Michigan Engineering Newsletter

August 2019

ACEC/Michigan Emerging Leaders Program

First Session to be Held September 5-6

The 2019 ACEC/Michigan Emerging Leaders Program will kick off its first session in Lansing in early September. This popular program will be held over three sessions in September, October and November.

The Emerging Leaders Program is for individuals committed to developing their leadership abilities. This program imparts specific skills and competencies identified by top ACEC/Michigan principals as critical for leadership success. These highly interactive sessions are taught by experts in the field of business administration and people management in professional services firms.

The class will enjoy a dynamic schedule of topics including: Strategic Planning, Governmental Affairs, Risk Management, HR - Recruiting, Retaining and Owning, Leadership, Business Development, Economics of Private Practice, and the Senior Leaders Roundtable: From Management to Leadership - Secrets of Success.

If you're interested in having an emerging leader from your firm participate in a future Emerging Leaders Program, please visit our website to claim a spot on the waiting list for the 2020 class!

Congratulations to the following members of the 2019 Emerging Leaders Program:

Steve Crain Integral Blue	Corey Den Uyl AECOM
Patrick Droze OHM Advisors	Jake Ensley Spalding DeDecker
Glenn Glidden Byce & Associates	Michael Leuffgen DLZ Michigan, Inc.
Chad McCollum Bergmann Associates	Mark McRobie RS&H Michigan, Inc.
Mary Nykamp Wightman	Andrea Pike Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc.
Lauren Roller Harley Ellis Devereaux	Scott Roosa SME
Geric Rose Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering	Erica Rowley Tyme Consulting Engineers
Guy Stickler ROWE Professional Services Company	Alex Svilar Michael Baker International
Paul Wakefield FK Engineering Associates	Andy Wakeland Giffels Webster
Talese Yensch SmithGroup	Chris Zull Progressive AE

ACEC/M CEO Roundtables

September 26 in Grand Rapids and October 10 in Detroit

Business in Michigan has picked up both in the private and public sectors. Engineering companies now face new challenges to meet the demands. Is your firm having trouble finding qualified engineers? Are your profits growing or are you just working harder?

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend an ACEC/Michigan CEO Roundtable to discuss these and other business issues with company CEOs, Principals and managers. This is an excellent opportunity to obtain first hand knowledge of how engineering firms are ramping up to meet the demands yet protecting themselves from an eventual downturn in the economy. Have an issue you would like to discuss? You help develop the agenda for the sessions so let us know what is on your mind.

The CEO Roundtables also provide a great chance to recruit quality firms to ACEC. Please consider inviting a non-ACEC firm to attend with you at no cost. Visit the ACEC/M website to register.

MDOT-ACEC Partnering Award Nominations

Application Deadline is November 1, 2019

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in conjunction with the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M), is excited to announce the sixth annual "MDOT-ACEC Partnership Charter Award." This award recognizes project managers and consultants for their commitment to excellence and promoting an enhanced business partnership based on the ideals set forth in the MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Agreement. These ideals include mutual trust, effective communication, continuous improvement, embracing innovation, and timely issues resolution. The award will be judged equally on five important principles:

Providing Cost-Effective, High-Quality Services
Partnering in Streamlining Business Practices
Engaging in Effective Communication
Commitment to Transparency & Accountability
Promoting Innovation and Sustainability

Projects accomplished by team effort between MDOT project managers and ACEC consultants are eligible to receive this award. Applications for the 2019 award will be accepted by the MDOT Performance Excellence Section through November 1, 2019. Project must be substantially complete and ready for use between 11/1/2017 and 10/31/2019 to be eligible for the 2019 award year. The 2019 award will be announced at the MDOT/ACEC Workshop on February 6, 2020.

Click here for the official entry form.

ACEC/M 2020 Firm of the Year Award

Open for submission

ACEC/Michigan's "Member Firm of the Year" award program is now open for entry! This prestigious and coveted award recognizes ACEC/M member firms for their demonstrated leadership in promoting engineering through their activities with ACEC and in their communities. Winning this competition will greatly enhance your firm's image and your marketing efforts to both current and potential clients.

Firms are judged on three important factors:

Contributions to the Success of ACEC/Michigan
Advancement of the Consulting Design Profession
Community Involvement

A small firm (1-30 employees) and a large firm (>30 employees) are eligible to receive this award. The winning firm(s) will be announced at the ACEC/Michigan Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on March 7, 2020 at the Sound Board at MotorCity Casino in Detroit.

Applications are due by November 27, 2019. Visit the ACEC/M website for more information and the application form.

PSMJ Principals Bootcamp Offered

Save the Date - Registration Opening Soon

On January 23-24, 2020, ACEC/Michigan will offer the ever popular PSMJ Principals Bootcamp in Lansing. This course is designed for anyone who wants to stay on top of their game as an A/E/C Principal. Changing market conditions in a fast moving world mean you need the latest proven insight for success. Whether you are just starting out as a Principal or have spent decades as a firm leader, this Bootcamp has something for you.

Detailed information and registration will be available after September 13, 2019, on the ACEC/M website.

2020 Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards

Competition Update

ACEC/Michigan celebrates and promotes achievements by engineering companies through its annual Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards.

Projects from across the state compete each year for the coveted "Eminent Conceptor" Award. In early November, a panel of judges will evaluate the projects based on innovation, complexity, client satisfaction and future value to the profession. This year's competition is well underway, with project submittals due September 27.

Award recipients will be recognized on March 7, 2020 during the awards gala, which will be held at the 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids. Visit the ACEC/M website for more information.

ACEC/M Scholarships

Application Deadline is January 3, 2020

ACEC/Michigan is planning to award over $12,000 to engineering and surveying students enrolled in an ABET accredited College or University. Applications are now available on the ACEC/M website , and are due by January 3, 2020.

Applicants will be judged on a written essay, their work experience, employer/faculty recommendations, community involvement and their GPA.

Watch for scholarship raffle information, with some exciting new prizes, in the near future.

ACEC Business Index

EBI Increase Fueled by Long-Term Optimism

The ACEC Engineering Business Index (EBI) edged up 0.4 points to 62.6 in the Q2 2019 survey representing the second consecutive quarterly increase.

A survey of 172 firm leaders was conducted in June/July 2019 and measured engineering industry confidence about their firms and markets. Any score above 50 signals positive market sentiment. The EBI is a leading indicator of America's economic health based on the business performance and projections of engineering firms that develop the nation's transportation, water, energy and industrial infrastructure.

More than one-quarter of respondents credited the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which lowered the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent - thanks to ACEC lobbying - with contributing to business growth and improving their bottom line.

For the complete report, with more detail and insight on long-term optimism, EBI trends and firm challenges, click here.

ASCE Mackinac Scholarship

Donors Acknowledged

The ASCE Mackinac Scholarship Committee would like to recognize the following companies that have made a Champion Level pledge ($1,000) to the Mackinac Scholarship Fund. Their contributions will help us provide more scholarship opportunity to Michigan Engineers. (Scholarship donors at the Champion Level received a framed commemorative Mackinac Bridge print.)

Contact Christopher Owen for more information on contributing to this worthy cause ([email protected]).

CHAMPION LEVEL DONORS

Advanced Drainage Systems	Anderson, Eckstein, and Westrick, Inc.
AR Engineering	Eng, Inc.
Hubbell Roth & Clark, Inc.	Jackson-Merkey Contractors
Kamminga & Roodvoets	Kennedy Solutions
Kerkstra Precast	Northern Concrete Pipe
OHM Advisors, Inc.	Prein & Newhof, Inc.
Spicer Group	Wade Trim

NHI Bridge Course

Stream Stability and Scour at Highway Bridge course offered

ACEC/M will host the National Highway Institute's (NHI) 3-day Stream Stability and Scour at Highway Bridges course on October 1 - 3, 2019, in Lansing. This course offers participants comprehensive training on the prevention of hydraulic-related bridge failures. Course participants will receive training in conducting a stream stability classification and qualitative analysis of stream response and make estimates of scour at a bridge opening.

This comprehensive training provides preventative techniques for identifying, analyzing, and calculating various hydraulic factors that impact bridge stability. Public and private sector engineers responsible for maintaining the integrity of highway bridges will find it valuable.

For more details and to register, click here.

ACEC/M Member Firm News

Congratulations to the following firms who are celebrating significant anniversaries this year!