IN THIS ISSUE

** GARVEE ROAD BOND PROGRAM SIDELINED TEMPORARILY
** ENTRY DEADLINE FOR CECO ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS NEAR
** STATE BOARD ROSTER NOW AVAILABLE
** PROJECT MANAGERS SELLING MORE THAN EVER BEFORE
** ACEC LIFE/HEALTH TRUST CHANGES ADMINISTRATORS
** ACEC "MARKET FORECAST SERIES" AVAILABLE VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEBCAST
** GOLDEN CAREER YEARS HOLD GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES
** ACEC ANNOUNCES NEW FEDEX PROGRAM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GARVEE ROAD BOND PROGRAM SIDELINED TEMPORARILY

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, September 24th that two legislative-dominated boards had no constitutional authority to approve a $1 billion road bond program financed with federal GARVEE bonds according to The Daily Oklahoman.

The ruling does not kill the road bond program but will delay it by requiring the bond-approval process to start over.

The bonds involved are federal Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles, commonly called Garvee bonds, which can be used to build highways that are key to economic development. In 2000, the Legislature, with the governor's approval, passed legislation permitting the state to use the bond program.
Under the Garvee program, states can use some of their federal highway money to pay off the bonds. Bonds cannot be sold by Oklahoma for road projects until the bonds are approved by the state Supreme Court.

Among projects under consideration for Garvee bond financing are the Interstate 44-Broadway Extension interchange in Oklahoma City, widening of I-44 in Tulsa and road projects in other parts of the state, including southeastern Oklahoma and western Oklahoma.

The Supreme Court's ruling said approval of the bonds by the Legislative Bond Oversight Commission and the Contingency Review Board is a significant interference with the executive branch in the bond-approval process. It violates the Oklahoma Constitution's separation of powers provision, the opinion stated.

Gov. Frank Keating said he and legislative leaders will move quickly to activate another oversight entity - the Council of Bond Oversight - that can approve the bonds without violating the Oklahoma Constitution.

Members of the council will be appointed by the governor, state finance director, House speaker and Senate president pro tempore.

Tuesday's ruling grew out of a request by the state Transportation Department for Supreme Court approval of an initial issue of $100 million in Garvee bonds.

Jerry R. Fent of Oklahoma City challenged the request in the Supreme Court, saying the Legislative Bond Oversight Commission and Contingency Review Board were violating the constitution by approving the bonds. The Supreme Court agreed with Fent that having legislators serve on the two groups violated the separation of powers provisions of the constitution.

The Legislative Bond Oversight Commission consists of six legislators. The Contingency Review Board consists of the governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate president pro tempore. While its role in the bond-approval process was held unconstitutional, the Contingency Review Board's other duties weren't affected.

House Speaker Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, said, "I still am in support of the Garvee bond proposal. We need to find out what we do next and where we go next." Keating said he anticipates that he, Adair and Taylor will convene the Council of Bond Oversight as soon as possible.

The Garvee program also is under attack in federal court. A federal lawsuit filed against the Garvee program was dismissed but is on appeal before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ENTRY DEADLINE FOR CECO ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS NEAR

CECO reminds members that the 2003 Engineering Excellence Awards Program is well underway and that there's just 6 weeks left to get your entries prepared and submitted. The Deadline for receipt of entries is November 8, 2002!!!!!

Judging by a panel of judges selected from business, government, and education leaders in Oklahoma will take place on November 15th. The five winning firms will be notified immediately following the judging to allow the firms to finalize their submissions to the ACEC competition. Awards given by CECO will be: (1) Grand Oklahoma Conceptor and four (4) Oklahoma Honor Awards. The five (5) winning Entries are eligible to be submitted to the ACEC EEA Program.

Deadline for submission to ACEC is January 10, 2003, the judging for which takes place in February, 2003. The ACEC Awards presentation will be March 18, 2003 in Washington DC at which ALL ENTRIES will be displayed.

To enter the CECO Engineering Excellence Awards competition, you will need to download two forms in a "pdf" format. Go to the CECO website (http://www.cecok.org), or, call the CECO Office at 405-525-7696 and we will mail you the required forms.

Again, the deadline for submissions for the CECO program is November 8th!!!!! We hope to receive your entry soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STATE BOARD ROSTER NOW AVAILABLE

The State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors new 2002 roster is now available, and it's FREE!!!!!!!!!!

The roster includes all licensed engineers, land surveyors, engineering interns, and firms holding a certificate of authorization. Names, addresses, places of employments and phone numbers are included for all registrants.

To get your FREE copy of the roster, simply call the State Board at (405) 521-2874, or, e-mail cindy@pels.state.ok.us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PROJECT MANAGERS SELLING MORE THAN EVER BEFORE

Design and environmental consulting firm leaders report that project managers in their firms are generating more in fee revenue than ever before, according to data in ZweigWhite's recently released 2002 PROJECT MANAGEMENT SURVEY OF A/E/P & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING FIRMS. At a median of $416,667, average sales per project manager reached an all-time high in the newest edition of the survey.

Sales per project manager was at its low of $250,000 in 1996, the first year of the Project Management Survey, and again in the 2000 edition. In the years since, this figure skyrocketed to $350,000 in 2001 and to the all-time high of $416,667 this year.

Jerry Novacek, an associate with ZweigWhite and an expert in project management and project delivery for the design and construction industry, says, "As project managers develop stronger client relationships, their selling abilities grow. And as the economy weakens from the boom of the late 1990s, more project managers are being forced to take on sales roles as firms realize the importance of using all potential sales outlets, not just marketing or business development employees."

Other findings from the 2002 Project Management Survey include:

** More than half of firms (60%) are organized by a hybrid structure. Another 19% are organized by a matrix, and 16% of firms have standing teams or studios.

** Nearly half of firms (47%) report they always budget for time spent on project management.

** The vast majority of project managers (86%) are registered technical professionals.

** Only 2% of project managers received any sales commissions in 2001.

The 2002 PROJECT MANAGEMENT SURVEY OF A/E/P & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING FIRMS is available from the publisher for $275, plus $4 shipping and handling. To order, contact ZweigWhite, P.O. Box 8325, One Apple Hill Drive, Natick, MA 01760, tele: 508-651-1559, fax: 508-653-6522, e-mail mailto:info@zweigwhite.com, or visit our web site at http://www.zweigwhite.com/store/svpro.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ACEC LIFE/HEALTH TRUST CHANGES ADMINISTRATORS

The Life/Health Trust has contracted with HealthPlan Services of Tampa, FL to be the new Third Party Administrator (TPA) by the end of the year. HealthPlan Services will replace Seabury & Smith, a subsidiary of the Marsh Companies. The insurance carrier, Trustmark Insurance Company and the managed care networks will remain unchanged.

The Trustees conducted an extensive review of the market and chose HealthPlan Services as the provider that will best meet the Trust's future needs. In a letter announcing the change, Trust President Derrell Johnson stated that after a recent review of our current and future needs, the Trustees have decided to change third party administrators. The insurance carrier will still be Trustmark Insurance Company and the managed care networks will continue business as usual.

November 4th has been announced as the date on which the changeover will take place.

Johnson stated that the Trustees conducted an extensive review of the market and evaluated proposals submitted by several potential candidates. Based on administrative excellence, account management and leadership, marketing and communication capability, technology, customer service and other criteria, HealthPlan Services Inc. has been selected as the new administrator for ACEC's life and health plans.

He reported that HealthPlan Services is a leading third party administrator, providing distribution, enrollment, billing, customer service, claims administration, and risk management services for health care payors and providers. Based in Tampa, Fla., the company serves over 100,000 businesses, including insurance companies, managed care companies and organizations with self-funded health care plans, covering more than 1.6 million members in the U.S. A dedicated website is in development. In the meantime, to learn more about Health Plan Services, you may visit their website at http://www.healthplan.com.

In the letter, Johnson assured all member firms that the Trustees have carefully considered the change and the impact it could have on the insurance program and that the Trustees are convinced that member firms will all be better served, and that the program can grow and return to the high-quality service levels member firms enjoyed in the past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ACEC "MARKET FORECAST SERIES" AVAILABLE VIA TELECONFERENCE/WEBCAST

ACEC has introduced a new program which keeps you up to date on project and budget information. The "ACEC's Market Forecast Series" is a monthly program featuring speakers from key federal agencies and the private sector. The programs are held at the ACEC office in Washington, and provide valuable information for all member firms.

Can't make it to Washington, DC, you say!!!!! Well, that's OK since the ACEC's Market Forecast Series is available nationwide, not just to those few members located inside the Beltway!

Members from around the country can participate via teleconference and the web to follow the audio and slide presentation, and can ask questions in real time. Registration Fee for the "webcast" is only $89.00, which includes phone and web access. And, all participants earn 1 PDH for participating.

And, since it's a teleconference/webcast, there's no limit to the number of people you can have in the room listening in and participating in the program - all for one low cost of $89.00!!!!! Make it a "brown bag lunch" program for your entire staff and have everyone earn professional development hours at the same time.

The next ACEC Market Forecast Series will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2002, 12:30 to 1:30 PM (EDT).

The Guest Speaker will be Dwight A. Beranek, Chief, Engineering and Construction Division, Directorate of Military Programs for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The US Army Corps of Engineers has long been a key federal client for ACEC firms.

Don't miss this up to the minute briefing on project opportunities, as Mr. Beranek relays the FY2003 spending forecast for civil works and military construction. Additional topics covered include infrastructure security and the implications of Corps reform.

On Thursday, November 14, 2002, David B. Eakin, Chief Engineer, Public Buildings Service, for the US General Services Administration (GSA) will be the featured speaker.

For more information, visit the ACEC Website at http://www.acec.org, or call ACEC at 202-347-7474.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOLDEN CAREER YEARS HOLD GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) prohibits employment discrimination against persons 40 years of age or older. The ADEA was enacted based on the fact that older workers find themselves disadvantaged in their efforts to retain employment. According to AEC WorkForce, these days, however, an increasing number of companies are realizing the valuable experience that older staff members have to offer and are developing ways to provide opportunities and flexibility specifically geared towards senior employees.

One such company is The Stanley Group, Inc. (Muscatine, IA), a 675-person consulting engineering, environmental, and construction firm. In a company where over 24% of the staff are over the age of 50, here are some methods the firm has devised to retain and accommodate the lifestyles of senior company members:

* Flexible hours. Many senior employees elect to work a reduced work week in order to create a better work-life balance. The reduced hours that they work, however, do not diminish the role they play in the firm. The Stanley Group's chief architect and corporate secretary, for instance, both work reduced work-weeks.

* Temporary assignments. Retirees are given opportunities to return to the company and assume short-term technical and professional roles. Temporary assignments that are available include task force duties and on-site management duties. Retirees have been given chances to continue using their expertise and knowledge on short-term assignments.

* Personal development and growth. Employees of all ages continually participate in company training and external seminars. Retired employees still interact and maintain ties with active employees. They are included in get-togethers such as the annual company picnic and continue to receive the company's internal newsletter.

Retirees are also invited to special events attended by upper management. There they are honored for their contributions and are updated on company performance and goals.

Older employees have valuable skills and expertise that contribute to the development and growth of their companies. By providing continued opportunities to all employees, the company has stood behind its core value statement: "At the Stanley Group, our members are our greatest assets." As a result, employees average nine years of employment with the firm- almost double the national average.

Many firms provide training and support opportunities to staff through early career stages, but unintentionally neglect the ongoing development of experienced professionals. It's not mere coincidence that scores of valued employees with 20 or more years of experience leave their employers for "better growth opportunities." Take a close look at your most valuable contributors and determine whether your firm is actively encouraging their next-stage aspirations. Though most industry firms recognize the value of senior professionals' contributions, some employ human resource practices that unintentionally flout ADEA guidelines. Before looking at retooling your career development support of advanced staff, do a quick self audit to ensure your company's compliance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ACEC ANNOUNCES NEW FEDEX PROGRAM

ACEC is partnering with FedEx to offer members savings of up to 22 percent on shipping worldwide. FedEx offers reliable express and ground services that are backed by a money-back guarantee.

Participating ACEC members receive the following discounts off FedEx base rates:

Service Weight Savings

Express Ltrs 0 to 8 oz Up to 22%

Express Pkgs 8 oz and up Up to 17%

Express Int'l Ltrs & Pkgs 18%

Ground 1 to 10 lbs 5%
11 to 30 lbs 10%
31 to 150 lbs 15%

This is a great new service for member firms, and one that can SAVE YOU MONEY on a service you probably already use on a regular basis.

Send an e-mail to fedex@acec.org to request more information on this wonderful new program, or call Ingrid Mendoza at 202-347-7474.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~