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Nearly 1,000 Detroit Public Schools Students Participate in Construction Science Expo
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The 3rd Annual Michigan Construction Science Expo held May 21 exposed nearly 1,000 Detroit Public School students to careers in Engineering and Construction.
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Ron Brenke - ACEC/ASCE Executive Director (Left) with
MDOT Director Kirk Steudle (Right)
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Through the collaborative efforts of the design and construction industry, an educational event was held on May 21 at the Michigan Science Center in Detroit. Nearly 1,000 students signed a drug-free pledge and participated in the Expo that provided several hands-on opportunities to explore engineering and construction activities.
Students were given an opportunity to build a bridge and load it to failure, determine the gradation of soil through a sieve analysis, use survey equipment, and experience simulation software to drive through a design project. Mini-excavators, fork lifts and other equipment were on hand for students to operate under supervision from the Operating Engineers Local 324. Carpentry, masonry, and electrician exhibits were also set up so that students could test their skills in the various trades.
The Black Caucus Foundation of Detroit, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Science Center and the Detroit Public Schools were key partners in helping to organize and host the event. ACEC Michigan, ASCE Michigan Section, and MSPE provided sponsorships along with ACEC members AEW and HNTB who sponsored vests for the kids.
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Carey Suhan, ASCE Vice President from Testing Engineers & Consultants with student
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Steve Pangori, ACEC MI Director
from AEW
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From L to R: Tony Kratofil, MDOT; K.B. Stallworth, Black Caucus Foundation; Len Becker, HNTB; Todd Slisher, MI Science Center; Doug Needham, MITA; Janet Howard, MI Workforce Development Agency; Kirk Steudle, MDOT Director.
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Students Participating in the
Day's Activities
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Michigan Design and Construction Coalition includes:
American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan
American Society of Civil Engineers Michigan Section
Asphalt Paving Association of Michigan
Michigan Concrete Association
Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association
Michigan Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust Funds
Michigan Society of Professional Engineers
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324
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MSPE 2013 Annual Conference
|  The MSPE Annual Conference has been designed to allow working engineers and their families a chance to get-away-from-it-all, gain professional development hours, network with colleagues, and enjoy Northern Michigan. The conference will be held June 6-8 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City.
MSPE has concentrated the education sessions into two days, one weekday and one weekend in order to accommodate members' busy schedules. There are daily opportunities to network with fellow engineers and to earn professional development hours required for license renewal in many states. Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is currently finalizing the administrative rules for implementation of the continuing education requirement. Michigan's regulations are expected to go into effect starting with this fall's renewals.
MSPE has also negotiated excellent room and golf rates at one of Michigan's premier resorts overlooking Grand Traverse Bay and Traverse City.
For more information and to register, please view and complete the form.
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2013 Michigan Engineering Conference
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Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League, Keynote Speaker
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On May 9th and 10th, ACEC Michigan and the ASCE Michigan Section hosted the Michigan Engineering Conference at the University Club in Lansing. 150 participated in the event to enhance their engineering knowledge, network with clients and peers, and hear top infrastructure leaders.
Highlights of the day included introduction of the 2013-14 ACEC Board of Directors, recognition of ASCE award winners, appreciation of outgoing ACEC committee chairs, and the presentation of ACEC's Legislator of the Year award to Representative Kurt Heise.
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Infrastructure Panel L to R: Dan Gilmartin, Kirk Steudle, Steve Hilfinger, Bill Creal
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Various reports, including ASCE's Infrastructure Report Card, have shown that Michigan's infrastructure is in major need of repair. A panel of industry leaders gathered at the Michigan Engineering Conference to provide their prospective on the economic affects of Michigan's infrastructure.
Members of the panel included: MDOT Director: Kirk Steudle, MEDC Executive Vice President: Steve Hilfinger, MDEQ Chief of Water Resources Division: Bill Creal, and MML Executive Director and CEO: Dan Gilmartin.
On May 10th, a scholarship golf outing was held at Forest Akers West golf course behind the University Club. Winners of the scramble included Gary Markstrom, Vern McKenzie, and Brian Rubel.
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ACEC/Michigan Legislator of the Year: Representative Kurt Heise
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 On May 9th, during the Michigan Engineering Conference, Rep. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth Township) was honored as ACEC/ Michigan's Legislator of the Year. During the 2011-12 legislative session, Heise introduced House Bill 5466 with the goal of making overreaching indemnification clauses void and unenforceable in professional services contracts with public entities. The passage of HB 5466was a key victory in protecting the engineering profession. Rep. Heise was also instrumental in the passage of Senate Bill 77 in 2011 which improved the statute of limitations for design professionals.
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ASCE Announces Award Winners at the 2013 Michigan Engineering Conference
| The ASCE Michigan Section announced the award winners for their annual ASCE awards competition for the categories of Outstanding Civil Engineering Award, Quality of Life Award, Young Engineer Award, and the Franklin D. Meyers Oustanding Civil Engineer of the Year Award at the 2013 Michigan Engineering Conference on May 9. Mr. Steve Matheny, ASCE MI Section Awards Committee Chair, presented the awards during the event.
Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award:  The Michigan section of ASCE annually presents the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for a project that demonstrates the highest level of engineering skill that "represents a great contribution to civil engineering progress and mankind." This prestigious, first place award was presented to Moore & Bruggink, Inc. for their Grandville Clean Water Plant Expansion and Renovation project. The 23.4 million dollar expansion and renovation to the Grandville Clean Water Treatment Plant was completed in 2012, ahead of schedule and under budget, and includes the first egg shaped anaerobic digester in Michigan, which uses biogas to create power and heat for the facility.
Quality of Life Award:  The annual Quality of Life Award is given to a project that exemplifies ASCE's theme, "Civil Engineers Make the Difference - They Build the Quality of Life." Emphasis of the project must be on small community or private projects, while the project has a positive effects on human lives without adversely affecting the surrounding environment. The first place award was presented to Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. for the Paint Creek Dam Removal and Stream Restoration project located in Oakland County. The dam removal and stream restoration project removed a man-made structure that obstructed the natural transport of sediment and impeded the migration of trout and other aquatic life.
Young Civil Engineer Award for Professional Achievement:  The Michigan Section of ASCE encourages recognition of the professional contributions of younger members of the section. The Young Civil Engineer of the Year Award is presented annually to a member of the Michigan Section of ASCE who is judged to have attained significant professional achievement, by the degree to which the candidate has shown: service to the advancement of the profession; evidence of technical competence; high character and integrity; leadership in the development of younger member attitudes toward the judgement of the profession; and contributions to public service outside of his/her career. The first place winner of this award was given to Tim Bradshaw, who is Assistant City Engineer for the City of Kentwood and is currently an officer of the West Michigan ASCE branch. Franklin D. Meyers Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Year Award:  Each year the Michigan Section of ASCE honors a fellow engineer as Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Year Award. Selection of the Outstanding Engineer is based on an individual's contributions toward the advancement of the profession through innovative designs, doctoral studies, or ethical practices, as well as participation in professional societies and community service. This prestigious award was presented to Gerald Luttman, who is Supervising Structural Engineer and Project Manager for Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan, Inc. |
ACEC Announces 2013-2014 Officers and Directors
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President:
John Hiltz, PE - OHM Advisors
President-Elect:
Amy Trahey, PE - Great Lakes Engineering Group, LLC
National Director:
Wally Alix, PE - Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc.
Treasurer:
Michael Cooper, PE - Harley Ellis Devereaux
Past President:
Keith Swaffar, PE - NTH Consultants, LTD.
Executive Director & Secretary:
Ron Brenke, PE - ACEC of Michigan
Board of Directors:
Robert Rayl, PE - RS Engineering
Theresa Petko, AICP - URS
Jack Wheatley, PE - Rowe PSC
Thomas Deneau, PE - Wightman & Associates, Inc.
Sean Kelley, PE - Mannik Smith Group, Inc.
Steve Nichols, PE - Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.
Chris Cook, PE - Abonmarche
Stephen Pangori, PE - Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc.
Steve Gravlin, PE - Wade Trim
Mark Kramer, PE - Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc.
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Legislation Affecting Engineers
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Transportation Funding
Increasing the investment in Michigan's transportation infrastructure was put at the top of Governor Rick Snyder's legislative priorities during his state of the state address in January. The legislature has since been wrestling with the issue trying to find a solution that would have the support of the Republicans and Democrats alike. Many different proposals have been vetted but none have been acceptable to the majority of legislators. As a short term measure to fix some of the roads in FY 2013, the Governor and House recently agreed to set a target of $350 million from 2-year budget surplus to use for road repairs for this construction season. A long term funding solution will continue to be discussed this summer with Rep. Wayne Schmidt, Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, being an integral leader in the discussion.
Affidavit of Merit (SB 309)
Senate Bill 309 was introduced by Senator Jack Brandenburg on April 11, 2013 at ACEC's request. This affidavit of merit law will require the plaintiff to consult with a third-party design professional to review the facts of the claims and make a determination about whether or not the accusations have merit or if they are of a frivolous nature. Once an affidavit (or certificate) has been filed with the court declaring that the third-party design professional, based on their review of the allegations, believes that there is a sufficient basis in the contract or in law for commencement of the action, the case is permitted to move forward. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary committee chaired by Senator Rick Jones.
Electronic Seals & Signatures (HB 4585)
House Bill 4585 was introduced by Representative Robert VerHeulen on April 18, 2013. The bill would modify the occupational code to allow design professionals to seal drawings with an electronic seal. Many states already allow electronic seal procedures which result in more efficient and less costly transfer of design documents. The bill has been referred to the House Regulatory Reform committee chaired by Rep. Hugh Crawford.
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Educational Outreach Program at the Grand Rapids Public Museum
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The Western Chapter of MSPE, the West Michigan Branch of ASCE, and the Society of Women Engineers joined together the last week of February 2013 for the 10th annual educational outreach program at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, classes were given an overview of engineering and spent time at the Museum visiting 4 display areas on various aspects of engineering. There were displays with hands on activities for Structural Engineering, Pavement Design & Construction, Wastewater, and Robotics.
Structural Engineers assisted the students in building trusses out of drinking straws and pins. The students were then able to design their own truss bridges using laptops and the West Point Bridge contest software. The City of Wyoming also set up displays on their drinking water and wastewater plants, where students were able to look through microscopes and see how filter systems operate. Grand Valley State University brought a number of student designed and built electro-mechanical robots that the they could operate as well as a number of simple physic experiments for the students to complete.
The educational outreach program was a success with almost 250 students participating throughout the week.
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Call for volunteers for ASCE National committees
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 ASCE National is currently in need of Michigan volunteers for various national committees, such as Advancing the Profession, Education, Technical Advancement, Member Community, Public Policy, and more. It is always helpful for these committees to have representation throughout the nation, and important to have Michigan representatives on each committee. If you are interested in joining a committee please click on the link to sign up.
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2013 SAVE THE DATES!
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June 6 - 8: MSPE Annual Conference, Grand Traverse Resort June 17: Annual ASCE CYM Golf Outing, Greystone Golf Club, Romeo, MI |
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| Michigan
Engineering Center | Questions about engineering?
Please contact:
Ron Brenke, PE Executive Director ACEC & ASCE 517-332-2066
Nancy McClain, PE
Executive Director
MSPE 517-487-9388 |
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