallahassee this Session. Share the video with colleagues or your local chapter!
FICE CCNA Letter Campaign
 
FICE directs an educational letter campaign to educate public entities regarding the Consultant's Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA). This campaign is driven by FICE members who anonymously send Request for Proposal (RFP) to headquarters. This method ensures that the government agency does not know which firm filed the complaint. FICE staff in return corresponds with government officials in an effort to educate them on the CCNA law and encourages them to amend their RFP process. This has been a successful program and we encourage all members to participate. 

If you see an RFP that may be violating the CCNA law, please email  Samantha Hobbs . If a member firm or licensed engineer within a member firm knowingly violates CCNA, FICE believes you may be in violation of Chapter 61G15, rules and regulations. 

FES PDH DAYS - Earn 8 PDHs!


Florida Hotel and Conference Center
 Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport
Guest Rooms: $139 plus tax  
  Guest Rooms:  $149 plus tax

 

FES PDH DAYS Agenda

  • Full day registrants receive 1 complimentary Florida Laws & Rules/Professional Ethics online course - meets requirements for 1 PDH Laws and Rules and 1 PDH Ethics
  • Continental Breakfast and All-Day Coffee Breaks Include
  • Half day packages available

Registration Fees: Member/Non-member
Full Day:  $200 / $300
Half Day:  $100 / $200
During the Florida Floodplain Managers Association (FFMA) annual conference held in March, Dewberry's Chris Zambito was elected as its new chair. Zambito, a project manager in Dewberry's Tampa office, began his term as chair on June 1, 2016. He will play a major role in the organization's resource development while representing the Florida chapter of the Association of State Floodplain Managers.

He will head the board of directors to support the association's 700 floodplain management professionals. Recently, FFMA has been active in drafting proposed standards for public structures in velocity zones, providing feedback to proposed flood legislation, educating communities on the new elevation certificate, and supporting Florida's community rating system initiative.

Employed at Dewberry for the last eight years, Zambito is a certified floodplain manager and is currently supporting clients with climate adaptation planning, hurricane evacuation studies, and hazard mitigation. He has 18 years of experience providing risk assessment and communication services to Florida's residents and businesses. Zambito has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of South Florida. Along with FFMA, he belongs to various professional associations, such as the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM).
Bridge Design and Construction Engineering firm, Finley Engineering Group (FINLEY) is proud to announce that it has ranked #2 on the Best Structural Firm list by by Zweig Group. FINLEY seeks to attract the best and brightest talent and uses industry benchmark surveys to measure it's workplace practices and employee benefits. For the past 3 years, FINLEY has ranked on the Top Structural Firm list. This measure of success has helped FINLEY attract staff to it's new international office in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Best Firms to Work For award recognizes the top architecture, structural engineering, civil engineering, environmental, and multidiscipline firms in the US and Canada based on their workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, and much more. Since the Best Firms to Work For list began in 2001, hundreds of outstanding architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms have been recognized for this achievement. This year's winners will be honored at the Hot Firm and A/E Industry Awards Conference on September 22-23, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ.

Hanson Professional Services Inc. is ranked 10th out of 28 companies in the large-company category on a list of 100 employers named the best companies to work for in Florida.
"This recognition shows that our employees value Hanson. This is where we live and work," said John Coombe, Hanson's executive vice president and chief operating officer who works out of the firm's Sarasota regional office. "Florida represents great growth opportunities for us, and we plan to continue our expansion in this state." John works closely with Jeff Bowen, who leads Hanson's transportation and infrastructure projects, Bill Bradford, who serves Hanson's clients for energy and commissioning projects, and Charles Snowden Jr., who leads projects for Hanson's aviation clients, throughout Florida.This is the sixth time Hanson has been on the list

Hanson has Florida offices in Bonifay, Jacksonville, Miami, Tallahassee, West Palm Beach and in the Orlando and Sarasota areas. Hanson is a national, employee-owned consulting firm providing engineering, planning and allied services. The Sarasota regional office is located at 9015 Town Center Parkway, Suite 105, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202. The office may be reached by phone at (941) 342-6321.
David Kemp PE, senior project manager, recently joined Hanson Professional Services Inc.'s Jacksonville office. He will be responsible for transportation and infrastructure project development and management services for clients in northeast Florida.

Engineer Kemp has 38 years of experience in civil and environmental planning and engineering; construction management; and project, field and staff operations management. Prior to joining the company, he was a regional director of project development and senior project manager for an architectural and engineering firm in Jacksonville. He also held office, group and senior project management roles for engineering and environmental services firms in Jacksonville and Orlando.
He received bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from the University of Florida. He is a licensed professional engineer in several states, including Florida, and is a member of the American Public Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers and Northeast Florida League of Cities.
Antoinette "Tina" D. Meskel, PE was chosen by the Jacksonville Business Journal as a 2016 Women of Influence, "This award recognizes the women who have helped shape Jacksonville's business community and the region overall by their involvement in businesses, nonprofits and the public sector" (JBJ).  Tina Meskel is the President and Founder of Meskel & Associates Engineering (MAE).  She serves the company as a Principal Geotechnical Engineer.  Tina is a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Florida and Georgia with over 25 years of experience in geotechnical engineering consulting and subsurface investigation services.
 
2016 has been an exciting year for Tina and Meskel & Associates Engineering.  In the field of geotechnical engineering, small businesses often serve as subconsultants to larger prime consultant firms who control contract negotiations and owner/client contacts.  Though relationships with prime consultants will always be important to the growth of the company, an equally important part of Tina's growth plan for MAE was to secure contracts as the prime consultant to give the company a more predictable workload and financial stability.  In 2016, after going through a rigorous procurement and contracting process, the company kicked off its first prime federal contract with the Army Corp of Engineers.  This contract serves the entire state of Florida and is a "game-changer" for the company.  In addition, under Tina's leadership, MAE was awarded two prime contracts with the City of Jacksonville's Public Works Department.  These strategic successes have enabled the company to hire additional staff, expand the material testing laboratory capabilities, and move forward with plans to open its first branch office in the Tampa Bay area this fall.
 
Tina and Meskel & Associates Engineering make it a priority to support the community.  Tina and her staff participate in over 30 industry associations and 10 community groups.  These organizations help to support a vibrant community and the development of its future leaders.  She supports organizations with special interest in mentoring girls and young women including WTS International, Women's Transportation Seminar; ULI's Women Leadership Initiative; CREW Network; and Women in Defense (WID).
Michael Baker International , a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today named Jeff Messenger, PE,  as office executive for the company's Lake Mary/Orlando office, which serves as the base of operations for a growing team of experts in engineering, design and planning.
 
Engineer Messenger will focus on growing existing relationships with clients through consistent, superior service across all project stages and will drive regional business growth and development.  He will focus on promoting Michael Baker's services in transportation engineering and planning to better meet the needs of central Florida clients, including Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Turnpike and local municipalities.
   
"We have seen consistent growth in the Orlando transportation industry, and with it, an opportunity to reaffirm our company's expertise to provide services that will ensure people and goods move safely and efficiently," said Drew Roark, transportation market lead in Florida. "Jeff is a well-respected professional with a history of delivering quality work. I have no doubt he will play a major role in solving complex challenges for our clients and continue to ensure that 'We Make a Difference' in the communities we serve."
 
Messenger brings to Michael Baker more than 20 years of engineering and construction experience in the transportation industry with a heavy focus on roadway projects. Previously, he served as office manager/business unit leader at Moffatt & Nichol, Inc., and as project manager at HNTB. Messenger is a registered engineer in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Jose S. Rodriguez, PE has joined PGA as Chief Structures Engineer in the Tampa office. He has 39 years of structural experience involving design and review of concrete and steel girder bridges, widening of existing structures, various sign and signal structures, retaining walls and other miscellaneous structures. He is knowledgeable in structural design, plans review, quality assurance/quality control, project management, and was a former FDOT District Structures Design Engineer.

Engineer Rodriguez earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Florida.
PSI, now part of Intertek, is pleased to announce the following:

Nayan Saha, PE
, (shown right) joins the firm as a geotechnical engineer in the Tampa office. Engineer Saha earned his Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of New Mexico and his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

Wesley Foster, EIT has been promoted to District Manager in the Riviera Beach office. He previously served as Branch Manager  of the same office. He earned his Master of Engineering in Construction Engineering and Management and his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. He has been a member of the Intertek-PSI team since 2013.

Jose Jimenez Berthe joins the firm as Manager-In-Training in its Riviera Beach office.
Mr. Jimenez Berthe earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida and his Associate of Arts in Engineering from Sante Fe College

Matthew Mooney, PE has been hired as a geotechnical engineer based in its Tampa office.  
Engineerg Mooney earned his Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida and his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

In 2015, Intertek purchased PSI to expand its presence in attractive markets with long-term growth opportunities.
Samantha "Sam" Hobbs with the Florida Engineering Society (FES) and the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE) has been promoted to Director of Government Affairs and Executive Policy.  Sam has worked for FES for 12 years and previously held the position of Government Affairs Coordinator.
 
Sam is an active Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) member, a graduate of the Program for Association Leadership and recently completed the Qualified Association Specialist certificate program.
Are you interested in joining a committee, but don't know how to join? The FICE website has more information to help you decide exactly which committee you would like to participate on and how to join!
FICE Committee Reports 

Water Resources Committee met August 4 in Ponte Vedra with over 25 attendees. Guest speakers included -  Michael Renacker, Chief, Water Resources Branch, USACOE and
Karl Hankin, PE, Director of the Division of Projects, St. John River Management District. Business of the committee followed. 
Contact  shobbs@fleng.org and get involved today.
 
FEPAC met August 4 in Ponte Vedra with 10 in attendance.  This general membership meeting included elections for 2017 officers as well as discussion  on fundraising plans.
Contact  shobbs@fleng.org  and get involved today.

ACEC/PAC is the primary weapon in our industry's political arsenal to help elect candidates to office who support pro-business, pro-engineering positions.  ACEC/PAC is bipartisan and operates out in the open in full compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act and applicable state laws. Supporting political programs like ACEC/PAC is the best thing we can do to make sure engineering firms have a voice at the table when key decisions are made affecting our future.

Florida ACEC Annual Conference Raffle
 
Congratulations to Peter M. Moore, PE, LEED AP with Chen Moore and Associates for winning the iPad Mini at the FL ACEC PAC raffle on August 6th in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
Tickets for the ACEC/PAC Fall Sweepstakes are now available.  Enter now for your chance to win one of 15 cash prizes worth $35,000.

Your support of ACEC/PAC is critical to electing pro-business men and women to Congress this Fall. 

Support ACEC/PAC today by  purchasing your Sweepstakes Tickets
 
15 Cash Prizes worth $35,000
Winners announced at the  ACEC/PAC Sweepstakes Breakfast on Saturday, October 22, 2016
 
TWO WAYS TO ENTER:
Log on to the  ACEC/PAC Website  with your ACEC credentials, click Contribute Today OR
Download the  Entry Form and mail, fax or email it back.

Questions? Contact Katherine Bohny at  kbohny@acec.org  or 202-347-7474, ext. 322.

If you have never been to an ACEC Fall Conference, this is the year you HAVE TO take advantage of a special offer during this early registration period.
 
As a First-Time Attendee to the Fall Conference, you will receive a special discounted rate of $950 for a full conference registration.  This is a $145 discount off the regular early-bird rate!
 
 
To confirm eligibility and to receive the discount code for online registration, email Jessica Torrero.
 
You can also register by filling our  this form and faxing to ACEC's secure line, 202-682-4361.

September
9 FDOT-FICE Regional Meeting for District 5 and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
30
October
11 FICE Transportation Committee Meeting - Hyatt OIA
19-22

If you are interested in having an item published in the
FICE Update, please email fice@fleng.org

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