Michigan Engineering Newsletter

January/February 2023

AESLC Legislative Day

The 2023 Engineers, Architects & Surveyors Legislative Day will be held on Friday, March 3. In order to maximize participation by professionals and legislators, we will once again be holding this event virtually.

Michigan has 57 new members in the legislature, and they can now serve up to 12 years before being term-limited due to the passage of Proposal 1 in the 2022 general election. It is crucial that engineers take this time to meet with their State Representative and Senator, develop a relationship, and educate them about engineering issues. Our key issues for this year’s event include QBS, Infrastructure Funding, and improvements to PA 132 (surveyors). While the QBS bill did pass the legislature in 2022, it was not signed by the Governor due to major pushback from DTMB. ACEC and our partners are not deterred, and we will re-introduce the legislation this session to join the 45 other states that have already passed QBS legislation.

The link to register for Legislative Day is: https://kclobbyday.wufoo.com/forms/scl0gqs1883uli/. At the end of the online registration form, you will have the option to make a contribution to the PAC of your choice. $75 is the suggested amount and you must use a personal credit card for PAC contributions. Personal checks are also accepted. Please register by February 17.

We will also be hosting a legislative day webinar on March 1 from 8:00 – 9:30 am to help members prepare for zoom meetings with legislators and provide background and talking points on key issues for discussion.

Furthermore, an in-person reception (with legislators) is being hosted by our lobbyist Kelley Cawthorne at 4:30 pm on Wednesday, March 1, at their Lansing office for those who are able to attend. There is no charge for the webinar or reception, and you are able to RSVP for both the webinar and reception using the same link above.

ACEC/Michigan Political Action Committee

We finished 2022 strong with our PAC fundraising efforts and, thanks to the commitment of our member firms, we met BOTH our State and National PAC goals for the year raising more than $60,000! THANK YOU to all the individuals and firms that support our political affairs program and Political Action Committee. Your involvement has been crucial as we protect and promote the business of engineering in Michigan.

The 2022 ACEC/Michigan Capitol Update provides a summary of key legislation that was influenced by the ACEC/Michigan political affairs team in the last Session and a list of ACEC firms that contributed to the ACEC PACs.

2023 Engineering & Surveying

Excellence Awards Gala

The Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala, an ACEC/Michigan hallmark celebrating its 58th year, is our chance to honor member firms for design achievements of superior skill and ingenuity. We will recognize outstanding projects, honor industry leaders, and present scholarships to the next generation of engineering talent. During this special event, ACEC/Michigan members and their guests will see firsthand the impact engineering and surveying has on our everyday lives.

This year's event will be held on Saturday, March 11 at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. We encourage you to invite clients and team members to this special evening as we celebrate and honor our own. The annual “Butterflies are Blooming” exhibit will be open for your enjoyment prior to the ceremony.

Registration is available through the ACEC/Michigan website until February 17.

Sponsorship of the gala is an excellent way to support the engineering profession and gives your firm great exposure to the various owners and clients attending the event. Full details are available on the ACEC website.

ACEC/Michigan Offers Ethics Webinars

ACEC/Michigan will be holding two Ethics Webinars in 2023. The Michigan Professional Engineers Board has implemented changes to the General Rules for Continuing Education requirements for all licensed Professional Engineers. The new Rules require 2 CEUs in Ethics under Rule 339.16040: “Of the 30 hours, at least 2 hours of continuing education must be earned in ethics, as it relates to professional engineering.”

Save the dates! The webinars will be held on:

Wednesday, April 26 at 2 PM EST
Monday, September 25 at 2 PM EST

Experienced presenters from AXA XL and PCIA will lead the discussion. Complete details and registration information will be available soon on the ACEC/Michigan website.

ACEC Names New Fellow

Michael Cooper, PE, LEED AP, MBA, FACEC, of Harley Ellis Devereaux was recently elected to the ACEC College of Fellows, a distinguished class of engineers who have been selected by their peers as deserving recognition for exemplary contributions to the profession.

Mike is a past president of ACEC/Michigan and served as Vice Chair on the ACEC National Executive Committee from 2020-2022.

ACEC/Michigan Executive Director, Ron Brenke, presented Mike with his plaque.

ACEC/Michigan Scholarship Raffle

Every year, the ACEC/Michigan Scholarship Committee holds a raffle. This is the only fundraising event for the ACEC Scholarship Program. Proceeds from the raffle go directly to supporting scholarships for college students pursuing a career in engineering or surveying. Your contributions make it possible for us to provide substantial financial support to these hardworking students.

Prizes include a Florida vacation stay, Mackinac Bridge Tower Tour, and gift cards to Amazon, AirBNB and Dick's Sporting Goods. The order form is available on the ACEC/Michigan website.

Tickets are $25 each, 3 for $60, or 6 for $100, and only a limited number of tickets are printed. Winning tickets will be drawn at the Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on March 11, 2023 at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. You need not be present at the Gala to win.

THANK YOU to our raffle prize sponsors: AR Engineering, Hubbell, Roth & Clark, OHM Advisors, Prein&Newhof, PCIA, Ruby+Associates, SME, Testing Engineers & Consultants and WSP.

2023 MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop

The 2023 MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop was held on February 2 at the Lansing Center. This event continues to grow, and this year's event was no exception with a record 750 attendees.

This Workshop provides the ideal venue for technical information sharing, communicating new policies and procedures, and networking. Acting MDOT Director Brad Wieferich and ACEC/Michigan President Jayson Nault kicked off the event.

After lunch our keynote speaker, Aaron Davis, former National Champion football player, showed attendees how to “Change your Attitude, Change your Life."

Other Workshop highlights: 30 educational breakouts and networking at the popular ice cream social.

MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Award

Presented to Bergmann and MDOT University Region

On February 2, 2023, the 10th Annual MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Award was presented for the partnering efforts between Bergmann and MDOT University Region on the I-69 / I-475 Interchange Reconstruction Project.

The award was presented by MDOT's Acting Chief Operations Officer Gregg Brunner, PE, to ACEC member firm Bergmann and to the MDOT University Region. Richard Chelotti and Jeremy Hedden (Bergmann), Mike Royalty (ROWE PSC), and Trevor Block, Talia Belill and Keith Brown (MDOT) accepted the award during the MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop.

ACEC/Michigan Welcomes Deputy Director

Mark McRobie has joined ACEC/Michigan as Deputy Director effective January 23. Mark will assist ACEC/Michigan with achieving its strategic goals and will play a key role in major initiatives including workforce development, water/wastewater, government affairs and the promotion of Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS). Mark’s 14-year career has been spent in the AEC industry working for consulting firms, with a primary focus on transportation and water resources, working in roles including business development, marketing, and human resources.

Mark holds a master’s degree in business administration from Charleston Southern University and a bachelor’s degree in business from Seton Hill University. His professional involvement includes the Design-Build Institute of America – Michigan Chapter and the American Segmental Bridge Institute.