BLUEPRINT: The AAa/e Newsletter
March 2015
IN THIS ISSUE

Come Lunch with MWD
Thursday, March 19, 2015, 11:30 am-1:30 pm  
 

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) is one of the leading agencies working to target resources to help California combat and lessen the impacts of the drought. Don't miss out on the opportunity to network with MWD's Brent Yamasaki, PE, Water Operations and Planning Section Manager; Tobin Tellers, PE, Capital Program Management Unit; and John Arena, Business Outreach Program Manager; as they provide you with an overview of MWD's Annual Capital Improvement Program and Upcoming Projects, including the $25 Billion Bay Delta Conservation Plan; current systems and infrastructure assets strategy; and professional services opportunities. Special thanks to our Premier Sponsors, HDR and Arcadis, and Event Sponsors, CH2M Hill, DRP, Parsons, Tetra Tech, Ninyo and Moore, and Citadel for their support.

 

Doubletree Hotel - 120 S Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

 

Members: $50 / Non-Members: $85 / Student Members: $20 w/ID / On-site: Add $15

 

To attend or sponsor this event, click here.   

 

 


Accepting 2015 applications NOW!
AAa/e Foundation set to award thousands of dollars to AAa/e student members

Each year, the AAa/e Foundation offers scholarships to full time students who: 1) are student members of AAa/e; 2) are pursuing a career in the AEC industry; and 3) have demonstrated a measurable level of involvement/service to the Asian-Pacific Islander community. This year we will be offering awards in six categories:

  1. High School Students Scholarship
  2. Community College Students Scholarship
  3. Undergraduate Students Scholarship
  4. Post-Graduate Students Scholarship
  5. Student Loan Support Grant
  6. University Award (in recognition of higher education programs whose objectives align with the AAa/e Association and Foundation)

 

Past recipients include students from Cal Poly Pomona, USC, SCI-Arc, Woodbury University, and UCLA to name a few. At the 2014 Annual Awards Banquet, we recognized 6 students, a recent graduate, and a University program with a grand total of $24,500.

 

Applications must be received on or before Friday, May 29, 2015 at 4:00 pm. If you have any questions, please contact the AAa/e Foundation President, Gary Mayeda at 310.220.2744, or [email protected]. Click here for a link to the 2015 Scholarship Application Package.  

 

Healthcare kicks off 2015 Luncheons
Attendees network and learn about ACA impacts
 

On Thursday, February 19, AAa/e members and guests learned how the Affordable Care Act has affected healthcare organizations over the past year and the ramifications of various consolidations and acquisitions of hospitals to AEC industry. Special thanks to Los Angeles County Medical Association COO Alberto Tovar, City of Hope COO William "Marty" Sargeant, and Dignity Health President Margaret Peterson for sharing their facilities strategies and capital programs with us. We appreciate the generous support of Spotlight Sponsor Tangram and Event Sponsors DPR Construction, Glumac, and HKS. Many thanks to all who planned, participated, and attended this successful event!

 

 


We appreciate YOU!
AAa/e honors MWD's Wally Lieu and LAUSD's Doc Nghiem
 

On Thursday, February 19, we kicked off 2015 with AAa/e's annual Sponsors, Speakers & Members Reception. Amidst fine wine, hors d'oeuvres, gratitude and good cheer, more than 100 attendees mingled in the splendid, intimate James Irvine Japanese Garden Room at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. We were delighted to recognize MWD's Wally Lieu and LAUSD's Doc Nghiem on their long, successful careers and dedication to public service. Click here to join AAa/e and attend next year's free Members Only event!

 


Corporate Member Profile - VCA Engineers, Inc. 
Virgil C. Aoanan leads SBE/DBE firm with 30 years of civil and structural engineering experience  

Established in 2003, VCA Engineers, Inc. is a certified SBE and DBE civil and structural engineering firm located in Los Angeles and Irvine.  Thirty (30) employees engage as a team in a wide variety of engineering designs and services involving private and public land development, facility engineering, transportation engineering, and topographical engineering.  VCA's vast technical experience includes: Civil - Site Development, Site and Facility Condition Assessment, Public Works Improvements, Wet Utility Design and Capacity Studies, Grading and Earthwork Calculations, Site Sustainable Design, Capital Improvement Programming, Roadway and Streetscapes Geometrics, Onsite Traffic/Parking Circulation and Analysis, Composite Utilities Coordination and Right-of-Way, Site Infrastructure Design and Hydrology and Hydraulics Studies and Design; as well as Structural - New Buildings, Existing Buildings, Performance, Building Expansion and Addition, Retaining Walls and Tower.

A licensed Civil and Structural Engineer in the State of California, Virgil C. Aoanan has over 30 years of hands-on experience in civil and structural engineering of airport, municipal, transportation, commercial, manufacturing, aerospace, and military facilities.  He has prepared and executed engineering construction documents (plans, specifications, calculations, requisitions, contracts) in multiple capacities as project manager, project engineer, lead engineer, design engineer, and construction engineer in both the civil and structural disciplines.  Virgil holds a BS Engineering degree from the University of Hawaii.   For more information, please visit the firm's website: www.vcaeng.com

 


Caltrans SBC Update   
Statewide Small Business Council to meet in Marysville

The next Caltrans Statewide Small Business Council (SBC) will convene on Friday, March 20, 2015 at the District 3 Office, located at 703 B Street in Marysville, CA. Upcoming meetings will take place on May 15 at Caltrans OBEO in Sacramento, July 17 at District 8 in San Bernardino, September 18 at District 4 in Oakland, and November 20 at Caltrans OBEO in Sacramento. All are welcome to attend. Meeting minutes from the January Meeting in San Diego can be viewed on the AAa/e website
here. Visit the Department of Procurement and Contracts (DPAC) website to download 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, awarded projects can be tracked here: www.dot.ca.gov/hq/esc/oe/contractor_info/ 

Congratulations!    
Gruen wins AIACC 2015 Firm Award

AAa/e congratulates Gruen Associates for receiving the 2015 AIA California Council Firm Award. The jury noted that, under the direction of managing partner Mike Enomoto, Gruen maintains a strong legacy and impact on the value of design with generations of leadership: "Their retention of staff speaks well for their value of employees as people." In addition to its strong reputation in the design world with consistent quality in their work, Gruen's core philosophies have supported the mentorship of young architect professionals over the years, including 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, Thom Mayne, and the first licensed African-American female architect, Norma Sklarek.

 

AAa/e is committed to providing a platform for empowering AEC professionals with professional growth. If you or any AAa/e member in your firm has been recently promoted in your firm or recognized with a special award or organizational standing, please let us know so that we can announce your achievements to the community.

 

AAa/e Membership "Bundle"
AAa/e has launched its  Membership Bundle. Non-members and renewing members will benefit from an AAa/e Membership and 6 events for the price of 5.

General Members - $375
Associate Members - $325

Includes AAa/e Membership and 6 events

Benefits:
  • Savings of $50
  • One-time payment
Click here to sign-up!
 
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES  
Elevate the exposure of your firm, services or products with new AAa/e event sponsorship opportunities, including our monthly luncheons, Masters Series, Student and Grad Networking Events, Scholarship Fundraiser, and Annual Awards Banquet. Click here to find out more!


UPDATES, NEWS, AND MORE...  

Caltrans Statewide Small Business Council. Click Here

Metro - TBAC. Click Here

MEMBERS ONLY

The AAa/e has made great strides to increase members' benefits and add value to each level of membership. All members enjoy:

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AAa/e PHOTO GALLERY

THANKS TO OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS

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Saiful Bouquet


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