IN THIS ISSUE
** MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION FOCUS OF APRIL 18TH CECO
MEETING
** ODOT/CECO PARTNERING CONFERENCE SET FOR MAY 2ND
** CECO LEADERSHIP/MEMBERS MEET WITH OKLAHOMA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
** HIT THE JACKPOT AT THE ACEC CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS
** GETTING YOUR OFFER ACCEPTED BY THAT "PERFECT" CANDIDATE
** WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
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MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION FOCUS OF APRIL 18TH CECO MEETING
The next CECO General Membership Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2002, at the Hometown Buffet, 63rd and Northwest Expressway, in Oklahoma City. The meeting will begin at 5:00pm, and will be followed by dinner and program.
Our guest speaker for the evening will be Kathy Hart, Executive Director of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
The main part of the program will deal with the new Mandatory Continuing Education requirement for professional engineers. Mandatory Continuing Education had been discussed by the State Board for several years but not implemented. During that period of time, it had become one of the more controversial issues addressed by the Board, with some very strong feelings on both sides of the issue. A few months ago the State Board decided that the time had come to implement mandatory continuing education, and has taken the necessary rulemaking procedures to enact the requirement beginning with the July, 2004 renewal cycle.
Since the announcement, the State Board along with CECO and other engineering organizations have received numerous questions as how the program will operate, what will qualify for acceptable professional development hours (PDH), what record keeping will be required, and many, many more.
Kathy will address many of these questions as to what engineers will need to do to comply with the new regulations, as well as be open for discussion of any other questions you may have as to how the State Board operates.
Hope to see you April 18th!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ODOT/CECO PARTNERING CONFERENCE SET FOR MAY 2ND
The 1st Annual ODOT/CECO Partnering Conference will be held on Thursday, May 2nd, beginning at 9:00am. The all-day conference will be held at the Clarion Meridian Hotel and Conference Center, I-40 and Meridian, in Oklahoma City.
For over a year, ODOT and CECO have been working together developing and implementing our Partnering Agreement. Several Task Groups have been addressing specific issues ranging from Scope of Work and Equitable Fee Structures to Performance Measures and Feedback. Several of the Task Groups are in the process of finishing their assignments while others are still a "work in progress."
The ODOT/CECO Partnering Conference is designed to bring both ODOT staff and CECO members up-to-date on the progress of the Task Groups as well as share the vision of ODOT and CECO with regards to the goals of the Partnering Agreement.
An informative and exciting program has been developed which will include individual presentations and group discussions.
Lt. Governor Mary Fallin will open the Partnering Conference. Lt. Governor Fallin has long been a champion of public/private partnerships where government and the private sector work together to address critical issues and needs. She was very excited to learn of the ODOT/CECO initiative and jumped at the opportunity to be the opening speaker for the Conference.
ODOT Director Gary Ridley will be our luncheon speaker, addressing current legislative issues, funding for the transportation system, and system enhancement projects. Ridley was a member of the team which developed the Partnering Agreement, and strongly supports the ODOT/CECO Partnering initiative.
During the afternoon session, there well be three concurrent breakout sessions dealing with the specific topics:
* Session #1 - Scope of Work and Equitable Fee Structure
* Session #2 - Errors and Omissions & Performance Measures and Feedback
* Session #3 - Uniform Production Tools
Session #1 and #2 will feature reports on the progress and decisions of the Task Groups which are working on those issues, as well as the opportunity for ODOT staff and CECO members to provide feedback to the Task Groups. These sessions will repeat to give attendees the chance to attend both sessions.
Session #3 on Uniform Production Tools will feature a presentation from the Task Group addressing the issues of CAD standards and deliverables to ODOT by consultants. Additionally, representatives of Bentley Systems and InfoTech will discuss several relevant topics including:
* Engineering Data Creation -- Sharing MicroStation and AutoCAD
Files
* Engineering Data Management -- Tracking and Sharing Your Changes
Session #3 will be a single two-hour program, and will not repeat.
As you can see, this is going to be an outstanding program, and one which any firm performing work for ODOT can't afford to miss.
Registration fee for the Conference is $80.00 per person. ODOT has already committed 80 staff members from around the state to the Conference, and we hope to have an equal or larger number of consultants.
Registration information has been sent to all member firms, and can also be found on the CECO web site at http://www.cecok.org.
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CECO LEADERSHIP/MEMBERS MEET WITH OKLAHOMA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
Six CECO members were part of a large contingent of ACEC members from all over the country who descended on Capitol Hill to lobby members of the House and Senate during the ACEC Consulting Congress Day activities in mid-March. These "citizen lobbyists" visited nearly 300 Hill offices, including CECO's visits to all eight of the Oklahoma delegation offices.
CECO President Mike Arand led the CECO delegation that included ACEC National Director Tony Dark, Andy Cueto, Bob Zahl, Steve Ford, Marc Long, and Executive Vice President Jim Sullins.
The CECO group met personally with Senator Jim Inhofe and Congressmen John Sullivan, Frank Lucas, and Brad Carson. Additionally, CECO met with key staff members of Congressmen J.C. Watts, Wes Watkins, Ernest Istook and Senator Don Nickles.
It appeared that success was achieved in urging the House Budget Committee to restore at least $4.4 billion in federal highway funding for 2003. Most of the Oklahoma delegation had already signed on to co-sponsor the bills restoring the funding, and the others said that they would give strong consideration to becoming co-sponsors.
ACEC also received solid commitments of support for water infrastructure legislation and secured cosponsors for H.R. 3678, ACEC's legislation to protect member firms from unfair enforcement actions under the FLSA.
"Our members are the heart and soul of ACEC's advocacy efforts," said ACEC President Dave Raymond. "The success of CCD 2002 shows how citizen lobbyists can be an effective force in driving ACEC's legislative priorities forward."
In addition to the CCD activities, ACEC held its annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala. Two Oklahoma firms Zahl-Ford, Inc., and Cobb Engineering Company were honored during the festivities, both receiving the ACEC Honor Award. Our congratulations to Zahl-Ford and Cobb Engineering!!!!!
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HIT THE JACKPOT AT THE ACEC CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS
Hit the Jackpot with ACEC! Come to the 2002 Annual Convention, May 12-15, 2002 and experience the bright lights and big city of Las Vegas, Nevada! Aside from the famed Las Vegas Strip, discover entertainment beyond your wildest dreams, interesting museums, and gourmet restaurantsthere's something for everyone. Viva Las Vegas!
Program at a Glance
This preview will give you a glimpse of what is scheduled for
ACEC's 2002 Annual Convention. The detailed convention registration
information is available at http://www.acec.org/Events/cschedule.pdf.
Saturday, May 11
ACEC/PAC Golf Tournament
Sunday, May 12
MO Leaders Meeting
CEO Roundtables
First-time Attendees Reception
Opening Reception
ACEC/PAC Auction and Dessert Party
Monday, May 13
General Session featuring Henry Petroski
Networking with Exhibitors Breaks
Luncheon featuring Donna Shirley
Networking with Exhibitors Breaks
Board of Directors Meeting
Concurrent Convention Sessions
Legal Counsels Forum
Local Color Night
Tuesday, May 14
Concurrent Convention Sessions
Legal Counsels Forum
Networking with Exhibitors Breaks
ACEC Awards Luncheon
Concurrent Convention Sessions
Networking with Exhibitors Breaks
ACEC/PAC Evening Functions
Wednesday, May 15
Board of Directors Meeting
Concurrent Convention Sessions
Networking with Exhibitors Breaks
Incoming Chairman's Luncheon
Roundtable Discussions
Closing General Session with Amanda Gore
Networking with Exhibitors Breaks
Chairman's Reception & Banquet
Some of the over 30 sessions offered at this year's Annual Convention are: 12 Steps to Higher Fees; Ownership Transition for Consulting Engineers; Increasing Production & Profits Without Increasing Payroll; Achieving Business Objectives in Social Settings; Progressive Management in the Mechanical/Electrical Firm; Retention of Electronic Documents; The Art of Principal Compensation; E-GovernmentWhat's In It For Us? ;How to Achieve Record Sales and Profits Even In a Recession; EJCDC Contract Documents: New Names, New Contracts, Same Quality; Effective Technology for Partnering; Living Right Side Up in an Upside Down World; Small Firm Information Technology Issues; Emotional Intelligence - the Key to Leadership Success; Uh-oh How Do We Handle This?; and, How to Sell Your Services at a 5.0 Multiplier
Deadline for pre-registration is April 12, 2002. Full Convention
Registration Fees is $845 for members before that date, $895 after
April 12th.
The registration fee includes Opening Reception, three buffet
breakfasts, three luncheons, scheduled refreshment breaks, attendance
at all convention sessions, convention compendium, and Chairman's
Reception and Banquet.
ACEC's 2002 Annual Convention will be held at the Rio Suite Hotel & Casino. The convention rate is $139; all rooms are suites. Reservations can be secured by calling 1-888-746-6955 and referencing "ACEC." The cut-off date for making reservations is April 12, 2002.
This is going to be a great convention in an unmatched location. Hope to see you there!!!!!
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GETTING YOUR OFFER ACCEPTED BY THAT "PERFECT" CANDIDATE
While the economy has cooled down in recent months, finding top-notch candidates is still a challenge for design and construction firms. If you want to get the right person on board, making competitive and attractive offers is just as critical as it was during the boom.
What are firms doing to close the deal with their candidates? Here are some tips from AECWorkForce to increase the likelihood that your offer will be accepted:
* Understand what's most important to your candidate.
Before you extend an offer, understand the candidate's motivation
for making a move. Understanding a candidate's hot buttons is
just as important as making a competitive offer. Is your candidate
looking for more responsibility, a flexible work schedule, or
the opportunity to work on larger, more complex projects? You
should be able to appropriately sell your firm's opportunity and
explain why a move with your firm would result in an ideal position
for the candidate.
* Compare apples to apples.
Create an Excel worksheet that compares your candidate's current
compensation package to what you're offering. Itemize base salary,
bonus, vacation, 401(k), health benefits, car allowance, cell
phone, etc. Calculate the numbers and make sure you come out on
top. Even if your firm is offering the opportunity of a lifetime,
no one wants to make a lateral move in responsibility or compensation.
If your offer is less than a candidate's current compensation,
don't bother making the offer.
* Spice up your offer.
A competitive base salary is just the foundation of an attractive
package. Firms can distinguish themselves from competitors by
offering a compensation package that includes creative perks and
good benefits. For example, tax return preparation, paid parking
spots, car allowances, health club memberships, professional development
courses, dependent health coverage, or professional registration
fees are all benefits that can beef up your offer. Karen Mueller,
human resource director for 175-person A/E firm Phillips Swager
Associates, Inc. (Peoria, IL), says her firm often offers an extra
visit to relocation candidates so they can visit the area with
a spouse. Candidates get the opportunity to look at housing, schools,
and get a feel for the community. Allowing the spouse to join
in the trip includes the spouse in the recruitment process, which
is always instrumental to getting any offer accepted.
* Make the best possible offer.
You don't do your firm any favors by extending a low-ball offer
that will require back-and-forth haggling. Jaime McDonald, human
resources director for 200-person full-service E/A firm Paulus
Sokolowski & Sartor (Warren, NJ) says, "We try to avoid
negotiating by giving a strong and competitive offer right off
the bat." Keep in mind current market rates associated with
the responsibilities and qualifications, and your firm's salary
structure. "We try to establish what the current salary range
is for a specific position and also take into consideration any
special needs for a candidate," says Jim Wheeler, principal
for a 75-person architecture firm Ayers/Saint/Gross, Inc. (Baltimore,
MD).
Ultimately, the best offers are made by firms who understand candidates' needs and expectations, compensation in the local market, and how all of that fits into their salary structure.
AECWorkForce is the preferred recruitment solution of ACEC. ACEC members receive a 10% discount on all employer membership packages from AECWorkForce. For more information call Kirsten Brinkman, AECWorkForce at 1-800-466-6275, or visit the AECWorkForce website at http://www.aecworkforce.com/employer.htm
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
CECO would like to welcome two new member firms:
Engineering Service and Testing, Inc., is a 12-person firm at 201 Industrial Blvd., in Moore, (405) 912-8378. Principals of the firm are Michael Vahabzdegan, Gary Horan, Paul Poytner, Larry Patrick and Shane Long. The firm provides surveying, consulting, engineering, design, and various types of concrete and asphalt testing.
R. H. Osborne Engineering is a one-person firm located at 4101 N.W. 144th Street, Oklahoma City, (405) 751-4590. Dick Osborne is the principal of the firm which offers transportation engineering including highways, turnpikes and streets; municipal engineering including water and sanitary sewer distribution and stormwater management; and, site development including site plans and utilities.
We welcome Engineering Services & Testing, and Osborne Engineering, and look forward to having them as active members of CECO and ACEC.
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