The AAa/e Foundation, in partnership with the PGA Tickets for Charity Program and Northern Trust, is proud to offer tickets for the upcoming Northern Trust Open, February 18-22, 2015, at the historic Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. For each ticket you purchase, the PGA will donate 80% of the net proceeds to the Foundation to help fund future scholarships. The remaining 20% will be donated to the City of Hope towards their ongoing fight against cancer. Go to: www.northerntrustopentfc.com, click "purchase tickets now" and click on "Asian American Architects and Engineers Foundation."

Based on his attendances at both the Professional Services Committee (PSC) and Business Advisory Council (BAC) meetings in Sacramento on October 16, 2014, Linden Nishinaga provides the following report:

1. The PSC seeks that the Authority duly inform and debrief successful and unsuccessful proposal subs respectively along with the primes who're involved in any and all Project procurement tenders.
2. Northern CA Caltrain HSR Electrification - It was learned that Caltrain is doing the A&E work in-house. Therefore the established 30% SBE goal on this Northern California "book end" "blended" Project portion may not be applicable.
3. Due to new procedures imposed by the Authority, the PSC is currently updating and resubmitting many of its previously issued Committee Requests via current PSC Chair Arvin Chaudhari.
4. The PSC discussed and strategized for the need for more Authority technical support personnel at its meetings. These personnel should include Authority's regional directors and others with Project technical knowledge.
5. Authority issued a CHSRA look-ahead procurement report spreadsheet. Linden will forward this report to anyone interested.

Representing AAa/e, Board Member Eric Halm attended the October kick-off meeting for the reinvigorated Caltrans Southern Region Small Business Council (SRSBC) in District 8 in San Bernardino. The purpose of the SRSBC is to provide a forum for small businesses, trade associations and stakeholder groups to comment and provide feedback on Caltrans practices that affect SBE utilization in Districts 7 - Los Angeles, 8 - Inland Empire, and 12 - Orange County. Meetings, which will occur at District offices on the 3rd Wednesday of February, June, and October, are open to the public. AAa/e will announce the upcoming meetings and locations.

The Caltrans Southern California DBE Supportive Services is offering technical assistance to DBEs who are interested in doing business with Caltrans. Upcoming workshops will provide guidance on how to position your small business to be successful in federally-funded highway construction and professional services contracting. The next workshop, "Marketing your Business for Growth" will be held on November 13, 2014. For additional information about the program and workshop schedules, please visit:  www.gcapservices.com/deb-support-services.

For more Caltrans project information, be sure to visit the Department of Procurement and Contracts (DPAC) website, where you can also see the "A/E Look Ahead Report" and register to get automatic weekly updates and RFQ/RFP postings: www.Caltrans-opac.ca.gov/aeinfo.htm. Also, you can track awarded projects here: www.dot.ca.gov/hq/esc/oe/contractor_info/

Back by popular: mark your calendars for our annual Members and Supporters Appreciation Event on Thursday, January 29th, 2015, from 6 to 8 pm.  This year this exclusive members-only reception will be held at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, James Irvine Japanese Garden Room, 244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.  More details to follow . . . 

Congratulations to Nathan Kim