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Issue: 7 

January 2018   
Governor's State of the State
 
Last week, Governor Rick Snyder gave his final State of the State address. One key area that he focused on was infrastructure and the fact that as a state we need to do more to prevent future failures. In his speech he specifically stated:

"We are at risk in every corner of Michigan for aging infrastructure and we cannot take this for granted. Michigan residents deserve safe, reliable, sustainable infrastructure. That's why I created the 21st Century Infrastructure Commission last year. The commission did tremendous work, they looked for best practice not just in our country but around the world. They concluded that we need to invest more. We need to literally invest billions of dollars of new investment over the next several decades. We need to look at all public and private sources for this, including fees, taxes, grants, bonds. We need to start now working on this issue and we need to stay committed to it."

He also focused on the importance of integrated asset management. When we invest, we need to be strategic and improve our coordination so that we are more efficient and cost effective.   
"Now I've talked about a huge investment but we can be smarter about how we invest, so one of the things I want to work with the legislature on is creating a pilot and working hard on is something they found is integrative asset management. Now that's a really fancy word but it's really simple. Think now about the road in front of your house or your business. How often have you seen that road get torn up to do road work and then it gets repaired and it gets torn up to do gas work or electric work or fiber beam laid and how many times does it get torn up when we could tear it up once and do that work all at once to a tremendous savings. That's the kind of smart things we can lead in Michigan and we would be a national leader in that."

ACEC/M and ASCE Michigan Section Executive Director Ron Brenke, who attended the address, served on the Commission and will continue working with the legislature and the Governor's office to help implement changes that will improve Michigan's infrastructure.

For more legislative updates, click here . 
 
AESLC Legislative Day 
March 21 at the Capitol

 
Design Professionals (engineers, surveyors and architects) will be holding their annual "Lobby Day" on Wednesday, March 21 in Lansing. ACEC, AIA, MSPE and MSPS are collaborating to bring their members to Lansing to meet with legislators and educate them on issues that are important to the professions.

Past Lobby Days have been extremely successful by helping legislators understand the importance of properly funding infrastructure improvements and creating a business-friendly environment in Michigan for practicing engineers, architects and surveyors.
 
Please plan to attend and bring a few others as we want to demonstrate the strength of our industry in Michigan. Education sessions will also be offered throughout the day for those needing continuing education credits. Legislators will listen to their constituents, so it is important that you meet with your Representative and Senator and make your voice heard.
 
You also have the opportunity to sponsor the luncheon which will be held at the Capitol Building. Registration and lunch sponsorship forms will be available soon on the ACEC website
ACEC/M Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala
March 10, 2018, Grand Rapids
Join us for the 2018 Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on Saturday, March 10, at DeVos Place, Grand Rapids. The Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala, an ACEC/Michigan hallmark celebrating its 53rd year, is our chance to honor member firms for design achievements of superior skill and ingenuity. We will recognize outstanding projects, honor industry leaders, and present scholarships to the next generation of engineering talent. During this special event, ACEC members and their guests will see firsthand the impact engineering and surveying has on our everyday lives.
 
This year's venue, DeVos Place, nestled beside the Grand River, provides the perfect picturesque riverfront setting as the backdrop. We encourage you to invite clients and team members to this special evening as we celebrate and honor our own. 
 
Registration is open on the ACEC website. In addition, please consider sponsorship of this event. It is an excellent way of advertising and gives your firm great exposure in the professional engineering and surveying fields. Sponsorship details are available on the event registration page
ASCE Scholarship Applications and
Awards Nominations
The Michigan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers will again be awarding two scholarships for the 2018-19 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.   Click here  for more detailed info and the application form . The deadline to submit is Memorial Day.
 
ASCE MI also presents project and individual awards. Project awards presented include Historic Engineering Landmark, Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement, and Quality of Life. Individual awards consist of Franklin D. Meyers Civil Engineer of the Year and Young Civil Engineer of the Year. All award submittals are due in early April and will be presented during the Michigan Infrastructure Conference on May 9. Updated submission forms are available on the ASCE MI Section website.
ASCE Michigan Infrastructure Report Card Roll Out
March 6, 2018 
 
For the past year members of the ASCE Michigan Section have been hard at work updating the 2009 Infrastructure Report Card. The draft report has been sent to the ASCE National office for final review and is expected to be released on March 6, 2018 during a press conference at the Capitol Building in Lansing. The Report Card will provide a grade for various categories of infrastructure including roads, bridges, dams, drinking water, wastewater, energy, etc.
 
ACEC/MDOT Metro Region Field Engineering Workshop for Consultants
February 15, Detroit
 
ACEC/Michigan is partnering with the MDOT Metro Region to offer a Field Engineering Workshop for all consultants who perform construction engineering services in the Metro Region. The event is scheduled for Thursday, February 15, at the Doubletree in Detroit. 
 
This year's workshop will be held jointly with MDOT Metro Region staff and  will run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $75 a person - lunch and materials will be provided. We will also be offering continuing education credits for licensed PE's. A draft schedule for the day and registration can be found on the ACEC website . 
Engineering Michigan's Future Conference
May 3-4, Grand Rapids

The MSPE Annual Conference, Engineering Michigan's Future 2018, is sure to be one you don't want to miss! The conference will be packed full of education and networking opportunities.

You can join a tour and find out about the biodigestor and sustainable brewing, the Northern Concrete Pipe facility or the Grand Rapids Whitewater project. There will also be educational seminars on the MSU Solar Carport project, Battery Storage Systems and the Gordie Howe International Bridge, to name a few. And you won't want to miss the fun networking event at New Holland Brewing or the golf outing. 

Mark your calendar for May 3-4, and plan to be in Grand Rapids for Engineering Michigan's Future 2018! Registration information will be available in the next few weeks. Watch your email or check the MSPE website for details.
MSPE Scholarships Available
The Michigan Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) encourages high school seniors interested in pursuing an engineering degree to apply for a scholarship through our organization. In 2017, we awarded $29,000 in scholarships to 20 students attending 11 different universities. Additional scholarships were also awarded by chapters throughout the state.

Our members generously support the scholarship program by participating in fundraising events, such as golf outings, throughout the year. We also receive direct donations to the scholarship fund from individual members and corporations that support the engineering industry. This is a great way for our members to give back and help the next generation of aspiring engineers!

Students interested in the scholarships must fill out an application that will be judged on merit. Scholarships will be reviewed by the Scholarship Selection Committee and awarded in early May. Scholarships range from $1000 to $3000 and are paid directly to the university in August.

If you know a student that is interested in engineering, please direct them to our website and the scholarship application. Applications for students entering college in the fall of 2018 are due on February 7, 2018. 
Click here  for more information.
Michigan Infrastructure Conference 
Call for Presentations 

This popular conference, jointly hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Michigan and the Michigan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), will be held at the Kellogg Center in Lansing on May 9, 2018. 
 
This program features several thematic tracks, an industry trade show, and a broad A/E/C and private developer audience. The conference focuses on how infrastructure impacts economic development, including emerging or expanding markets, creative leadership, new technologies, and unique solutions developed by practitioners, facility/infrastructure developers and owners.
 
The Call for Presentation information will be available soon -- watch your email!
ASCE Lansing Jackson Branch Awards

The 2nd Annual L-J Branch Awards and Scholarship Event will be held on April 11, 2018, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Lugnuts Stadium in Lansing.  Appetizers and a cash bar will be available. Awards will be presented for: Young Engineer of the Year, Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Year, Quality of Life, Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement and Historic Civil Engineering Achievement (Lansing Jackson submittals).

The event is also a L-J scholarship fundraiser ($10 per person donation suggested).  For $250, corporate sponsorships are offered (logo displayed onscreen and on signage).  Sponsors will also be announced before the awards ceremony and logos will be on the printed program.

To RSVP or for sponsorship, contact ascelanjack@gmail.com
ACEC Welcomes New Member!
ACEC logo JPG
ACEC is excited to welcome this new member firm: 
ACEC Social Media
Follow Us!

Did you know that ACEC is active on social media sites? Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and connect with us on LinkedIn to stay informed! 

 


 


 

2018 SAVE THE DATES
Mark Your Calendar!
March 10, 2018: Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala , Grand Rapids
March 21, 2018: AESLC Legislative Day, Lansing
May 9, 2018, Michigan Infrastructure Conference, Lansing
In This Issue
Governor's State of the State address
AESLC Legislative Day
ACEC Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards
ASCE Scholarship and Award Nominations
ASCE Infrastructure Report Card
MSPE Annual Conference
MSPE Scholarships
MI Infrastructure Conference
ASCE Lansing Jackson Branch event
ACEC New Members
ACEC Social Media
Save the Dates
Engineering Center

 


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 Engineering Center
Questions about engineering?
Please contact:


 

Ron Brenke, PE 

Executive Director

ACEC & ASCE

 517-332-2066

Shada Biabani-Kanine
Executive Director  
MSPE
517-487-9388