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May 2018   
Michigan Infrastructure Conference
Held May 9, MSU Kellogg Center, East Lansing

The 2018 Michigan Infrastructure Conference, jointly hosted by ACEC of Michigan and ASCE Michigan Section, was a successful event. The Conference focused on sharing information and showcasing unique and creative ways to finance and build Michigan's infrastructure.

The keynote speaker was Dan Oblinger from Leadercraft. Jon Kramer, PE, OHM Advisors, moderated an infrastructure discussion panel that included Therese Empie (State of Michigan Strategy Advisor), Bob Ranck, PE (MDOT Bay Region Engineer) and Sonya Thomas Butler (MDEQ Manager for Revolving Loan Section). The 2018 ASCE Michigan Infrastructure Report Card was also presented.  The day also included educational breakout sessions, exhibit booths and networking opportunities. 

  
Infrastructure Panel Discussion 
sharing new infrastructure policy and process initiatives
Legislative Update
 
SB 465 (Lien Law) unanimously passed the full Senate on May 22 and has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. ACEC (Ron Brenke & Chris Cook) testified in support of the bill on April 24 before the Senate Banking & Financial Institution Committee.
 
HB 5335 (Michigan Infrastructure Council), HB 5406 (Water Asset Management Council), and HB 5408 (Transportation Asset Management Council) were all successfully voted out of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The bills were passed by the Senate in March. ACEC supports all three bills.
 
HB 5723 (Pipe Bill) had a hearing in the Michigan Competitiveness Committee on May 23. AWWA representative testified in opposition to the bill. ACEC & ASCE oppose the bill. No action was taken by the Committee.
 
HB's 6013-6015 (creates a Michigan Innovation Transportation Board) received testimony in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on May 22 & May 29. ACEC is named as a participant on the MI Innovative Transportation Board. No action was taken on the bills.
ACEC/M Presents Legislator of the Year Award
Senator Tom Casperson Honored 
 
Senator Tom Casperson with 
Ron Brenke (ACEC/M) 
Senator Casperson has been a strong proponent of greater investment in our infrastructure and played a significant role in the passage of the 2015 road funding package. He has also worked tirelessly to eliminate unnecessary regulations to improve the business environment in Michigan.
 
The Senator has spoken at our legislative day and recently participated in the press conference for the release of the 2018 ASCE MI Infrastructure Report Card. 
 
He has been a good friend to the engineers and has always been willing to listen to our concerns and help where he could. We will miss him. 
 
Senator Casperson served in the Michigan House of Representatives for six years, from 2002 to 2008. In 2010, he was elected to the Michigan Senate, and was re-elected for a second term in 2014.
 
Prior to being elected to the legislature, Casperson worked for 27 years in his family's log trucking business, including 12 years as its owner and operator. That business, Casperson & Son Trucking, was started by his grandfather.
 
While in the House, Casperson served as an Assistant Majority Whip and as Chair of the House Conservation, Forestry and Outdoor Recreation Committee and Vice-Chair of the Transportation Committee. In the Senate, he serves as chair of the Transportation Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.
ACEC/M 2018 Emerging Leaders Program
Application Deadline June 22
Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 ACEC of Michigan Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). This program is designed for and will be most beneficial to those participants with approximately 8-15 years of industry experience.  

The program imparts specific skills and competencies identified by top ACEC of 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 ELP is open to ACEC member firms only and you may only register one individual from your firm. 

Full program details, including dates, sessions, speakers, requirements and the application form, are available on the ACEC website . There are only 20 spaces available and we anticipate the class will fill quickly - so reserve your spot today! If the class fills, a waiting list will be started for next year's program. The application deadline is June 22, 2018.  
ACEC National Launches Geoprofessional Coalition at Annual Convention
ACEC/M Member Gemayel led development of new coalition  
 
SME's Chuck Gemayel kicks off the first Geoprofessional Coalition meeting.
Responding to considerable member interest, ACEC's new Geoprofessional Coalition held its inaugural meeting at the recent ACEC Convention in Washington, D.C. The Coalition will provide business practice resources and advocacy for firms in the geoprofessional disciplines.

Thirty-four firms participated in this meeting, including representatives from Kleinfelder, S&ME, Pennoni, SME, Inc., ECS Mid-Atlantic, GRI, Hart Crowser, and Inberg-Miller Engineers.

Chuck Gemayel, vice president of SME in Plymouth, Mich., and Brad McLester, SVP/COO of S&ME in Charlotte, N.C. led the development of the Coalition.

The new coalition joins ACEC's six other coalitions: Council of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (CAMEE); Council of American Structural Engineers (CASE); Council of Professional Surveyors (COPS); Design Professionals Coalition (DPC); Land Development Coalition (LDC); and Small Firm Council (SFC).   
2019 Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards
ACEC Recognizes Individuals for Leadership  
 
During the Michigan Infrastructure Conference on May 9, ACEC recognized and honored several individuals for their leadership and commitment to the organization.

  

Steve Nichols (FTCH) & Ron Brenke (ACEC/M)

Steve Nichols (FTC&H) was recognized for his leadership and dedication as the 2017-2018 ACEC/M president. 

 

The following individuals were also recognized:
  • Tricia Ruby (Ruby+Associates) for her leadership on the ACEC/M Board of Directors. 
  • Mike DeVries (AECOM) for his leadership as Chairperson of the Transportation Committee. 
  • Eric Morris (HNTB) for his leadership as chairperson of the MDOT Contracts & Finance Committee
Michigan Construction Science Expo 2018 
On Tuesday, May 22, 2018 , Detroit middle & high school students experienced one of the best school field trips of the year: The 8th annual Construction Science Expo ! Working alongside skilled labor apprentices and trainers and using their problem-solving strategies in construction design, students visually and physically learned why these types of occupations in this industry are growing faster than all others and at a rate which is expected to continue through 2026. ACEC and ASCE were financial sponsors of the event and Executive Director Ron Brenke, as part of the Expo steering committee, was in charge of the Engineering Exhibits.
 
Over 6,000 students have been participated in this annual hands-on Expo over the last 7 years through the Detroit schools "Navigation to Success" Program run by the Black Caucus Foundation, with more than 50 activities presented by over 25 industry professionals.
ASCE Northwestern Branch holds April meeting
The Northwest Michigan Branch held a well attended meeting on April 19 at the University Center in Gaylord, MI, focusing on Recent and Upcoming Large Projects in Northern Michigan: 
  • Cherry Capital Airport presented by Prein&Newhof
  • ASCE 2018 Infrastructure Report Card presented by ASCE MI Section President Elect Chris Owen, PE
  • Dam Removal Projects (3) presented by Conservation Resource Alliance, AECOM and Spicer Group
  • McLaren Northern MI Hospital Expansion presented by Elmer's and SmithGroupJJR
  • Continuing education credits were available and a networking event was held after the the meeting.  
 
Michigan Students Awarded ACEC National Scholarships

After winning the top ACEC/Michigan scholarships in February, two Michigan engineering/surveying students went on to compete for ACEC National scholarships. Both applicants were successful and received National scholarships to help cover the costs of their education. 

Jacob Moyer received the $10,000 Rina Lee Scholarship. Jacob has completed his junior year at Ferris State University, focusing on Surveying Engineering.  He interned at Williams & Works and at MDOT, and he currently works for Mulder & Associates, a land surveying firm. He is involved with the student chapters of the National Society of Professional Surveyors and the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors. He volunteers with the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, American Red Cross, and Toys for Tots.

Leah Bectel, who received the $5,000 a/e ProNet Engineering Scholarship, is entering her senior year at Michigan Technological University. She is majoring in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Municipal Engineering. She interned at Prein and Newhof, where she was responsible for field data collection on both storm and sanitary sewer systems. She has also interned for the Michigan DEQ. She is involved with the Society of Women Engineers and volunteers at a food pantry and as an election worker. 

ASCE Michigan Section Presents Awards 
ASCE Michigan Section presented the following awards during the Michigan Infrastructure Conference May 9, 2018: 
  • Franklin D. Meyers Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Year Award: Kirk Steudle, PE
  • Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement: Rebecca Wolters, PE
  • Quality of Life Award: Allegan River Front Development: City of Allegan and Abonmarche
  • Quality of Life Certificate of Merit: Little Mack pump Station and Relief Sewer: Charter Township of Clinton and Giffels Webster
  • Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award: 15 Mile Road Sewer Collapse: Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage District and Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc.
  • Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Certificate of Merit: Holland Energy Park: Holland Board of Public Works and HDR/ProgessiveAE/Zachary Group
  • Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Certificate of Merit: The Foundry: Treystar and Hurley & Stewart
  • Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Award: International Bridge, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Ontario: MDOT and The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited
For additional photos, visit the ASCE Michigan Section website.

Melinda Bacon, PE (SME), Lou Urban, PE (AEW) and Chris Owen, PE (ADS)
ACEC Indiana Offers Continuing Education 
ACEC Welcomes New Members!
ACEC logo JPG
ACEC is excited to welcome this new member firm: 
2018 - 2019 SAVE THE DATES
Mark your calendar!
September 6-7, 2018: Emerging Leaders Program (First Session), Lansing
September 27, 2018: CEO Roundtable, Lansing
October 4, 2018: CEO Roundtable, Bloomfield Hills
January 31, 2019: MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop, Lansing
March 2, 2019: Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala, Detroit
April 17, 2019: AESLC  Legislative Day, Lansing
In This Issue
Infrastructure Conference
Legislative Update
ACEC/M Legislator of the Year
ACEC/M Emerging Leaders Program
ACEC National Geoprofessional Coalition
2019 ESE Awards
ACEC/M Awards
Michigan Construction Science Expo
ASCE Northwestern Branch meeting
ACEC National Scholarship Awards
ASCE Michigan Section Awards
ASCE Indiana Offers CECs
ACEC New Members

 


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 Engineering Center
Questions about engineering?
Please contact:

  

Ron Brenke, PE 

Executive Director

ACEC & ASCE

 517-332-2066