MSPE Briefings | November 2022
News, Announcements & Opportunities for Members
|
|
- President's Greeting
- Event Recap: Tour of BELD Electric Power Plant
- Member Opportunity: Serve as MSPE Delegate to NSPE
- MA MATHCOUNTS Updates & Opportunities
- Did You Know? Practical & Valuable Benefits for Members
- NEW: Workability Wednesdays Webinars - Free Learning Tools & PDHs
- The Results are IN: 2022 Engineering Outlook Survey Summary
- Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Engineering-themed Events
- FREE On-Demand Webinar: The Discovery of Mason & Dixon's Transit
- NSPE's Updated Strategic Plan
- Welcome New and Renewed Members
- Career Opportunities
|
|
A Message from MSPE President Brandon C. Steacy, PE |
|
Hello and happy Autumn in New England! Your MSPE Board of Directors and I are eager to share updates and continue to support you with practical opportunities that positively impact your work and your life.
As we talk with new and current members, we are encouraged by stories of resiliency as people continue to emerge from the pandemic and the unique personal and professional situations it created. We respect your resilience, and wish you and your family a healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving this month.
|
|
|
As you pause to reflect on your career and goals, we encourage you take advantage of your member benefits ( several are highlighted in this issue) and to consider how you can become more involved in MSPE and its legacy as a vibrant member-supported society. We offer several opportunities to share your passion, talent and expertise – including: MSPE leadership roles, committee leaders and members, new engineer mentors, MATHCOUNTS volunteers, content or article contributors for MSPE Briefings, and more! Simply contact me or any Board member to learn how you can get involved for as little or as much time as you wish.
Please also share this issue with your colleagues, and invite them to join NSPE/MSPE to personally gain the many benefits of professional membership and the opportunity to be part of a national, non-profit organization that works to protect, preserve, and promote the value and importance of PE Licensing.
Going forward, as we engage more with each other both virtually and in-person, we will continue to focus on providing you with quality resources and relevant discussions that serve to highlight the important role of PEs as we work to create, maintain, and renew sustainable communities.
In this issue, we welcome new members; offer volunteer opportunities; recap recent events; promote upcoming engineering-themed events; and share exciting updates about our state’s Mathletes. Our “Did You Know?” section features four important and practical member benefits and opportunities, in addition to the initial benefits available to all MSPE/NSPE members.
You’ll be encouraged to know that NSPE’s updated Strategic Plan represents both continuity and change: Continuity with the Society’s goal of protecting public health, safety, and welfare; and a recognition that we needed change in order to achieve more impact, via strategies and resources that deliver real-world results.
Thank you for your participation and support of our society.
|
|
Brandon C. Steacy, PE
Director of Substation Engineering | Blue Ridge Power
|
|
Event Recap: Tour of BELD Electric Power Plant |
|
MSPE members and guests gathered in June to experience a presentation and tour of the Braintree Electric Light Department's power plant, the Watson Generating Station. Participants received an overview presentation and safety notes before putting on personal protective equipment and touring the production facility and power plant. |
|
|
Member Opportunity: Serve as MA Delegate to NSPE
Volunteer Sought for Position by January 1 Deadline
|
|
Every two years, our state must designate a member to serve as MSPE Delegate to our National Society (NSPE). Our current delegate, Larry Nelson, PE, enjoys this role and opportunity to represent MSPE; however, his second term is ending and NSPE bylaws require that a member can hold the position for only two consecutive terms.
Therefore, MSPE must designate another member for this role by January 1, 2023.
Larry (current delegate) has offered to work with and support the new delegate as an “alternate” whenever necessary, until he is once again eligible to serve – unless the new delegate wishes to continue serving past his or her first term.
Who is Eligible to Serve as MSPE Delegate to NSPE?
All licensed engineers and NSPE members in good standing are potential candidates, and encouraged to consider this opportunity.
Member Delegate Role Requirements:
Learn more about the position description, general responsibilities, and how to be considered for this role.
|
|
MA MATHCOUNTS Updates & Opportunities |
|
Another Successful MATHCOUNTS Program Year
For the 2021-22 school year, more than 800 student Mathletes from across the state participated in 7 Virtual Chapter Competitions in February, to determine the 130 students who would advance to the State Competition in March, from which 4 Mathletes emerged to make up the Team that advanced to represent Massachusetts at the 2022 National MATHCOUNTS Competition in May.
Winning Massachusetts Mathletes
The MA State team included: Adam and Selena Ge, brother and sister from Blanchard Middle School in Westford; Raymond Gao from R.J. Grey Junior High School in Acton; and William Hua from Jonas Clarke Middle School in Lexington. They were coached once again by Joshua Frost from Jonas Clarke Middle School in Lexington.
Team Massachusetts successfully competed against 220 other students from across the nation at the 2022 National Competition in Washington, DC on May 8-9, 2022.
Outstanding Results at the National Competition
- Our Massachusetts State Team placed 4th in the Nation, among 56 teams
- 3 of the 4 individual students placed in the top 25% of all students
- Our team’s one female competitor placed as the top 6th grade Mathlete in the country, as well as 2nd place female in the country
MSPE recognizes with grateful appreciation the 7 Chapter Coordinators, who volunteer their time and talent to support more than 800 Mathletes in 7 chapters across Massachusetts. See the MA MATHCOUNTS section of mspe.com for details.
|
|
Easy Ways You Can Support MATHCOUNTS
Here's how YOU or your FIRM can support this vital program:
|
|
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN FEBRUARY & MARCH 2023
At the Chapter and the State Competitions there are a number of opportunities to help, ranging from proctoring the test to scoring. No experience is necessary and training for any position takes only minutes the day of the event. Time commitments range from just 3 to 5 hours on the day of any competition.
Can you volunteer? Please contact any Chapter Coordinator directly, or MSPE Director and MATHCOUNTS State Coordinator, John J. Hayden, PE to learn more.
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
Every corporate sponsorship and every individual contribution donated serves to directly support our student Mathletes™. The MATHCOUNTS Foundation, a National Organization, supplies only about 1/3 of our State program’s operating costs. The remainder comes from organizations, like the Massachusetts Society of Professional Engineers and other professional organizations, local companies and individuals.
ANY SIZE of donation can be of benefit in helping to fund & expand the program.
Learn More about Opportunities to Support Massachusetts MATHCOUNTS
|
|
MATHCOUNTS is much more than a competition series.
|
|
Learn More about the 3 Types of MATHCOUNTS Programs
|
|
DID YOU KNOW? Practical, Valuable Member Benefits |
|
DID YOU KNOW that members can access a 50% discount on the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee® (EJCDC®) Fair and Objective Standard Documents that represent the latest and best thinking in contractual relations between all parties involved in engineering design and construction projects? |
|
DID YOU KNOW that NSPE partners with AICPA, ASCE, ASLA, CLARB, NASBA, NCARB, and NCEES through the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL)? Check out the ARPL website to learn key topics about professional licensing. |
|
DID YOU KNOW that NSPE offers discounted membership dues to recent college graduates of ABET-accredited schools and/or programs? Qualified recent grads can join NSPE at a discounted rate up to 80% off of full dues, depending upon year of graduation. Recent graduates pay: 20% of full dues the year they graduate; 40% of full dues year two after graduation; 60% of full dues year three after graduation; 80% of full dues year four after graduation; and 100% of dues year five after graduation. Learn more
|
|
|
|
DID YOU KNOW that PE Magazine is available online on-demand for members? The latest issue of NSPE’s flagship publication features articles about:
- Best Practices to Mitigate Risks Associated with Employer-Sponsored Events
- The Pull of Purpose: The Power of Connecting Your Team to Meaningful Outcomes
- The Limits of Campaign Contributions: When is a campaign contribution considered unethical?
- PE Report: Congressional Resolution: Addresses Latinos in STEM, and more.
|
|
NEW from PE Institute, NSPE's Online Learning Site:
WORKability Wednesdays FREE Learning Tools
|
|
How easily do you adapt, flow, contribute and maintain your productivity in today’s work environment? Is your knowledge relevant and up-to-date?
NSPE's webinar series, WORKability Wednesdays, is FREE to NSPE members and covers impactful industry topics that can help enhance your professional competencies.
|
|
|
A range of topics are being held from September through November 2022, and all live sessions are recorded. View the full list of topics and recordings accessible as a free member benefit at NSPE’s online learning site, PE Institute.
Pricing: MSPE/NSPE Members: FREE (by logging in and registering); Non-members: $75.00, OR Join NSPE to take advantage of the free education and PDH credits.
UPCOMING TOPICS (Click Titles to Register):
November 16, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. EST | 1 PDH (NY Approval Pending)
November 30, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. EST | 1 PDH
OTHER RECENT TOPICS (Recordings Now Available):
- What Separates Good Engineers From Great Engineers | 1 PDH
- Ethical Case Insights: Lessons in Disclosure | 1 PDH
- Setting and Verifying Corporate Sustainability Goals Across Environmental, Social, and Governance Topics | 1 PDH (NY Approved)
- How Blockchain Protects Public Safety: A Working Solution | 1 PDH
|
|
THE RESULTS ARE IN:
2022 Engineering Outlook Survey Reveals Engineers’ Top Concerns
|
|
Above: Top 3 issues & concerns of survey participants in their professional practice.
|
|
Interested in your professional peers’ views on industry issues? The results are in from the 2022 Engineering Outlook Survey. More than 2,400 professional engineers, engineer interns, and students offered their perspectives on industry issues and hot topics ranging from climate change to diversity and inclusion, education, ethics, licensure, sustainability, and more.
This article highlights some key survey findings and insights from NSPE members.
|
|
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Upcoming National Engineering-themed Events
|
|
Engineers Week 2023 is February 19-25.
Sponsored by DiscoverE – a strategic partner of NSPE – this week is an opportunity for PEs to celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world.
It’s also a way to add our voice to the conversation about the need for engineers, technicians, and technologists and to engage students' interest in engineering.
|
|
|
The 2023 Engineers Week theme is Creating the Future, to highlight how engineers play a vital role in innovating solutions to global challenges that impact future generations and create new possibilities that make the world a better place.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day / Girl Day 2023 is February 23.
This an annual campaign that takes place during Engineers Week with the goal of introducing girls and all students of marginalized gender to the fascinating world of engineering. PEs are encouraged to facilitate engineering activities, and show girls how engineers change our world. Research found that this simple formula of showcasing engineers, getting them involved and talking about how PEs change the world, helps girls develop an interest in engineering. It also builds their confidence in their problem-solving skills and creates a STEM identity.
|
|
FREE On-Demand Webinar:
The Amazing Discovery of Mason and Dixon’s Transit Instrument
|
|
Come along for a thrilling adventure and learn a tale reminiscent of a National Treasure movie! In this free webinar, engineer and surveyor, David S. Thaler presents the saga of the Mason Dixon survey – the most outstanding engineering and scientific achievement of the 18th century – which resolved the bitter 80-year feud between the Penns of Pennsylvania and the Calverts of Maryland and was the longest running case in British judicial history. |
|
|
Thaler also profiles the remarkable discovery of Mason and Dixon’s actual Transit, perhaps America’s most historic scientific instrument, and its donation as a Gift to the Nation from the Engineers and Surveyors of America. It is now fully restored and on display at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA.
PRICING: NSPE Members AND Non-Members: FREE | 1 PDH (NY Approved)
|
|
NSPE's Updated Strategic Plan |
|
|
|
NSPE's updated Strategic Plan represents both continuity and change. This overview outlines key pillars of the plan, including: Driving Growth, Shaping Public Policy, Educating for the Future, and Promoting Diversity and Tomorrow’s Engineer.
Click here to view a PDF version of the Strategic Plan graphic on the left.
|
|
Professionals:
Samuel Acidri, PE | Quality Manager | American Tower Corporation
Nate Buscher, PE | Kleinfelder
Jeffrey Curhan, PE | VP Robotics Product Engineering | Multiply Labs
Nikolas Heleen, PE | WSP
Mahyar Mahdavi-Harsini, PE | President | Harsini, Inc.
Charles J. Martin | Sr. Const. Eng. | New England Design & Building Technologies, Inc.
Mark T. Nogueira, PE | Director | Design Group Facility Solutions, Inc.
Nicholas B. Sarata, PE | Vice President | Childs Engineering
Graham R. Silva, EI/EIT | Electrical Engineer | Goddard Technologies
Otis K. Williams
Students:
Anthony L. Acevedo | MIT
Ashutosh M. Anand | Graduate Student | Tufts University
Zeynep B. Ay | Northeastern University
Charles Chdid, EI/EIT | UMass Dartmouth
Amanda Dee | Northeastern University
Elita Dibin | Northeastern University
Connor L. Dorobiala | Wentworth Institute of Technology
Brian Hoefling | Boston University
Meng T. Jiang | Northeastern University
Anush Rathod | UMass Amherst
Annalise Thomas | Villanova University
Thomas D. Wacek | UMass Lowell
Jiayue Xing, EI/EIT | Northeastern University
|
|
The MSPE Career Center is a resource designed to connect MSPE members with employment opportunities. Several links are provided to guide you as you search for employment opportunities. Employers and recruiters can also browse member resumes or post their employment opportunities.
To access this resource, visit mspe.com and click on the nav button labeled “Jobs”.
|
|
The Massachusetts Society of Professional Engineers | www.mspe.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
