In This Issue
Annual Safety Conference
Implementing the Green Building Act
MATHCOUNTS State Competitions
Girl Day 10 for 10
Raytheon Multiplies Impact
6 Tips for Landing an SBA Loan
Seminars
Job Opportunity
Quick Links

Supporting Organizations 

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Legislative Updates 

 
Click here for information on the Civil Justice Association of California Legislative Center.  Also, check out Kim's Legislative Podcast for more in-depth information on hot issues.
UPS Shipping Discounts

Did you know your firm employees may also utilize the UPS Discount available with your CSPE membership? 

 

Click here

to enroll!

(Promo Code PAC049)

 

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U.S. Congress Recognizes EWeek

In addition to an Engineers Week message from President Obama, Congressman Daniel Lipinski was joined in submitting House Resolution 104 (recognizing Engineers Week) by Representatives Manzullo, Barton, Bordallo, Edwards, Matsui, McKinley, Richardson, Wu, Tonko, Honda, Fudge, McNerney, Calvert and Holt.

 

CSPE Logo

CSPE Online

The Official Newsletter of the California Society of Professional Engineers   
March 2011

A Partnership for Safety

Sponsored by California Society of Professional Engineers and the California Association of Safety Services


April 28-29, 2011
Ayres Hotel & Suites, 1945 East Holt Boulevard, Ontario, CA

Registration Information
Free for CSPE Members and Supporting Organizations
$200 for Non-Members 

 

Click here for more information.   

 

Please RSVP by April 15th. Please include your name and
membership number (if applicable) with your RSVP.

CSPE Enlightens BPELSG Regarding Problems for PE's With Implementation of the Green Building Act

By Diane Spencer, PE, CSPE V.P. Governmental Affairs


The following is an excerpt from the CSPE testimony presented to BPELSG at their March meeting. 

Professional Engineers are being precluded from doing work in their profession because of the way the Green Bldg Act is being implemented. The California Green Building Standards Code (24 CCR Part 11) sets targets for energy efficiency, water consumption, water conservation (dual plumbing systems for potable and recyclable water, diversion of construction waste from landfills) and resource efficiency (e.g., life cycle assessments) and environment (e.g., moisture control).  The code passed in 2008 was implemented January 1, 2011. The code is being implemented through local enforcement agencies (e.g., municipal codes). The implementing regulations passed by local governments are requiring that the work be done by people with various credentials [e.g., HERS (Hove Energy Rating Systems)]. Professional engineers are not qualified without the additional credential. Through the CGBS, local governments can discriminate against PE's and elevate the status of a very limited purpose certificate above that of a PE.

CSPE is not commenting on the competency of professionals with these certification or the quality or accuracy of their evaluations.  We are seeking assistance from the Board to address the apparent exclusion of Professional Engineers from working in their profession.

Diane can be reached via email at [email protected].  

California MATHCOUNTS Team to Advance to Nationals in May
2011 Mathletes
Northern CA Finalists 

Teams of sixth through eighth grade student mathletes competed on Saturday, March 19th at UC Irvine and Stanford University in the State MATHCOUNTS Competition. Students were competing for a spot on the four person California team that will advance to the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition to be held May 5-8, 2011 in Washington, DC.

The day's events began with individual competitions consisting of the Sprint and Target rounds. The morning session wrapped up with a Team round where groups of four students representing local middle and junior high schools competed amongst each other. The top sixteen individuals then competed in a head-to-head Countdown Round in the afternoon.

The California State Team includes:
Andrew He - John F. Kennedy Middle School, Cupertino
Celine Liang - The Harker School, San Jose
Reyd Nguyen - Black Mountain Middle School, San Diego
Sean Shi - Redwood Middle School, Saratoga
Coach Vandana Kadam -  The Harker School, San Jose

The four students were the top scorers among over 300 participants at the annual competitions.

The CSPE Education Foundation would like to thank each and every volunteer and supporter of the MATHCOUNTS program in California. CSPE had many talented and dedicated volunteers help make the state meet a huge success. Thank you to each and every one of you - this could not be done without your help! We would especially like to recognize the following sponsors and volunteers for their help and support of the 2011 State MATHCOUNTS Competition:

Costco
Ike's Place
Ishii Engineering
Iwin.com
Kramer Management Group
Lucky's Supermarket
Raytheon
Stanford University
University of California, Irvine
Julia Gee, PE
Lanette Hum
Norman Hum, PE
Jeff Ide, PE
Becky Ishii
Cliff Ishii, PE, F. NSPE, DM, CSPE
Tim McCarthy, PE 

Terri Oppelt (T.O.) Preising, Stanford University

Assoc Dean - Professor Brad Osgood, Stanford University 

Dean - Jim Plummer, Stanford University

Prof. Sherri Sheppard, Stanford University
George Toye, PE
Kathleen Wong
David Woo

CSPEEF would not be able to present such a terrific and important program without the financial support of our generous sponsors and donors. If you would like to donate to the MATHCOUNTS program, please mail your donation to:  

CSPEEF

777 Campus Commons Road, Suite 200

Sacramento, CA 95825

 

CSPEEF is a 501c(3) organization and your donations are tax deductible.

Girl Day 10 for 10: Have You Been Counted?

Have you noticed the call to action: 'Celebrate the G in Engineer'™. At eweek.org you will see the campaign to reach 10,000 10-year-old girls with engineering fun and information. They have resources, tools and some potential partners for you, so be sure to be counted as they strive to reach our goal by Mother's Day 2011.

 

"The vision of this collaborative initiative is to broaden the way girls and young women look at engineering - to help them see the creative and relevant work that engineers do," said Karen Peterson, Principal Investigator for National Girls Collaborative Project and CEO of EdLab Group. "This year's 10 for 10 campaign is particularly exciting because it leverages many powerful partnerships to reach more girls at a younger age and for a sustained period of time."

Raytheon Multiplies Impact

At an Engineers Week anniversary luncheon, Honorary Chairman William H. Swanson, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Corporation, announced that the company will engage the National Engineers Week Foundation and its coalition in development and hosting of a new multi-year national/international science museum exhibition. The exhibit will include an interactive exploration of mathematics, emphasizing hands-on opportunities to explore concepts and their relevance. It is intended to help the public understand math's impact and role in shaping the world today and tomorrow and to inspire kids to embrace math as a key to unlocking their potential. The Foundation will engage in planning and development stages of the exhibit, educator resource guides and activity kits for the classroom.

You can catch an Engineers Week anniversary message from Honorary Chair Swanson here.

 

6 Tips for Landing an SBA Loan for Your Engineering Firm

By Rachel Zippwald

 

Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are an excellent financing option for engineering firms. These loans typically offer longer terms, more competitive interest rates and new, increased maximum loan sizes.  What's more, while conventional business loans have shorter maturity dates and are subject to review and potential modifications each year, the terms of SBA loans remain the same throughout the life of the loan.

 

There are a few ways to increase your chances of landing an SBA loan.  Rachel Zippwald, Vice President of California Bank & Trust, a major SBA lender, recommends the following:

  1. Provide details on exactly how much financing you need and how you will use it.  "Banks appreciate specifics," says Zippwald. "So start by stating a precise dollar amount and give details of how you will use the funds," she adds.  Provide written quotes for items you plan to purchase with the funds, such as computers or equipment.  
  2. Provide information about company management. When banks lend money, they like to understand who runs the company and be familiar with their backgrounds. Provide a resume for each key employee, such as partners or managers, and describe their functions and responsibilities. If certain key positions have not yet been filled, include a thorough job description of the type of person you are seeking.
  3. Be prepared to offer collateral. The SBA requires collateral to fully secure your loan to the extent that it is available.  If you own a home, you will likely be asked to pledge it. The SBA may also request a lien on your business assets and may require life insurance on sole owners of a business. Most loans made by banks are secured loans, and therefore approval may be contingent on a guarantor.     
  4. Detail your credit history and credit score. "Your bank will eventually run a credit report," notes Zippwald. "But if you can provide the information first, you can discuss any issues ahead of time."  If you've had problems such as identity theft or bankruptcy, provide proof that issues have been resolved. 
  5. Provide complete copies of tax returns, financial statements and bank statements. Your bank will want to know everything about you and your business if they are to become your financial partner. Streamline the process by scanning your financial documents and providing them on a disk or a flash drive. 
  6. Explain how you'll achieve your projections. Prove to the lender that a market for your service exists and demonstrate the validity of your sales and expenses.  "If your loan is intended for a new piece of equipment that will increase your client base or staff efficiency, describe how this will occur and show the math," says Zippwald.

About California Bank & Trust

California Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION), is one of the largest banks headquartered in California with over $10 billion in assets and more than 100 branches statewide. CB&T provides a full array of financial solutions for businesses and individuals, including commercial lending, small business lending, SBA financing, cash management, international banking and wealth management. The professional bankers at CB&T are backed by major resources, yet maintain local decision-making authority and regional market and industry expertise. They are committed to providing clients with valuable business and economic insights and to connecting them with the beneficial business relationships they need to succeed. CB&T, as part of Zions Bancorporation, is a proud recipient of 14 Greenwich Associates 2010 Excellence Awards in banking. Visit www.calbanktrust.com or call (800) 400-6080.

CalGreen: Understanding California's New Green Building Code

[Title 24, Part 11]
*Applicable to Building Design & Construction*

Mandatory in ALL California Cities & Counties - Jan 1, 2011

How Do I Comply With These New Requirements?
With the code NOW effective in ALL California jurisdictions, architects, building departments, engineers, contractors, instructors and others are realizing these new requirements affect their day-to-day professional activities.

Since May '10, Green Technology's CALGreen program, developed in partnership with the California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development, has trained over 4,000 building, design and construction professionals.

TRAINING BONUS: A panel of local building officials will answer your questions on how CALGreen is being implemented in their jurisdictions. 

CEUs provided for seminar attendance: 3 AIA, .3 ICC and 3 GBCI (USGBC)

Upcoming Seminars - Seats are filling up FAST!
Click on a City/Date to Register 

In-Depth CALGreen Workshops 

For more information on CALGreen, CLICK HERE 

 

Construction Law From Contract to Closeout
SEMINAR | Oakland, CA | April 13, 2011

Live Seminar - $339             Register Now!
Live Seminar + CD - $438     Register Now! *Best Value*

Benefits
How to avoid the pitfalls of construction contracting - what you don't know could hurt you.

Contracts are a legally charged part of every construction project - they can impact the rights and remedies of owners, lenders, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers positively and negatively. Building a strong knowledge of construction law will go a long way in helping you avoid disputes.

Attend this seminar and get the practical insight you need to understand the legal and administrative issues associated with construction law, including both basic and advanced topics. As experts in the field, we'll guide you through the entire process of contract development so that you better understand important contract provisions and how to properly document project conditions to minimize your risk of devastating financial loss.

Benefits for You
  • Give your company the best chance to succeed take advantage of alternative dispute resolution provisions
  • Tips on getting through the project closeout phase
  • Learn the basic rules of bid preparation - what does it all mean?
  • Assert and defend against claims
  • Navigate your way through the claims and changes process
Learning Objectives
  • You will be able to define essential contract terms.
  • You will be able to discuss dealing with subcontractors.
  • You will be able to recognize delay claims.
  • You will be able to identify bid mistakes.
View Complete Agenda

Who Should Attend
This seminar is designed for attorneys, presidents, vice presidents, owners, project managers, engineers, controllers, accountants, contract managers, architects, facilities managers, contractors, subcontractors and other construction professionals.

Faculty
William Ibbs, Ph.D., Ibbs Consulting Group, Inc.
James A. Melino, Esq., Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
Eric J. Phillips, Esq., Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

3 Easy Ways to Register:
Online:    www.constructionmanagementresource.net
Phone:    1-866-411-6211
E-mail:    [email protected]
Your priority code is: 1208-2503-89
Product ID: 387369

 

Job Opportunity
The Department of Parks and Recreation, North Coast Redwoods District, is soliciting bids for Benbow State Park and Recreation Area, Dam Removal project at the Benbow State Park and Recreation Area, Humboldt County.

If you are interested in any a copy of bid booklet C1037047, contact Lorraine Colby.
   
A mandatory pre-bid site visit will be held on Thursday March 30, 2011.  Contractors are to meet at 10:00 a.m. at the theatre stage, in the day Use Area, Benbow State Park and Recreation Area, approximately 1 mile south of Garberville, CA off US HWY. 101   Prime contractor or one of his/her permanent employees must attend the pre-bid site visit.  The pre-bid site visit should take approximately 2 hours. 

For additional information regarding the Dam Removal Project specifications, please contact Patrick Vaughan (or by fax (707) 441 5737).

Workers Comp Insurance Discounts for Members Only

As a member of CSPE you and your firm have the opportunity to save significantly on your workers compensation insurance. This is a benefit that can't be beat going it on your own. If you are interested in saving some of your hard earned dollars, pleaseclick here.  This program is FOR MEMBERS ONLY and most participants save more than their annual dues by receiving the group discount.

Safety Programs & Employer Compliance Materials

 

Safety Contact

Safety Director

Marti Kramer, CAE

(916) 563-7179

 

Online Safety Resource

Marti Kramer, CAE

In an effort to assist our group insurance program participants with safety programs we encourage you to frequently visit the State Fund Employers Page.  Some of the many benefits you will enjoy by being part of the CSPE State Fund Workers Compensation Program: 

  • updated forms to keep you in compliance with new legislative mandates
  • local employee safety seminars
  • employee safety manuals (free for downloading from the State Fund site)