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2021 PLATINUM ANNUAL SPONSORS |
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The Board of Governor's meeting was held July 22, 2021 at the Deep South Convention in Destin, Florida. |
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NATIONAL AND STATE COMMITTEES/FORUMS/COALITIONS |
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Being a member of ACEC and ACEC of Louisiana provides numerous benefits, not the least of which is access to local and national peer groups who engage to discuss problems and brainstorm solutions.
Both the state organization and the national organization have numerous committees and forums that provide a platform for members to engage and learn from peers on key industry issues through workshops, roundtables and networking events.
I encourage you and your firm members to join a state committee and a national committee, coalition or forum. There is something for everyone!
Click here for to join state ACECL committees.
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ACECL is launching the first Louisiana-based salary study covering the salaries and benefits of engineering and associated positions. The final report will serve as an invaluable resource for your recruiting and retention efforts. All data collected will remain confidential and will reside with the independent consulting firm compiling the data. The final survey report will be available this fall. All those completing the survey will receive the final report free of charge. Those not participating will be able to purchase the final report for a fee.
Please click on the link below to complete the survey and ensure your firm stays ahead of the game in today's competitive market! Read the instructions first to understand how to complete the form and where to send completed documents.
The deadline to submit your complete survey is September 3, 2021.
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Below is a list of continuing issues being actively managed: |
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Baton Rouge - Concerns and questions relative to Program Management Services for Cleaning & Improvements to EBR Storm Water Conveyance Structures.
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City of Lake Charles - Concerns and questions relative to Program Manager for Drainage Improvements RFP questions.
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DOTD - Questions relative to RFQs that include unusual requirements.
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EBR - Ongoing discussions about proposed moratoriums on development.
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New Orleans -
- Concerns and questions relative to limitations on firms eligible to respond to the New City Hall @ the Municipal Auditorium project.
- Standard contract language on DPW projects.
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Today the CNO issued a notice that they will begin requiring all city contractors visiting City Hall or construction sites to be vaccinated. Click here for announcement.
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The Baton Rouge Chapter will meet September 13 and welcomes Kelvin Hill, Assistant CAO of the City of Baton Rouge.
Note: there will be no Baton Rouge Chapter meeting in August.
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The New Orleans chapter will meet August 12 and welcomes Blake Fogleman, Infrastructure Engineer for La. Department of Health. Click here to register.
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We appreciate your membership and hope you will help promote ACECL by adding our Logo to your website! Show your support for ACECL today!
Right click on the logo to save as a high resolution .jpg
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FEDERAL: the White House and a bipartisan group of Senators announced an agreement on a bipartisan infrastructure deal and the Senate voted Wednesday night in a procedural move to advance the bill. Highlights include $550 billion in new investment overall, including $110 billion in new funding for roads, $39 billion in new funding for transit projects, over $100 billion for water projects and resiliency, $73 billion in clean energy, as well as funding for airports, rail, waterways, electric vehicles and other priorities. Click here for a summary of the agreement.
On the PPP issue, we appear to be very close to having at least two Senators take the lead on an amendment to waive the FAR credits clause as it applies to PPP loans. We are in discussions with Senator Bill Cassidy to gain his support of this bi-partisan amendment.
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You will need to use passcode: 853020
Anyone participating virtually will need to text me any questions at 225-485-9818.
Please send me any topics you would like Dr. Wilson to address.
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The Water Sector Commission
The Water Sector Commission met today to adopt the guidelines for the Water Sector Program which launches Monday, August 1. The final guidelines will be released Sunday but click here for DRAFT version. The Commission voted to add drainage to the list of eligible projects although the Commission indicated that first tranche (~$100m) will not include drainage projects. Every municipality must set up a user account. Click here for the form. Please submit the completed form Traci.Watts@la.gov for processing.
I will send a link to the website Sunday. There will also be a webinar Monday, August 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM from the Office of Community Development:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Passcode: 7S9Gca
Or One tap mobile :
US: +13017158592,,86508458880# or +13126266799,,86508458880#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128
Webinar ID: 865 0845 8880
Background:
During the 2021 Legislative Session, the Legislature created the Water Sector Commission to oversee the spending of $300m in funding appropriated from the American Rescue Plan of 2021. Click here for the legislation (page 11). Click here for a summary of the Program.
The Commission had its organizational meeting on June 21, 2021. Click here to view the meeting. The second meeting was held July 22. Click here to view the meeting.
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Just when we thought this section of the newsletter was over....
In order to enable more vaccinations, Treasury and the IRS announced that eligible employers can claim tax credits for providing paid time off to employees to take a family or household member to be vaccinated or care for them following vaccination. The IRS released updated FAQs on this change.
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2021 DEEP SOUTH RECAP
Another Summer Deep South Convention on the books. The weather cooperated, venue was refreshed and the presenters provided great content for our participants. To top it off the Louisiana fishing crew came home with the largest catch trophy! Our members also won both drawings! Thanks to everyone who attended and special thanks to Fred and Ann Trappey for opening their home for the ACECL Board awards reception.
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2021 VIRTUAL BUSINESS FORUM
SAVE THE DATES
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OPENING SESSION
September 21
8:30a - 9:30a CST
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
September 29
10:30a - 12:00p CST
RISK MANAGEMENT
October 5
10:00a - 11:30a CST
HUMAN RESOURCES
October 13
10:00a - 11:30a CST
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Update on Federal Infrastructure Legislation
Presenter: U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy
Maximizing your Business Development Return-on-Investment
Presenter: Richard S. Friedman, Friedman & Partners
Onerous Contract Clauses - What's Allowed Under Louisiana Law
Presenter: Trip McCormick, Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith
Performance Leadership - Instill in Your Employees a Desire to Perform
Presenter: Gary M. Golden, Golden Opportunities, LLC
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
$600 Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Your firm will be highlighted in all registration materials & branding during the webinars!
Up to 5.5 PDH available
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The ACEC Summer Sweepstakes is open now! Please consider purchasing this low-cost ticket so we can reach our $24,000 annual federal PAC goal! This is the LEAST expensive ticket sale to help our federal PAC which directly supports our congressional delegation. We are heavily involved in national efforts on the PPP loan forgiveness and federal infrastructure package. We need our delegation to support our efforts and we do that through our PAC.
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2021 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS |
ACEC/L is pleased to announce it will once again host a competition to recognize engineering firms for projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement and value. The EEA competition celebrates the outstanding achievements of the profession. All recipients will be eligible to submit their project to the National ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards.
DATES TO REMEMBER
JULY 15, 2021: Call for Entries
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021: Submission Due Date
NOVEMBER 18, 2021: Award Recipients Notified and Announced
MARCH 10, 2022: Awards Ceremony
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NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER LUNCHEON
August 12, 2021
Location:
Metairie Country Club
580 Woodvine Avenue
Metairie, LA 70005
Speaker:
Blake Fogleman, P.E., Infrastructure Engineer
Louisiana Department of Health
Topic:
"Water Sector Commission Overview and Public
Health Water Infrastructure Consolidation Initiative"
WE CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR MEMBERS AND WILL BE FOLLOWING APPROPRIATE SAFETY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES.
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The Baton Rouge Chapter will meet September 13 and welcomes Kelvin Hill, Assistant CAO of the City of Baton Rouge. Meeting invite will be issued in September.
Note: there will be no Baton Rouge Chapter meeting in August.
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- August 10: DOTD Secretary Wilson Roundtable
- August 12: New Orleans Chapter Meeting
- August 18-19: Emerging Leaders Institute
- August 19: Water Resources Committee
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ACECL WELCOMES NEW AFFILIATE MEMBER
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Established in 1982, BFM Corporation, LLC, Professional Land & Hydrographic Surveying, has provided surveying services to public & private concerns throughout the Gulf Coast, covering all facets of engineering construction, and forensics; topographic, hydrographic, and high-definition laser scanning. The firm is a majority Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) as well as a Hudson Initiative certified Small & Emerging Business and Small Entrepreneurship in Louisiana. To discuss how BFM can help you and your project, on land, sea, and air, please contact us at proposals@bfmcorporation.com or 504-468-8800.
Contact: Dale L. Holley
Chief of Operations
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Benefits. It’s our sole focus. The company benefits you offer to employees and the benefits of working with benefitsone.
Our expertise is grounded in traditional benefits — medical, dental, pharmacy, life, disability, vision and retirement plans. We’re also well-versed in specialty offerings that enhance a company’s benefits line-up, including concierge services, telemedicine and tele-behavior health.
We’re a small, yet vibrant and growing employee benefits consulting firm. But our focus is big and bold: We deliver best-in-class products, customized for our clients’ unique needs and industries and delivered with exceptional service and personal attention.
Our knowledge of employee benefits runs deep, with nearly 100 years of industry experience collectively across our benefitsone team. We’re committed to the industry and are certified by respected organizations. This credentialing keeps us sharp and current on the benefits industry’s demands and ensures our ability to meet your business’ needs.
When we’re not helping our valued clients, we actively advocate for the benefits industry. We do this in the work we do in our community and by our involvement in leading associations. As a locally focused firm that works in our community and throughout Louisiana, we have a vested interest in meeting your needs because our reputation is at stake.
Jack Duvernay, RHU
President
985.800.2800 main
504.512.5252 cell
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ACEC Affiliate Members
ACEC Business Insurance Trust
ACEC Life/Health Insurance Trust
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Alexander & Sanders, a division of BXS Insurance
Barriere Construction Group, LLC
Benefits One, LLC
BFM Corporation, LLC
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP
Brown & Brown of Louisiana
BRAYN Consulting, LLC
CxA Services, LLC
Cycle Construction, LLC
Durable Piling Restoration, LLC
Environmental Technical Sales, Inc.
Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc.
Foley & Judell, LLP
Forterra Pipe & Precast
Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith, LLP
Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP
HUB International
Industrial Fabrics
Keogh, Cox & Wilson
O. R. Colan Associates, LLC
Quality Sitework Materials, Inc.
Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn
Wray & Associates, L.L.P.
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Doreen Brasseaux
President & CEO
ACEC of Louisiana
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