Michigan Engineering Newsletter

April 2019

Michigan Infrastructure Conference

Scheduled for May 16 in Plymouth

Scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 2019 at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth, this growing event is hosted by ACEC of Michigan and the ASCE Michigan Section. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been invited to address the group regarding recent developments in transportation and water funding as she presses forward to "Fix the Damn Roads."

The conference is designed to bring engineers and other infrastructure professionals together to share information and showcase unique and creative ways to finance and rebuild Michigan's infrastructure. Nine (9) unique educational breakout sessions will be offered on a variety of infrastructure topics, providing continuing education credits for licensed design professionals. The Michigan Infrastructure Council, created by the previous legislature, will present its 180-Day Report, and a panel of experts from MDOT, Local Government, and the private sector will provide an overview of future efforts to manage and coordinate the repairs to Michigan's infrastructure.

Sponsorships and exhibitor opportunities are also available with this event.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 25.

For complete conference details and to register, visit the ACEC/M website.

Roadbuilding 101

Engineers Present to House Transportation Committee


L-R: Robert Leppala, PE, Bergmann; Jayson Nault, PE, Tetra Tech; Ronald Brenke, PE, ACEC & ASCE; Robert Rabeler, PE, SME

At the request of Rep. Jack O'Malley, Chair of the House Transportation Committee, ACEC/ASCE testified on Tuesday, April 16 before the Committee on "Roadbuilding 101."

Special thanks to Jayson Nault - Tetra Tech, Rob Leppala & Jeremy Hedden - Bergmann, and Bob Rabeler - SME for preparing a PowerPoint to present before the Committee.

The legislature is working to respond to the 45-cent fuel tax proposal by Governor Gretchen Whitmer by bringing in various experts to learn about how roads are built in Michigan. Transportation funding will be a major item of discussion in the passage of the State budget for this coming fiscal year.

Legislative Day

115 Engineers, Architects & Surveyors Travel to Lansing to Meet with Legislators

On Wednesday, April 17 design professionals from across the state converged in downtown Lansing to meet with their respective Legislators and discuss important issues to the professions including infrastructure funding, historic tax credits and frivolous lawsuits. Lobbying firm Kelley Cawthorne assisted with efforts to make appointments with 113 different members of the House and Senate. Lunch was provided in the rotunda of the State Capitol.

2019 MSPE Annual Conference

May 2-3, Lansing

We will be featuring Collin Castle, ITS Program Manager from MDOT, as our keynote speaker. Our theme this year is Emerging Technologies. Many of our sessions will focus on new projects and technologies facing engineers today. You will also have ample time to network with fellow engineers and vendors with useful products and services.

View the full schedule and register to join us here.

ASCE on the News

Michigan Section President Participates in Town Hall Discussion

ASCE Michigan Section President Christopher Owen (far right) appeared on Channel 7 (WXYZ Detroit) on April 2, 2019, to discuss the the ASCE MI Infrastructure Report Card as it relates to the transportation funding discussion. Other panelists included Rocky Moretti, Director of Policy and Research for TRIP; Kim Avery, Regional Manager for MDOT; and Senator Peter J. Lucido. The recording is available for viewing on the WXYZ website.

ACEC/M Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala

American Center for Mobility Takes Top Honors

On March 2, ACEC/M honored firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the awards gala held at Sound Board in MotorCity Casino in Detroit. The statewide competition recognizes outstanding efforts of professional design firms to solve clients' needs through exceptional projects and offers the opportunity to showcase the year's best engineering and surveying achievements to an audience of peers, clients and decision makers at all levels.

Engineering Eminent Conceptor Awards Winners for the American Center for Mobility project

This year's most prestigious award - the Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award - went to the team of WSP Michigan Inc., HNTB Michigan, Inc., Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. and NTH Consultants, Ltd. for the American Center for Mobility Project in Ann Arbor. The American Center for Mobility (ACM) is a world-class, first-of-its kind non-profit testing, education and product development facility for future mobility, designed to enable safe validation and self-certification of connected and automated vehicle technology, and to accelerate the development of voluntary standards.

Five firms were honored with an Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award for their work on the following:

Alfred Benesch & Company (East Lansing) - I-75 over the Rouge River in Detroit.
Beam, Longest and Neff (Wixom) - Gordie Howe International Bridge Acquisition + D4 Engineering Consulting project in Detroit.
DLZ Michigan, Inc. (Lansing) - Marquette Hospital Transportation Improvement in Marquette.
Ruby+Associates, Inc. (Bingham Farms) - New GM Truck Manufacturing Body Shop in Flint.
NTH Consultants, Ltd. (Northville) - Using HDD to Mitigate Sinkhole Risks project in Southfield.

Engineering Merit Awards were presented to:

Giffels Webster (Detroit) - Beacon Park in Detroit.
Byce & Associates, Inc. (Kalamazoo) - Clemens Food Group Waste Water Treatment Plant in Coldwater.
Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc. (Grand Rapids) - Engineering Shapes Downtown Identity project for the City of Hudsonville.
Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. (Bloomfield Hills) - Geddes Avenue Reconstruction in Ann Arbor.
Harley Ellis Devereaux (Southfield) - LIFT / IACMI Lightweight Institute in Detroit.
Nowak & Fraus Engineers (Pontiac) - Old Woodward Avenue Reconstruction in Birmingham.
Johnson & Anderson, Inc. (Waterford) - Port of Monroe Terminal in Monroe.
OHM Advisors (Livonia) - Rogell Drive Reconstruction at Detroit Metro Airport.

Two firms were honored with a Surveying Honorable Conceptor Award:

Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc. (Shelby Township) - Sterling Heights GIS Data Build.
Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc. (Grand Rapids) - Integrating Surveying Innovative CIP Approach project for the City of Albion.

A Surveying Merit Award was presented to Wightman (Portage) for the Rose Park Veterans Memorial Brick Project in Kalamazoo.

The Board Design Award was given to Giffels Webster (Detroit) for the board designed to 'tell the story' of the Beacon Park project in Detroit.

For photos and further information about the 2019 projects, please visit the ACEC/M website.

ACEC/M Names 2019 Firms of the Year

Fleis & VandenBrink and RS Engineering Recognized

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently presented the 2019 member "FIRM OF THE YEAR" awards at the Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala held on March 2, 2019 at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. Both a large firm (>30 employees) and a small firm were recognized.

This is the highest ACEC/M honor bestowed and the only award program instituted to recognize ACEC/M member firms for their leadership in professional practice and community service. Recognition is based on actions taken by a member firm to progressively develop its management practices and for assuming leadership roles in community outreach activities and ACEC/M programs that strengthen the profession for all members.

In the large firm category, ACEC/M member firm Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc., headquartered in Grand Rapids, took the honor.

Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc.

The 2019 ACEC/M small firm of the year award went to RS Engineering, LLC, located in Lansing.

For additional information on these outstanding firms, visit the ACEC/M website.

RS Engineering, LLC

ACEC/M Honors Individuals at Awards Gala

Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award & Felix A. Anderson Image Award

This year's Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award and Felix A. Anderson Image Award were presented on March 2, 2019, at the Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala.


Daniel G. Fredendall, PE

The Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to Daniel G. Fredendall, PE , of OHM Advisors, to honor his outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and several community organizations.

Dan is Vice President at OHM Advisors, an architecture, engineering and planning firm based in Livonia, Michigan. A licensed professional engineer, Dan has spent 35 years with the firm in various project and leadership roles helping grow the firm from a 25-person team to a 500-people full-service company. He is respected by industry colleagues for his professional expertise and unmatched perspective regarding state infrastructure issues across the public and private sectors.

In his executive leadership role at OHM Advisors, Dan monitors legislation that affects the industry and the firm. He serves as a mentor to young engineers and actively encourages firm members to provide leadership beyond its own walls by becoming involved with industry organizations. Visit the ACEC/M website for Dan's complete bio.

The ACEC/M Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presente d to David Ruby, PE, SE, of


	David Ruby, PE, SE, SECB, F.ASCE

Ruby+Associates, Inc. , for his actions and contributions to enhance the image of the profession.

Dave is Chairman and Founding Principal of Ruby+Associates, Inc. Structural Engineers. His extensive experience spans almost 60 years and covers all aspects of structural steel design, fabrication and construction engineering. He has become recognized internationally as a structural steel expert and is a registered engineer in 36 states.

Throughout his long career and still to this day, Mr. Ruby enjoys sharing his knowledge and experiences with others, focusing on development of technical competency and professionalism in the next generation of engineers through presentations and interactive seminars; with over 50 such events on his resume. Visit the ACEC/M website for Dave's complete bio.

ACEC/M Awards Engineering Scholarships

$13,500 Awarded to 5 Students

2019 ACEC/M Scholarship Recipients

Each year, the ACEC/Michigan Scholarship Committee awards scholarships in order to promote the profession and to provide financial support to students pursuing careers in engineering and surveying. The scholarships are awarded to deserving college students who have completed their freshman year and are enrolled in an ABET accredited engineering or surveying program.

They are evaluated in the following areas: work experience, extra-curricular and community activities, references, grade point average, and a written essay. Applicants must also have worked for a private engineering, architectural or surveying firm in the past 24 months.

Congratulations to the 2019 ACEC/M Scholarship winners (pictured left to right):

Jarrett Nuyen, Western Michigan University
Yogesh Kumbargeri, Michigan State University
Alexis Rogers, Oakland University
Joshua Bauer, Lawrence Technological University
Christine Wood, Michigan Techonlogical University (not pictured)

These recipients were honored during the Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on March 2, 2019 in Detroit.

Visit the ACEC/M website for complete details on the scholarship program.

ACEC/M 2019 Emerging Leaders Program

Application Information Available Soon

Dates have been set and details are being finalized for the 2019 Emerging Leaders Program. Application information for this popular program will be available in May.

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.

There will only be 20 spaces available and we anticipate the class will fill quickly. Visit the ACEC/M website to get your name on the waiting list now!

ASCE Michigan Section Scholarships

Application Deadline is Memorial Day 2019

The Michigan Section of the ASCE encourages the advancement of the Civil Engineering profession by qualified and interested students. To that end, the ASCE Michigan Section offers financial support through two scholarships. These scholarships have been endowed through the efforts and generosity of individual Civil Engineers and leading Civil Engineering companies throughout Michigan.

Mackinac Scholarship

Named in honor of Michigan's #1 Civil Engineering Project of the 20th Century by the ASCE Michigan Section membership in December 1999, the Mackinac Scholarship is intended to recognize a premier Civil Engineering student from Michigan. The award will be presented annually, and will consist of a two-year grant of $5,000 each year (totaling $10,000 over a two-year period) to a student entering his or her junior year at an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program. The award considers merit, personal initiative, and financial need and encourages both participation in a student chapter of ASCE and contributions to the advancement of student engineering.

Zuidema Scholarship

Named in honor of an outstanding Past-President of the Michigan Section and the Western Michigan Branch of ASCE, the Marvin L. Zuidema Scholarship Award is presented annually to a student member of ASCE who has made a contribution to the advancement of student engineering activities. This award will consist of a one-time grant of $1,500, and considers academic performance as an indication of preparation for a future career in Civil Engineering. The Zuidema scholarship is available to either a junior or senior in an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program.

Click here to access more detailed information and the application itself. Applications are due by Memorial Day.