Engineering Influence from ACEC

ACEC is holding a new 6-part course: Designing a Roadmap to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, which kicks off in April. We interviewed the instructor for the course, Mindy Gulati. (https://program.acec.org/designing-a-roadmap-to-diversity).

Mindy Gulati is the founder and CEO of Fundamental Advisory, a consulting firm focused on advising businesses, nonprofits, and law firms on issues related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Using her expertise and personal approach, she designs strategic plans, drafts policies and procedures, and creates custom content and workshops for various organizations nationwide. Her focus is anti-racism and equity, implicit bias awareness, creating inclusive and innovative cultures, educating on the ethical implications of bias, and guiding organizations on legal issues such as sexual harassment and discrimination. Her approach provides the foundation for cultural change through awareness, storytelling, and understanding.

Course snapshot: Elevate your organization's success with ACEC's new comprehensive DEIB training program: Designing a Roadmap to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Our expert-led course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to assess, improve, and implement an effective DEIB plan that will enhance your firm's recruitment, retention, and overall culture. Throughout this six-week course, you'll design an action plan and implementation roadmap tailored to your firm's unique needs. Each interactive, live presentation offers a deeper understanding of DEIB concepts and strategies and is reinforced by weekly homework assignments that challenge you to put what you've learned into practice and outline a plan for your firm.

We were joined by Joe Bates with the ACEC Research Institute to review the newly released Q1 2023 Engineering Business Sentiment Study available at www.acecresearchinstitute.org. 

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a proposed rule that will ban most noncompete agreements going forward. Employees who own at least 25% of a firm that is being acquired would be exempt, and virtually all existing non-compete agreements would be rescinded immediately. If the rule goes into effect as proposed, it could significantly impact business decisions related to M&A and firm owners and employees currently working under such agreements. 

ACEC's VP of Tax & Workforce Policy, Katharine Mottley, joined the podcast to discuss the proposed FTC rule and what it means for the engineering industry.

We were joined by Coy Veach, Vice President at Freese and Nichols and past Chair of the Engineer Joint Contract Documents Committee to discuss the newly released Construction Manager At Risk document series now available through acec.org and ejcdc.org.

The comprehensive new EJCDC series consists of 27 documents, including contracts, bonds, contractor-procurement documents, and administrative forms, intended for use on projects in which the owner retains a construction manager at risk (CMAR) to provide preconstruction services and then construct the project. 

The Construction Manager at Risk method of delivering projects evolved from traditional design-bid-build by involving the construction contractor early in the project. The CMAR delivery process adds value by (1) having the contractor involved in the design phase of the project, by performing services such as constructability reviews, providing advice on material availability and selection, estimating and scheduling, assessment of risk factors and mitigating strategies, development of procurement strategies, and organization of the work into efficient work packages; (2) taking advantage of opportunities for early procurement of materials and equipment, especially in volatile markets; and (3) starting construction before the design of the entire project is complete (fast tracking).

ACEC members can save 50% on any document in the new CMAR series.  

On this episode, we were joined by Diana Alexander, our Director of Private Market Resources to discuss our newly released Private Market Brief on the Intermodal and Logistics market. Download the new report for free along with all of our economic and business intelligence resources here.   

On this episode of the Government Affairs Update, we are joined by Dave Bender, VP of Political Affairs at ACEC, and Nando Gomez, our VP of Strategic Initiatives, to discuss the road ahead for Congress and what to expect in the lead-up to the 2024 races.

Engineering Influence is brought to you by the ACEC Retirement Trust.

ACEC has joined the American Public Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers on a nationwide Engineering and Public Works Roadshow to demonstrate the essential value of engineering by spotlighting successful examples of design. In this episode of the Engineering Influence podcast, the three leaders of these organizations discuss how the Roadshow came about, its goals, its first event, and what is to come in 2023.

Featured in this podcast are:

Linda Bauer Darr, President & CEO, the American Council of Engineering Companies

Scott Grayson, CEO, the American Public Works Association, and 

Tom Smith, Executive Director, the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Learn more about the Roadshow at www.infrastructureroadshow.org

During the Fall Conference we sat down with the ACEC Retirement Trust to discuss what sets them apart from other retirement plans for engineering firms.  Learn more about the ACEC Retirement Trust and their unique offerings, which are a benefit only available to ACEC member firms and their employees, here: https://www.acec.org/trusts/ 

Recorded at the 2022 Fall Conference, we sat down with Emily Bloedel, the Co-Chair of the Legal Council Forum to discuss their work at the conference and the Forum's importance for ACEC member firms.  

Background:

The Legal Counsel Forum was created so that counsel to ACEC member firms could meet and share information about legal issues facing engineering companies. Such individuals can register for the Forum and be included in the Forum's listserv upon request. Over time, it has also become customary for professional liability insurance specialists to take part in the Forum and Listserv at the invitation of the Chair.

The LCF meets for a day and a half in conjunction with the ACEC Annual Convention and Fall conference. The Chair of the Forum prepares a draft agenda that is circulated to the Forum participants shortly before the meeting. The agenda is finalized at the meeting itself.

Past discussion topics have included:

• Economic Loss Doctrine

2023-2024 Chair-elect and 2024-2025 Chair – Gary W. Raba, PE, D.Eng., of Texas:

Gary W. Raba is responsible for leading organic and inorganic growth for Raba Kistner, Inc. (RK). Prior to taking this responsibility, Gary served as CEO of Raba Kistner, Inc. He has also served as COO of Raba-Kistner, Inc., and COO of a new startup division, Raba-Kistner Infrastructure, Inc. Gary was CEO during the 2018 sale of RK to private equity firm Crescent Capital of Brisbane, Australia, and served on the RK Executive Committee during the subsequent transaction to the Family Office of KIWA, Rijswijk, the Netherlands in 2020.

Gary has served in multiple board, committee, and volunteer roles for ACEC-Texas and ACEC National.

Gary Raba has been in the business of engineering for 35 years and is licensed in several states.