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July 2018   
ACEC Michigan Announces 2018-19 President and Board of Directors
   
Sean Kelley, PE 
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/M) is pleased to announce that Sean Kelley (The Mannik & Smith Group - Detroit) as its 2018-2019 President.

Sean has been employed in the Michigan engineering consulting industry his entire 32-year career. He is a senior vice president and principal with the 300+ person firm The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. and leads their downtown Detroit office. He received his BSCE from Michigan Technological University and his MBA from Eastern Michigan University and is a registered professional engineer in Michigan and Ohio. Sean is the father of two children, a daughter Morgan and a son Aaron.

Sean has served on the ACEC/M Board of Directors for 8 years and has been actively involved in numerous initiatives - most notably ACEC/M's partnering efforts with MDOT. In addition, Sean played a key role in developing ACEC/M's Emerging Leaders Program and has instructed the Business Development Session. Sean resides in Detroit and rides his bike to and from work. He's also an avid year-round runner on the streets of Detroit.

2018-19 Officers:
President: Sean Kelley, PE, The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., Detroit
President-Elect: Steve Gravlin, PE, PS, Michael Baker International, Detroit
Treasurer: Jack Wheatley, PE, ROWE PSC, Flint
National Director: Robert Rayl, PE, RS Engineering, LLC, Lansing
Past-President: Steve Nichols, PE, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc., Grand Rapids

2018-2019 Directors:
Rick Chelotti, PE, Bergmann Associates, Lansing
Chris Cook, PE, Abonmarche, Benton Harbor
Paul Galdes, PE, Fleis & VandenBrink, Grand Rapids
Cheryl Gregory, PE, Spalding DeDecker, Rochester Hills
Jon Kramer, PE, OHM Advisors, Livonia
Eric Morris, PE, HNTB, Okemos
Jayson Nault, PE, Tetra Tech, Brighton
G. Ramanujam (Ram), PE, Somat Engineering, Detroit
Oge Udegbunam, Tyme Engineering, Inc., Livonia
Michael Weingartz, PE, SmithGroupJJR, Detroit
 
 
ACEC/Michigan Past President appointed to Michigan Infrastructure Council
Dan Fredendall, PE, OHM Advisors, appointed by House Speaker
Legislation was recently passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Snyder ( House Bill 5335) that created the Michigan Infrastructure Council. ACEC/Michigan is pleased to announce that House Speaker Tom Leonard has appointed Dan Fredendall, Vice President at OHM Advisors and 2005-2006 President of ACEC/Michigan to the Council. Dan will be 1 of 9 voting members who will construct  a statewide asset management database, facilitate the data collection strategy, and produce a 30-year infrastructure investment and management strategy for the state of Michigan. For more information, visit:  https://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57738-473705--,00.html


ASCE Southeastern Branch hosts Legislative Meet & Gre et
Senator Mike Kowall, Rep. Michael Webber, and ASCE MI Section President Elect Christopher Owen

The Legislative Affairs Committee of ASCE Michigan's SE Branch hosted a Legislative Meet & Greet on July 23 in Rochester.  Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kowall and Michigan House Rep. Michael Webber, Vice Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, attended the luncheon and discussed the state of infrastructure spending in Michigan.

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. sponsored the event and members of ACEC/Michigan also attended.



 
 

ACEC Holding CEO Roundtables
September 27 in Lansing
October 4 in Bloomfield Hills
 
 
Attention firm principals, owners and senior managers! The ACEC/Michigan CEO Roundtables provide the invaluable opportunity to network and discuss important business topics with Michigan industry leaders.  After a brief update of association issues, we will hold a roundtable discussion to discuss items affecting engineering firms. Have an issue that is affecting your firm profitability? Let's talk about it! Large or small, all firms benefit from these discussions. Sign up today! The CEO Roundtables also provide a great chance to recruit quality firms to ACEC. Please consider inviting a non-ACEC firm to attend with you at no cost.  
 
8:00 - 8:30 Meet/Greet with Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 ACEC/Michigan Update
9:00 - 10:30 Roundtable Discussion (Topics Determined by Attendees)
*PEs will receive 2 continuing education credits.

Click here to register. 
 

Linda Bauer Darr Will Succeed Dave Raymond as ACEC President/CEO

ACEC National Board unanimously approves
At a special meeting of the ACEC Board of Directors in Washington, D.C., Linda Bauer Darr was unanimously approved as the next ACEC president/CEO, succeeding Dave Raymond, who announced his retirement last year. Darr will join the Council on August 6.

Currently serving as CEO of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), a position she has held for the past four years, Darr also led the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) as CEO from 2007-2014. Prior to that, she served in senior positions at the American Bus Association and the American Trucking Associations (ATA). In addition, she was U.S. deputy assistant secretary of transportation for budget and programs in the Clinton Administration. She began her career with the engineering firm EG&G.

ACEC Chair Manish Kothari, who presided over the Board meeting, said "Linda is a team builder and thought leader, and will be a fierce defender of our industry and Council."

"She is the right person for the job," said Raymond, who is working with her on the transition.

The September/October issue of Engineering Inc. magazine will feature an in-depth interview with Darr.
MSPE Announces Engineer of the Year
Nancy McClain, PE
(Photo Courtesy of Giffels Webster)

Nancy McClain, PE, senior engineer, was recently awarded Engineer of the Year at the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers' (MSPE) Conference.

"When I think of an exceptional employee, I think of Nancy," says Scott Clein, president of Giffels Webster.  "Her involvement in MSPE and the diverse knowledge and outstanding dedication she brings to our team on a daily basis is beyond award-worthy."

McClain has been a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers since 1988 and has held a variety of positions for the Detroit Metro Chapter of MSPE.  Currently, she serves as the MATHCOUNTS co-chair and acting Chapter secretary and treasurer, and takes on other roles ranging from PE review course chair to newsletter editor.

In her position, McClain provides engineering support for municipal, commercial, and residential properties around the country.

Giffels Webster is made up of civil engineers, landscape architects, planners, geographic information system specialists, and surveyors.  It was founded in 1952.
ACEC/Michigan to Host NHI Bridge Course
October 23-25, Lansing

ACEC/Michigan is sponsoring an updated NHI 3-Day Course entitled "Bridge Inspection Refresher Training" (FHWA-NHI-130053), October 23 - 25, 2018. This course is designed for those who have completed prior comprehensive bridge inspection training (NHI 130055 or similar) or meet the criteria for a bridge inspector under the State's procedures or requirements. This course meets state and FHWA requirements for continued education for Bridge Inspectors. (Additional course information can be found on the   NHI website ). Class size is limited to 30 attendees.

The registration fee includes all educational materials and breaks. Lunch is on your own.

Registration deadline is Friday, September 21, 2018.  Register here .

ASCE National Honors Michigan Member  
ASCE National's Geographic Services is pleased to announce the Dr. Ralph J. Hodek, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE of the MIchigan Section has been selected to receive the 2018 Harold R. Peyton Award for Cold Regions Engineering.  Dr. Hodek is being honored "for his extensive career of university teaching and mentoring of numerous Masters and PhD students in the field of Cold Regions Geotechnical Engineering and for his service to ASCE and the Technical Council on Cold Regions Engineering."
2018 - 2019 SAVE THE DATES
Mark your calendar!
September 6-7, 2018: Emerging Leaders Program (First Session), Lansing
September 27, 2018: CEO Roundtable, Lansing
October 4, 2018: CEO Roundtable, Bloomfield Hills
October 23-25, 2018:  NHI 3 day Bridge Refresher course, Lansing 
January 31, 2019: MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop, Lansing
March 2, 2019: Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala, Detroit
April 17, 2019: AESLC Legislative Day, Lansing
May 16, 2019: Michigan Infrastructure Conference, Plymouth 
In This Issue
ACEC/M Board of Directors
Fredendall Appointed to MI Infrastructure Council
ASCE hosts Legislative Meet & Greet
Linda Bauer Darr new ACEC National CEO
MSPE Engineer of the Year
NHI Bridge Course
ASCE Honors MI member
Save the Dates
Engineering Center

 


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Ron Brenke, PE 

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ACEC & ASCE

 517-332-2066