CECO REPORT
August, 1999
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IN THIS ISSUE
** MAYOR SUSAN SAVAGE TO SPEAK AT CECO
MEETING
** AIR-21 CLEARS HOUSE; OKLAHOMA DELEGATION SPLITS
** ACEC CONVENTION ON TAPE
** L.S. MINIMUM STANDARDS
** ZAHL APPOINTED TO STATE BOARD
** HOW THE COMPANY POLICY BEGINS
** ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD ENTRIES
** MICHIGAN TO HOST ACEC FALL CONFERENCE
** DESIGN FIRMS GROWING FASTER
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MAYOR SUSAN SAVAGE TO SPEAK AT CECO MEETING
The next CECO General Membership Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 19th at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown in Tulsa.
The General Membership meeting will begin at 5:00pm, and will be followed by dinner and the program. Tulsa Mayor Susan Savage will be our guest speaker.
Mayor Savage will discuss the August 10th Bond Issue vote, the projects effected by the vote, and other issues relative to the City of Tulsa.
If any CECO member has an issues which you would like to have brought either before the Board or the General Membership, please contact the CECO Office at (405) 525-7696.
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AIR-21 CLEARS HOUSE; OKLAHOMA DELEGATION SPLITS
In a victory for U.S. engineering firms, the American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC) and a broad coalition of fellow transportation and infrastructure advocates nationwide, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FAA reauthorization bill known as "AIR-21" by a vote of 316-110.
The Oklahoma Delegation evenly split on final passage of AIR-21, with Congressmen Watts, Watkins, and Lucas voting for approval. Congressmen Istook, Coburn, and Largent voted against final passage.
"This dramatically increased investment in our nation's airports and air traffic control systems will help the transportation community to prepare for the projected 50 percent growth in passenger traffic over the next ten years," said ACEC President Leo Peters.
ACEC mounted an extensive grassroots lobbying campaign beginning in March in support of the bill, which authorizes $57 billion over five years for aviation infrastructure, an increase of $14.3 billion over current levels. The measure also takes the aviation trust fund off budget to ensure that all money collected from passenger ticket taxes, fuel and other excise taxes is used to make the nation's aviation system safer and more efficient.
The legislation significantly boosts funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides direct federal grants to airports for major construction and renovation projects. The AIP would grow from $1.95 billion this fiscal year to $4.3 billion in the final year of AIR-21. The bill also seeks to accelerate project delivery by streamlining the environmental review of aviation projects.
"We are especially pleased that our efforts helped Chairman Shuster and the Transportation Committee fight back those members of Congress who would prefer to continue spending aviation user fees on other federal programs," said David Raymond, ACEC's Executive Vice President. "The needs of our aviation system are simply too great to tolerate this budget shell game any longer."
Raymond met privately with Rep. John Duncan (R-TN) in the Capitol this week to congratulate him on the substantial legislative win. Congressman Duncan is Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, which drafted AIR-21 late last year and has since fought an often uphill battle to ensure its passage in the House.
Attention now turns to the Senate, which has not scheduled floor time for its version of FAA reauthorization (S. 82). "We must now take our messages of infrastructure investment and trust fund fairness to the Senate," said ACEC President Peters. "Our work is not yet done."
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ACEC CONVENTION ON TAPE
Here's your chance to share the highlights of the ACEC Annual Convention in Seattle. Many of the seminars of the Convention are taped live, and are available for purchase by any ACEC member. Taped sessions include:
* General Opening Session -- 21st Century Leadership
* Know Thyself: Developing a Powerful Self-Identity for Success.
* EPA Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Initiative
* Internal Fraud and Risk Avoidance: Who Should Be Watching the Store.
* The Art of Negotiation
* Managing Internal and External Conflicts: A Critical Leadership Skill
* Emerging Issues in Environmental Engineering
* Expanding Your Range of Services: You Want Me To Do What?
* Next Generation Owners: Will They Ever Think Like You Do?
* Engineer Dilbert Goes To Seattle
* Get Ready, Get Set, Change!
* Working Your Way Through Ownership Transition
* Can or Should Engineering Consultants Change a Client's Culture?
* What Wins and Why: A Report from the Proposal Wars
* Management of Computer Systems
* Global Partnering for Greater Profitability
* How to Wear Many Hats and Keep Your Head on Straight
* Managing Project Managers
* Things Don't Always Turn Out As You Expect
* Transforming Great Ideas Into Profitable Realities
* Are You Ready for a Major Project Disaster
* Internal Ownership Transition: Is
An Investment In Your Firm a Good One?
* Business Insurance -- Your Hedge Against Adversity
* Closing General Session -- Embrace Risk, Manage Change and Laugh a Lot
* Identifying and Operating In A Value Based Delivery System
Tapes are $10.00 each, or you can buy the entire convention set for $210.00. To order, call Convenient Cassette Service at (504) 885-3596. Mastercard, VISA, and American Express accepted.
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L.S. MINIMUM STANDARDS
As reported in the last CECO REPORT, the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors held a public hearing on July 8th regarding new proposed Minimum Standards for the Practice of Land Surveying. The proposal was presented by the Oklahoma Society of Land Surveyors.
Following the presentation of proposed changes and receiving public comments on the proposal, the State Board decided to take the recommended changes under advisement.
CECO will continue to monitor this, and will inform you if and when the State Board adopts changes to the current Minimum Standards.
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ZAHL APPOINTED TO STATE BOARD
Bob Zahl, Zahl-Ford, Inc., Oklahoma City has been appointed to serve on the Oklahoma State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Zahl, a CECO Past President, was appointed by Governor Frank Keating in May to a six-year term. He succeeds Steve Almon, Dewberry Design Group, Tulsa.
CECO would like to express our thanks to Steve on behalf of the consulting engineering community for his years of service on the State Board. Steve did an outstanding job during his tenure on the Board, and is to be commended for his dedication to the engineering and land surveying professions.
Our congratulations to Bob on his appointment, and we look forward to working with him during his coming years on the State Board.
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HOW THE COMPANY POLICY BEGINS
Start with a cage containing five apes.
In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it.
Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb towards
the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the
apes with cold water.
After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result,
all the apes are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another
ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to prevent
it.
Now, turn off the cold water. Remove one ape from the cage and
replace it with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants
to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack
him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries
to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five apes and replace it
with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked.
The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm.
Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one
makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four
apes that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to
climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating
of the newest ape.
After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes, all the apes
which have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced.
Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs. Why not?
Because that's the way it's always been around here.
**And that's how company policy begins...**
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1999-2000 MEETING CALENDAR
CECO Board & General Meeting
Thursday, August 19, 1999
Tulsa (Dinner Meeting)
ACEC Fall Conference
September 30 - October 2
Traverse City, Michigan
CECO Board & General Meeting
Thursday, November 18, 1999
Oklahoma City (Luncheon)
CECO Board & General Meeting
Thursday, January 27, 2000
Tulsa (Luncheon Meeting)
ACEC Consulting Congress Day
Tues-Wed, March 14-15, 2000
Washington, DC
CECO Board & General Meeting
Thursday, April 20, 2000
Oklahoma City (Dinner Meeting)
ACEC Annual Convention
May 14-17, 2000
Buffalo, NY
CECO Annual Meeting
(Joint Meeting with Missouri/Arkansas)
June 15-17, 2000
Branson, MO
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ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD ENTRIES
Entry information for the 2000 ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition is now available from CECO.
EEA is ACEC's annual design competition that recognizes engineering achievements which demonstrate the highest degree of merit and ingenuity.
There are nine entry categories covering every area of engineering and land surveying.
While CECO does not have a local competition, firms may still enter the national competition.
For an entry form, call CECO at (405) 525-7696.
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MICHIGAN TO HOST ACEC FALL CONFERENCE
This year's ACEC Fall Conference will be held September 20 - October 2 at the Grand Traverse Resort near Traverse City, Michigan.
"What We Do Is All Around You -- Designing Solutions, Making a Difference" will be the central theme of educational programs which will span the three days of the Conference. Fifteen hours (15) of educational programming will be available for attendees.
Located on the northwest shore of lower Michigan, bordering Lake Michigan, the Traverse City area is one of the most beautiful parts of the state. The Leelanua and Old Mission peninsulas extend into Lake Michigan, and are home to not only great scenery but the nautical industry and cherry products for which northern Michigan is known.
The Grand Traverse Resort is located on 1,400 acres of spectacular landscape. It features a variety of restaurants and lounges, a shopping gallery, health club, indoor tennis, spa, and two swimming pools. The Resort also has 54 holes of championship golf including the infamous Jack Nicklaus course, "The Bear".
Accommodations at the resort include the main hotel, luxury tower rooms and convenient condominiums. Rates begin at just $105.00 per night (single/double), with a 3-bedroom condo at only $211.00 per night. Call toll-free, 1-800-748-0303 for hotel reservations.
Convention registration fee is $495.00, with spouse registration only $165.00.
Convention registration information was included in the most recent edition of the ACE Magazine (July/August issue) which all ACEC members received last week. Additional registration packets are available from CECO.
This promises to be an outstanding Fall Conference in an unbeatable location. Fall colors, great seminars, golf, tennis, and more!!!!! What better way to spend a weekend in northern Michigan!!!!!
Make your plans to attend the ACEC Fall Conference now!
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DESIGN FIRMS GROWING FASTER
One-year growth rates in gross revenues for architecture, engineering, and planning firms are up for the second year in a row.
The 1999 Finance & Accounting Survey of Architecture, Engineering & Planning Firms (Zweig White & Associates, Inc.) reveals that the median growth rate among design firms from 1997 to 1998 was 16%. This continues the upward trend of growth rates in the industry. From 1995 to 1996, firms reported a median growth rate of 10.1%. The figure rose to 11.1% for the 1996 to 1997 period.
By looking at firms' projected revenue growth, it's clear that firms are not expecting any major slowdowns. The median three-year projected revenue growth is 37%. The average yearly revenue growth necessary to make that occur works out to 12%- a growth rate lower than the median from 1997 to 1998 (16%)- a clear dedication to future growth.
The Finance & Accounting Survey is the most comprehensive financial study available for architecture, engineering, and planning firms. Based on an in-depth, nationwide survey in which participants completed detailed income statements and balance sheets, this book provides a wealth of financial data. Information is broken out by firm type, size, region, growth rate, and client base so that firms may make apples to apples comparisons.
The 1999 Finance & Accounting Survey of Architecture, Engineering & Planning Firms is available for $275, plus $4 shipping/handling. Contact Zweig White & Associates, 600 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760, tel: 508-651-1559, e-mail: info@zwa.com. Or, visit our online store at http://www.zwa.com/store.
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