ACECL Newsletter | Winter 2018
ACEC of Louisiana is the voice of engineering companies in our state. We are committed to advancing the private practice of consulting engineering, enhancing markets for private engineering services, educating the public on the importance of infrastructure investment, and promoting sound business practices within the industry and its client base.  
ACECL Chairman Raymond Reaux, P.E. Shares Vision for ACECL
American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana's (ACECL) membership goal is to be considered ESSENTIAL for all consulting engineering firms. This is a strategic pillar of our forward looking strategic plan. We are advancing this goal by offering exclusive networking opportunities, enhancing our industry engagement and working to elevate the stature of our industry within Louisiana.

One path to this goal is offering valuable programs such as Project Outlook, Critical Issues Summit, the Business Forum, the Deep South Conference, and Emerging Leaders just to name a few. Project Outlook is scheduled for November 15 th (Registration Information here ) with speakers such as Dr. Shawn Wilson (LADOTD), Don Pierson (LED), Mark Moses (FP&C), and Michael Ellison (CPRA). The program makes possible excellent networking opportunities while offering needed continuing education units.  

I am pleased to report the addition of new chapter startups in Lake Charles, Monroe and Alexandria. ACECL desires to become the voice and advocate of consulting engineering in the state; therefore we must be an inclusive organization, embracing all in our industry, regardless of geographic location or industry specialization.

Finally, I have challenged ACECL committees to work hard to make our organization better, stronger and more responsive to the needs of our members. You will be learning more of these efforts as we continue to broaden our ongoing communications so members will be better informed and engaged.

I welcome your input and would like to hear your ideas as we move forward to promote the business of engineering in Louisiana. Reach me at [email protected] or 337.237.2200.
Registration is now open for Project Outlook 2018
Registration deadline for Project Outlook is November 9.
Click on these links for registration and sponsorship forms .

Rooms are available for November 14 and 15 at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel until October 26th. For reservations, call 866.469.5448.
ACECL investigating new Louisiana chapters
ACECL is on a chapter expansion exploration in Lake Charles, Monroe and Alexandria.

The Board of Governors endorsed the idea of adding new chapters to better serve members across Louisiana and to expose potential members to the benefits of joining ACECL. Currently, ACECL has chapters in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Shreveport.

In Lake Charles, Butch Babineaux of Fenstermaker already has organized two chapter meetings with positive results. The first meeting was held on August 22 and featured Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and Director of Planning & Engineering Mike Huber, who discussed planned infrastructure improvements. Butch reports that 39 people representing 15 firms attended the meeting.

A second Lake Charles meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 24 with guest speaker Bill Rase, executive director of the Port of Lake Charles. Butch said he expects about 27 people representing 11 firms to be at that meeting.

"Based on the interest to date, I think there's some promise here in Lake Charles" to sustain a chapter, Butch said.

An initial organization meeting was held earlier this year in Monroe, and one is planned in Alexandria.

If there is enough interest in any of the regions, the ACECL Board of Governors can create a chapter with a majority vote.
A Message from Dan Mobley



Dan Mobley has been at the helm of ACECL


for the last 10 years. Here he takes a look back,


shares his insights, and gives his final farewell.
The date is April 2008 and I am commuting between Baton Rouge and Fairfax Va., assisting in running the Fairfax CVB and finding them a new CEO. The board there was in no hurry to fill the position since they were satisfied with the way it was being run. However, the previous month, while I was home in Baton Rouge, I had interviewed with the American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana (ACECL). During the interview I told them I was 63 years old so they didn’t have to guess and that I had a contract in Fairfax that would run through June.

I went home and told my wife that I was sure I wasn’t going to get the job - after all, who wanted a 63-year-old? She disagreed with me and assured me that I might be wrong. Fast forward several weeks, we have taken some time and gone to Charleston, S.C., one of our favorite cities. While there, my flip phone rang with a number I didn’t recognize, but I answered it anyway. It was Lee Underwood, saying the Board of Governors had voted and they wanted me to run ACECL. I was delighted, and it certainly made the rest of our trip more enjoyable. Fortunately, taking that call 10 years ago in Charleston has turned out well.

The organization has grown since 2008, both in membership and stature. We wrote and passed the Construction Management at Risk legislation, which we believe gives professional engineering firms a fair footing with our contractor partners on large public projects. We continue to monitor government agencies across Louisiana to ensure they are using Qualified-Based Selection criteria in their procurement processes. We have started and will continue to develop a political action committee fund to make sure our voice and issues are heard. We hold two annual conferences that attract top-notch speakers, and we now host an annual business forum to offer in-state professional development opportunities for engineers. We co-sponsor the Emerging Leaders class, which develops leaders in the engineering and architectural fields in Louisiana. And, we are actively engaged with the state Department of Transportation and Development on refining its procurement process.

There is still much work left to do. ACECL must remain vigilant in not allowing local or state governments to slip into a “lowest bid” mode on procurement for design services. We still must convince the legislature to remove the implication that private-sector consultants are not considered “public employees” because their firms work on public projects. And, we continue to partner with our partners to fight for increased infrastructure funding, which is imperative to the state’s economic growth.

While the list of what remains is long, the difference now is that ACECL has a seat at the table. No one gave us that seat; we had to earn it, as an organization. We have learned that no one will give you anything; you have to do your homework, work your contacts, be prepared, learn from your defeats, and give credit to those who deserve it. Speaking of giving credit, as I look back on 10 years at ACECL, the one word I keep coming back to is “thankful.” I am thankful I was given the opportunity to run this organization. I am thankful to the professional women and men I have been fortunate to work with through good times and challenging times. I truly did not accomplish anything by myself. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough space to list everyone who helped me, but I know I will have the chance to let each of you know personally how your professionalism, insight and friendship helped me serve this organization. I would also be remiss if I didn’t give special thanks to our staff that, without them, I am not sure where we would be, especially, Janet Tomeny my day wife!

On December 31, 2018, I will retire from ACECL and turn over the keys to Doreen Brasseaux, whom the board wisely selected recently as the new President and CEO. I am thrilled that Doreen accepted the job, and I believe she will take ACECL to a new level of prominence, respect, influence and professionalism.

So, as I begin packing my wingtips and pull out my topsiders for my next chapter in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, let me offer a heart-felt “thank you.” It’s been my honor and privilege to work with all of you. I’m glad I answered the phone.
Thank You, Dan Mobley, for Your Years of Service

It is a bittersweet time as we say goodbye to Dan Mobley. For more than 10 years, Dan has worked hard to shape ACECL into a viable organization that truly represents the business of engineering in Louisiana. Dan is finally embarking on a well-earned retirement, effective December 31, 2018.

While we bid Dan a fond farewell, we are excited to welcome Doreen Brasseaux as the new president and CEO. Doreen will be on the job, beginning November 5; Dan has agreed to stay on until the end of the year to aid in the transition.
Welcome Doreen Brasseaux!
Doreen has been a private management consultant since 2017, when she retired from LSU. She served for 10 years as the chief executive for the LSU Board of Supervisors and as the assistant vice president for Health Affairs and Medical Education.

"I am excited for the opportunity to lead the ACECL later this year," she said. "I look forward to advancing the interests of Louisiana's engineering companies and strengthening the business environment for our members through advocacy and education."
Emerging Leaders Series a Success
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Louisiana were please to offer the Emerging Leaders Institute Series last May. This leadership and career development program for individuals offered opportunities for developing professional and personal leadership abilities.

Shown below are Emerging Leaders participants with Representatives Julie Stokes and Reid Falconer at Session 1, Day 2 of the program.

Stay tuned for more information on the 2019 series.
The Power of ACEC
ACECL members enjoy resources, benefits and access that non-members envy. That may be why Louisiana, despite being one of the smaller states when it comes to the number of engineering firms, has the ninth largest membership of all state ACEC member organizations. Click here to find out what ACEC is doing for you.

Public Relations Committee
The ACECL Public Relations Committee, headed by Chairwoman Sherie Burton, met on October 9. Committee members re-committed themselves to timely publishing a quarterly newsletter and maintaining and growing ACECL's social media presence. ACECL Chairman Raymond Reaux, P.E., outlined the Board of Governor's vision for the year, and the committee members discussed meeting objectives that met the board's goals.Also in attendance were ACECL Vice President Janet Tomeny and committee members Amy Wold of the Water Institute and Mark Lambert of Lambert Media.
Upcoming Events

Project Outlook 2018
November 15, 2018
Baton Rouge Renaissance Hotel

Critical Issues Summit
January 31- Feb 1, 2019
Baton Rouge Capitol Hilton

Business Forum
May 16, 2019
TBD

2018 Louisiana Legislative Session
April 8 – June 6, 2018

ACEC 2019 National Annual Conference
May 5 - 8, 2019
Washington, D.C.

2019 Emerging Leaders Institute
Session I: TBA
Session II: TBA
Session III: TBA

2019 ACEC Deep South Convention
July 11-13, 2019
SanDestin Resort, Destin, FL
Welcome to our newest members

ADG Baton Rouge, LLC

Fourrier & de Abreu Engineers

M&E Consulting, Inc.

Duhon & Pleasant Consulting Engineers, LLC.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Affiliate Members
ACEC BUSINESS INSURANCE TRUST
ACEC LIFE/HEALTH INSURANCE TRUST
ALEXANDER & SANDERS
BENEFITS.ONE, LLC
BFM CORPORATION, LLC
BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON
BROWN & BROWN OF LOUISIANA
CENTERPOINT ENERGY
CONTECH ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS
CXA SERVICES, INC
CYCLE CONSTRUCTION
DELTA PROCESS EQUIPMENT
EAGAN INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL SALES, INC.
ENTERGY OF LOUISIANA
ERGON ASPHALT & EMULSIONS, INC.
EXACTSOURCE
FORTERRA PIPE & PRECAST
GALLOWAY JOHNSON TOMPKINS BURR & SMITH
HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK
HANNIS T. BOURGEOIS, LLP
INDUSTRIAL FABRICS
LOUISIANA ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION
LORD & WINTER, LLC
O.R. COLAN ASSOCIATES, LLC
QUALITY SITEWORK MATERIALS, INC.
REGIONS BANK
SULLIVAN STOLIER SCHULZE & GRUBB, LLC
SURVEYING & MAPPING, LLC
WRAY & PIERCE, L.L.P.

Reports & Meeting Minutes
Click here to access the latest minutes of the ACECL Board of Governors' meeting.
DID YOU KNOW?
ACECL members enjoy resources, benefits and access that non-members envy. That may be why Louisiana, despite being one of the smaller states when it comes to the number of engineering firms, has the ninth largest membership of all state ACEC member organizations. 

Your ACEC membership benefits your firm in a multitude of ways including:
Legislative Advocacy
Legal Advocacy
Public-Private Partnerships and Professional Involvement
Education and Networking
Cost-Effective Insurance
and...
ACEC offers many business benefits to our members including
three (3) cost saving Trusts and discounted programs.
Check out the discounted programs at
...and trusts at https://www.acec.org/trusts/


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