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Issue: 2 

March 2016   
 QBS Legislation Top Issue During Legislative Day
Capitol Over 100 Engineers, Architects and Surveyors traveled to Lansing on March 16 for "lobby day" to meet with their legislators and share key issues of importance for the industry and the professions. Assisted by lobbyist Kelley Cawthorne, appointments were made with more than 100 members of the House and Senate.

One of the top issues was the passage of bi-partisan legislation (HB 5238-5245) that would require local government agencies to use a Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process for procuring professional services. The costs for engineering/design of an infrastructure project is typically less than 5% of the overall project costs, but can have a profound effect on the remaining 95% of the project's life cycle costs and the quality of the completed project. The Federal government has required a QBS process since 1972 and a vast majority of other states have adopted similar legislation.

Other key issues for the day were Certificate of Merit, preservation of historic districts, and improvements to the lien law.
Michigan Infrastructure Conference - May 13, 2016
COBO Center, Detroit
ACEC, ASCE and ULI have teamed up once again to offer the 2016 Michigan Infrastructure Conference - "Partnering for Success" - on Friday, May 13, 2016 at the newly renovated COBO Center in Detroit.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the new and creative ways we are working together to rebuild Michigan. 

This year's event will bring several big names to the stage including:

* Maurice Cox, Planning Director for the City of Detroit
* Kirk Steudle, MDOT Director
* Regional Expert Panel: Sue McCormick (GLWA), Palencia Mobley (DWSD), and Michael Ford (RTA)

The conference is designed to bring engineers, developers and government officials together to share information and showcase unique and creative ways to finance and build Michigan's infrastructure. Six (6) educational breakout sessions will be offered in the morning and afternoon as well. Continuing education credits for licensed professionals will be provided for all sessions.

Exhibitors are invited to share products and services throughout the day. Sponsorship opportunities are available as well.

From CEO's to entry level engineers, there will be something for everyone. Visit the ACEC website to download the conference flyer with full details and to register
ASCE Michigan Section Centennial Celebration
 
 
 
The ASCE Michigan Section invites you to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its inception. This milestone will be marked by a gala reception and dinner on May 12, 2016 at COBO Center in Detroit. A centennial ASCE Michigan Section video has been created and will be shown, and attendees will have an opportunity to win a framed print of the Mackinac Bridge as well as a once in a lifetime 2 person tour to the top of the Mackinac Bridge!

Plan to join us! The event precedes the annual Michigan Infrastructure Conference on May 13 at COBO. Full details and registration are available on the ACEC website.
ACEC Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala Honors Top Projects & Individuals
On February 27, 2016, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) honored firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the awards gala held at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek. Outstanding Michigan engineering and surveying projects from the past year, as well as engineering professionals who have significantly contributed to the profession, were honored. 
 
The ACEC/M Awards Program recognizes outstanding efforts of professional design firms to solve clients' needs through exceptional projects, and offers the opportunity to showcase the year's best engineering and surveying achievements to an audience of peers, clients and decision makers at all levels. 
HNTB Michigan, Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan & Great Lakes Engineering Group - Engineering Eminent Conceptor Winners
This year's most prestigious award - the Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award - went to the team of HNTB Michigan, Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan and Great Lakes Engineering Group for the 96fix project. The project was a complete rebuild of a seven-mile stretch of I-96 in Wayne County, Michigan. The $153 million dual-design and construction project brought I-96 to current design standards and increased the design speed from 60 mph to 70-75 mph. 96fix is the largest MDOT project ever completed in one season. 

Four firms were honored with an Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award: OHM Advisors for the Diverging Diamond Interchange Conceptual Design and for The Northwestern Connector Triangle Project; Byce & Associates, Inc. for Bell's Brewery, Inc. New Bio-Energy Facility; Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc. for the Novel Measurements Pinpoint I&I for Removal project; and Harley Ellis Devereaux for Detroit Medical Center Cardiovascular Institute.

Engineering Merit Awards were presented to Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. for Marysville Protects the St. Clair River; Harley Ellis Devereaux for Cornerstone South Tower Addition; Somat Engineering, Inc. for Dearborn Intermodal Facility; HNTB Michigan, Inc. for DTE Duct Bank Along Woodward Avenue; ROWE Professional Services Company for Lake Huron Water Supply Intake; TranSystems for M-231 over Grand River; The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. for Mcity Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Test Facility; Tetra Tech for Perry Street Diversion Pump Station; and Alfred Benesch & Company for US-131 at I-94 BL (Stadium Drive).
 
 
Wade Trim - Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award Winner
 
This year's Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award went to Wade Trim for the I-75 over Rouge River and Fort Street Design Survey. This complex design survey mapped two miles of eight-lane highway and two bridge structures for the Michigan Department of Transportation to design future deck replacements. Data was edited, merged and delivered using the largest application of MTL scanning, STLS scanning, and conventional surveying ever performed in Michigan.

A Surveying Honorable Conceptor Award was presented to Nowak & Fraus Engineers for the Amtrak ADA Stations Program.

The Board Design Award was given to the team of HNTB Michigan (Detroit), Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan (Detroit) and Great Lakes Engineering Group (Lansing) for the project board designed to 'tell the story' of the 96fix project.

For photos and further details about the 2016 projects, please visit the ACEC/M website.
 
Walter H. Alix, PE, PS
This year's ACEC/M Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to Walter H. Alix, PE, PS, of Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. to honor his outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and several community organizations.
 
 Mr. Alix has been very active in the  American Council of Engineering  Companies serving on the ACEC Board of Directors  for nine years. He has been the National Director for the last three years. He served as the liaison to the Engineering & Surveying Excellence Committee for eight years. He has been active on both the state and national fronts, having participated for many years on the trips to the State Capitol and the Hill in Washington DC. 
 
    
William G. Westrick, PE
The ACEC/M Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to William G. Westrick, PE, of Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick, Inc. for his actions and contributions to enhance the image of the profession. Mr. Westrick has been active  in many professional and technical organizations, including ACEC, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Board, the HEART Administrative Committee and the task force for the St. Clair River.
 
With 52 years of experience, Mr. Westrick is enjoying his retirement after a long and distinguished career in the civil engineering field.  
 
  
ASCE Scholarships Available
The Michigan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers will again be awarding 2 academic scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year.


The Mackinac Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 is awarded to a Civil Engineering student entering their junior year ($5,000 for 2 years). The Zuidema Scholarship in the amount of $1,500 is awarded to a junior or senior student member of ASCE.

Deadline for application is Memorial Day.  Click the link below to download the scholarship application.

 

Click here for Scholarship application

 

ACEC Announces 2016 Firm of the Year at ESE Awards Gala
                                             
Wightman & Associates, Inc. (Wightman) stands out as being a company that is actively involved in the success and growth of ACEC/Michigan, advancing the consulting design profession and giving back to the community. Since 1946, Wightman has delivered first-class engineering, architecture and survey solutions. Wightman believes people flourish when they partner with a dynamic team of problem solvers.
 
At the heart of Wightman is a unique culture promoting the importance of a work/life balance along with the importance of giving back. Wightman employees are actively involved in the community through supporting county youth fairs and providing survey assistance to the Krasl Art Fair in St. Joseph. They participate in the local food drive "Stuff-A-Truck," MDOT's Adopt A Highway program, tending community gardens and bringing the national event Pecha Kucha-WAI to the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area, among many other activities. They promote and encourage the engineering profession by speaking at Career Days in area schools and by being a founding member on the Michigan's Great Southwest Sustainable Business Forum.
 
Wightman also engages in a variety of activities to positively impact the engineering profession and ACEC. Mr. Thomas A. Deneau has served ACEC/M on the Board of Directors for five years, participating in the strategic planning efforts, on the education committee, and as the liaison for the membership committee. Mr. Steve Carlisle serves as a member of the Transportation Committee. Mr. Alan Smaka was part of the inaugural ACEC/M Emerging Leaders Program. Wightman participates in legislative efforts on behalf of the engineering profession, including contacting legislative representatives on various issues and meeting their firm PAC goals every year for the past five years. Wightman employees are also active members of other industry-driven organizations such as Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors, AIA Southwest Michigan, American Society of Professional Engineers, AWWA and others.
ACEC Welcomes New Members
 
ACEC is excited to announce the following new member firms:

MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop Tops 550

Held February 4 at the Lansing Center

The 2016 MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop set another record with over 550 attendees! Kirk T. Steudle, P.E., State Transportation Director, spoke during the opening session on transportation funding. Susan Shaw, PE, DBIA, CCM, the Megaprojects Director for the Virginia Department of Transportation, presented on the Virginia Transform I-66 Project during the general session. Mark Van Port Fleet, PE, MDOT Chief Operations Officer, also spoke during the general session on new transportation funding. The general session also included the presentation of the 2015 MDOT-ACEC Partnering Charter Award for the 96fix project. Over 20 different educational breakout sessions were held as well as roundtable discussions on various topics.
 
 
MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Award
On February 4, 2016, the 3rd Annual MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Award was presented for the partnering efforts on the 96fix project. The award was presented by MDOT's Chief Operations Officer Mark Van Port Fleet to ACEC member firms HNTB Michigan, Inc., Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan, Inc. and Great Lakes Engineering Group, LLC, and to the MDOT Metro Region/Taylor TSC.
 
  
This award recognizes project teams for their commitment to excellence and promoting an enhanced business partnership based on the ideals set forth in the MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Agreement. These ideals include mutual trust, effective communication, continuous improvement, embracing innovation, and timely issues resolution.  

  
  
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In This Issue
Legislative Update
MI Infrastructure Conf
AESLC Lobby Day a Success
Engineering Excellence
ASCE Scholarships & Awards
ACEC Announces Large & Small Firms of the Year
AESLC Lobby Day a Success
MDOT ACEC Partnering Workshop Recap
MDOT ACEC Partnership Charter Award Winners
Engineering Center

 


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