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ACEC Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards
ACEC recently honored 13 firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the association's annual awards ceremony held February 25 at The Air Zoo in Kalamazoo. Since 1965, firms have competed to receive ACEC/Michigan's top honor - the prestigious Eminent Conceptor Award.
 | | Conversion of Ottawa Street Power Station |
Ruby+Associates was the recipient of the engineering Eminent Conceptor award for Conversion of the Ottawa Street Power Station Project in Lansing to the Accident Fund Headquarters.
 | | NHBP Inventory Project |
Wightman & Associates, Inc. won the surveying Eminent Conceptor award for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi 2011 road inventory project.
Firms that received the engineering Honorable Conceptor Award:
- Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber for Coldwater WWTP Improvements
- Ghafari for the Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturing Facility project
- NTH Consultants for the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority Public Dock and Terminal
- Spicer Group for Lake Shore Drain #285
- HNTB for the Michigan State Rail Plan
- Surveying Honorable: Abonmarche for Woodside Cementery Project
Engineering Merit Awards were presented to:
- The Mannik & Smith Group for the Frenchtown Seawall Rehabilitation Project
- Abonmarche for Harbor Shores Development
- Wightman & Associates, Inc. for the Hickory Creek Interceptor Rehabilitation
- Prein&Newhof for the M-57 Pedestrian Tunnel
- NTH Consultants for the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain Repair Program
- HNTB for the MDOT Design-Build-Finance Delivery System
- Johnson&Anderson for the Village of Sparta Iron/Manganese Filtration
- Surveying Merit: C2AE for the Bath Township Lift Station Force Main Extension
FTCH also received the Judges' Choice Award for Board Design for the GVSU Storm Water Wetland Complex project.
Additional awards presented:
The ACEC Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to David R. Matthews, PE.
ACEC scholarship winners:
Darin McLeskey (U of M) $4,000
Sarah Mozdrzech (MSU) $2,000
Michael Prohaska (MSU) $2,000; also PCIA scholarship $1,000
Christopher Mattson (LTU) $1,000
Shay Irving (MSU) $1,000
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| Transportation Package introduced in Legislature
Package includes reforms and funding enhancements | |
 Engineers and other transportation advocates are applauding the introduction of a 26-bill package introduced on January 26 to address transportation funding issues in Michigan.
The bills answer the call of Governor Snyder's recent Special Message on Reinventing Michigan's Infrastructure and his State-of-the-State address where he called for reforms and improvements to our transportation sytem. Governor Snyder stated that Michigan needs a "modern transportation system that moves people and goods safely, reliably, and efficiently" in order to increase productivity and improve our quality of life.
The bills seek to improve efficiencies, reduce administrative costs, and generate additional funding to repair Michigan's roads and bridges. Michigan has not increased the gas tax in 15 years, which was only a 4 cent increase to gasoline in 1997. Major increases in the cost to repair and maintain our infrastructure has caused a major shortfall in the necessary funding to keep our system in good condition. The price of asphalt, steel, cement and fuels have escalated dramatically due to global demand.
It is estimated that by 2018, 65% of Michigan's roads could be ranked in poor condition if the legislature fails to act to invest more into our system.
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ACEC Renews MDOT Partnering Charter at Annual Workshop
 | | (l to r) Ron Brenke, ACEC/M Executive Director, Kirk Steudle, MDOT Director, and Kirk Branson, ACEC/M President. |
On February 2nd, MDOT and ACEC held their annual joint partnering workshop at the Lansing Center. MDOT Director Kirk Steudle kicked off the day by discussing what the renewal of the Partnering Charter means to both the department and industry. After the signing, over 400 participants had their choice of 15 concurrent breakout sessions where PDH's were offered.
During lunch, an 'Every Day Counts' presentation was given by FHWA Deputy Director Greg Nadeau, followed by a presentation of the I-64 St. Louis, MO project by Pete Rahn (HNTB).
Roundtable sessions, six in all, then provided an open forum for an exchange of ideas before rounding out the day with the traditional ice cream social.
This event continues to grow and be the largest gathering of transportation engineers in the state. |
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ASCE Congressional Fellowship Recipient Update |
 Helen Davis, PE, M.ASCE was granted the American Society of Civil Engineers Congressional fellowship and moved to Washington, DC in August of 2011. After completing 2 weeks of orientation, she then began the process of interviewing for placement with a Congressperson. She interviewed a total of 17 different offices and eventually chose to work with Congresswoman Mazie Hirono for Hawaii's 2nd District.
Congresswoman Hirono is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (and water subcommittee). Hawaii has made the commitment to 70% clean energy through renewable and efficiency, so Helen has had the task of learning a great deal about energy and alternative solutions. Her responsibilities include answering constituent mail regarding energy issues, keeping up with all energy legislation, and meeting with people from Hawaii on anything energy-related. She also has to keep tabs on any legislation - or good ideas - in the Senate that the House has not yet considered or introduced.
Congresswoman Hirono intends to run for the Senate so Helen may be a DC resident for some time to come. We wish her continued success. |
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Soil and Materials Engineers (SME) named
2012 ACEC Member Firm of the Year |
On February 25, at the ACEC Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards in  Kalamazoo, Soil and Materials Engineers was presented with the ACEC Member Firm of the Year award. This highest firm honor is based on actions taken by a member firm to progressively develop its management practices and for assuming leadership roles in community outreach activities and ACEC/M programs that strengthen the profession for all ACEC/M members.
"SME was chosen as Firm of the Year for providing leadership to ACEC members and for its continuous active participation in advancing awareness of the mission of the consulting design profession," stated ACEC/M Executive Director Ron Brenke, PE. Highlights of SME's many honors include 2011 Metro Detroit's "101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For" Award. The company is also an advocate of educating future engineers by employing college interns every summer and Mentoring a Girl in Construction Camp (MAGIC). SME employees participate in Habitat for Humanity, Engineers Without Borders, and numerous other non-profit groups.
Headquartered in Plymouth, MI, SME has Michigan offices in Lansing, Kalamazoo, Shelby Township, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, and Bay City. The company provides civil engineering consulting in the geosciences, materials and the environment. |
| Tim Juidici, PE named to "New Faces of Engineering" | |
The National Engineers Week Foundation* recently named Tim Juidici, PE (Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment) one of the 'New Faces of Engineering'. Each year, the Foundation asks it members to nominate colleagues for consideration as one of the 'New Faces of Engineering'. To be eligible, nominees must be 30 years of age or younger, have an engineering degree from an ABET accredited college/university, and be a member of a sponsoring Engineers Week partner. Nominees compete with peers from across the United States.
Tim was also named the 2012 ACEC National Young Professional of the Year. Juidici is a graduate of Michigan Technological University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He currently serves as municipal engineer for OHM based in Livonia where he has completed several award winning municipal projects.
He is active in a variety of societies, including ACEC, APWA and ASCE, having served in many leadership positions. Tim also volunteers his time for the Boys/Girls Club of SE Michigan, judges the steel bridge competition, and is a community cleanup volunteer.
Congratulations to Tim on this prestigious recognition.
*The National Engineers Week Foundation is a coalition of engineering societies, major corporations and government agencies that seek to increase the understanding of and interest in engineering and technological careers among young students. Engineers Week raises public awareness and appreciation of engineers' contributions to society. |
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2012 SAVE THE DATES! | |
March 14, 2012 Legislative Day, Lansing
Annual Architects, Engineers, Surveyors event to allow face to face meetings with legislators in Lansing
May 10-11, 2012 Michigan Engineering Conference, Ypsilanti
Joint (ASCE, MSPE & ACEC) Annual Conference offering concurrent educational sessions applicable to attendees from all 3 groups (offering PDH's)
September 21, 2012 ACEC Scholarship Golf Outing, Lansing
One of only 2 fundraising events held to bolster scholarship funding |
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| Michigan
Engineering Center | Questions about engineering?
Please contact:
Ron Brenke, PE Executive Director ACEC & ASCE 517-332-2066 MSPE 517-487-9388 |
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