ACECL Newsletter | Winter 2019
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ACEC of Louisiana is the voice of engineering companies in our state. We are committed to advancing the private practice of consulting engineering, enhancing markets for private engineering services, educating the public on the importance of infrastructure investment, and promoting sound business practices within the industry and its client base.
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ACECL Chairman Raymond Reaux, P.E. Shares Vision for ACECL
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With the start of a new year, I would like to take inventory of where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going. Over the years, ACECL has been an active voice of Louisiana’s engineering community. The organization has remained steadfast in promoting the business of engineering within Louisiana and representing our constituents on a regional and national level.
ACECL’s Board of Directors takes its responsibility of being the voice of our industry very seriously and continues to make decisions that protect the interests of the state’s consulting engineering firms. I encourage our member firms to seek out others in the industry to join ACECL as there is great benefit in promoting the common good! This organization has a long history of success in advocating for process improvements, passing new laws important to our industry and delivering programming that supports member firms. Our strength is a result of an active and robust membership, and each one of us plays a pivotal role in promoting ACECL as an ESSENTIAL part of being a consulting engineering firm in Louisiana.
Our new President Doreen Brasseaux, our board of directors and each committee chair realize the importance of adding value to ACECL membership so our existing member firms are more engaged and new firms will be enticed to join the fold. From advancing legislation that created alternative project delivery models, ensuring adherence to Qualification Based Selection for design professionals and protecting consulting engineers from unnecessary statutory and regulatory requirements, ACECL has long been the advocate and change agent on behalf of the entire industry.
Our work is not done. Here are some of the issues in which we remain engaged on behalf of our member firms:
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ACECL is developing a legislative resolution to how the state ethics code is applied to private design professionals, which affects every firm doing government work in Louisiana.
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We are integrally involved with a broad coalition of economic, business and transportation interests that has initiated a grass roots effort to increase infrastructure investment in Louisiana.
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With DOTD, we are part of a multi-year process improvement project to resolve issues with key DOTD officials.
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We are working with the Office of Facility Planning and Control to update design professional selection board regulations, identify appropriate methods to establish designer fees and we addressing the incidental practice definition with LAPELS.
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ACECL is addressing non-payment issues with public clients and aggressively engaging governmental agencies that violate the state’s Quality Based Selection statute.
Our commitment to delivering quality programs to our membership was evident at Project Outlook in December, which featured key industry clients, including DOTD Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson, LED Secretary Don Pierson, FP&C Director Mark Moses, CPRA Executive Director Michael Ellison and State Senator Page Cortez.
ACECL established the Business Forum in 2018 to deliver high quality business development programming and networking to promote individual company advancement. With the success of our inaugural event we will once again offer the forum in May. And once again, ACECL will join our private industry partners in hosting the 11
th
Annual Critical Issues Summit February 21-22 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center.
In short, ACECL is at the table, in the conversation and part of the solution to our member firms’ challenges and concerns. Our efforts ensure a competitive business environment so your time is spent creating design solutions and growing your business. Get involved in your local chapter meetings, serve on committees and stay engaged in ACECL programming opportunities. We want your participation, and we appreciate your continued investment in ACECL.
As always, we welcome input from our member firms and colleagues. Please feel free to contact Raymond Reaux at raymond@fenstermaker.com or Doreen Brasseaux at
dbrasseaux@acecl.org
with your views and comments.
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REGISTER NOW FOR THE
11th Annual Critical Issues Summit
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Date
: February 21 - 22, 2019
Venue
: Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
201 Lafayette St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
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Q & A With ACECL President and CEO
Doreen Brasseaux
by Mark Lambert
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Doreen Brasseaux took over as president and CEO of ACECL in November 2018. Her background is mostly in the public sector, having served as the chief executive for the LSU Board of Supervisors and as an assistant vice president for Health Affairs and Medical Education at LSU. Brasseaux also worked as a policy advisor for Gov. Kathleen Blanco and spend several years in executive-level positions with the Louisiana Department of Justice.
Brasseaux took a few minutes recently to answer some questions to give members an idea of her initial assessment of the organization and how she sees it moving forward.
Question: What specific skill set do you bring to the table that you see as being particularly beneficial in this job?
Answer: I have 30 plus years of administrative experience navigating complex policy and organizational challenges. I am a servant leader, and my job is to create opportunities for success. I have learned quickly the priorities of ACECL, and I am continually adjusting strategies as I better understand the complex nuances of various issues. Our members have been my best instructors. I am not an engineer, but I do know how to identify a problem and execute a focused solution. I’m here to navigate the complexities of advocacy, membership development, and educational programming. I leave engineering design to the professionals.
Question: What do you see as the strengths of ACECL?
Answer: I have been so impressed with the level of engagement of member firms in ACECL. The owners, principals and employees of our firms sincerely care about the engineering industry, and they are willing to put their time and effort into identifying issues and solutions to improve the industry for everyone. Our greatest strength is in our numbers…we have more than 140-member firms and 25 affiliate companies. We are problem solvers and business leaders, and when we speak as one voice we can positively influence change.
Question: In what areas do you see room for improvement?
Answer: Being around since 1957, ACECL is well-established, well-respected and well-known throughout the state. We have a long history of advocacy successes and we’ve done a good job expanding educational programming and networking opportunities. Building upon our strengths, I want to ensure that our members feel connected and engaged so that ACECL membership is essential to their long-term business success. Elevating communication, advocacy and programming and giving our membership opportunities for engagement will ensure we remain a strong and viable organization.
Question: Obviously, member recruitment and retention are important to ACECL. In what ways do you believe ACECL can bring added value?
Answer: We are the only voice for the business of engineering. ACECL’s strength is in speaking with one large, collective voice. When we offer opportunities for members to engage, we tap into a depth of talent and perspective available to very few organizations. ACECL provides the platform for education, advocacy and engagement so members can collaborate and unify their positions. Additionally, networking events with the membership and partners such as AIA and AGC offer valuable business development opportunities.
Question: So far, what are some of the things you’ve learned in this job that have surprised you?
Answer: I was most surprised to see how well the membership works together to advance the entire industry. Consulting engineering companies are competitors, but they are also classmates, friends, colleagues and, often, former coworkers. They know that a rising tide lifts all ships, and they work collaboratively to ensure there is a fair and equitable playing field for everyone.
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Join us for a full day of legislative advocacy on behalf of increased investment in our roads and bridges. More info to come….
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ACECL members enjoy resources, benefits and access that non-members envy. That may be why Louisiana, despite being one of the smaller states when it comes to the number of engineering firms, has the ninth largest membership of all state ACEC member organizations.
Click here
to find out what ACEC is doing for you.
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Upcoming Events
Critical Issues Summit
Feb. 21-22, 2019
Baton Rouge Capitol Hilton
Business Forum
May 16, 2019
Baton Rouge Renaissance Hotel
ACEC PAC "PAR-TEE" Event
May 16, 2019
Baton Rouge TopGolf
2019 Louisiana Legislative Session
April 8, 2019 - June 6, 2019
ACEC 2019 National Annual Conference
May 5-8, 2019
Washington, D.C.
2019 ACEC Deep South Convention
July 11-13, 2019
Sandestin Resort, Destin, FL
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Welcome to our newest members
Petra Consultants, Inc.
Technical Coatings Services (Affiliate)
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Thank you to our sponsors!
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ACEC BUSINESS INSURANCE TRUST
ACEC LIFE/HEALTH INSURANCE TRUST
ALEXANDER & SANDERS
BENEFITS.ONE, LLC
BFM CORPORATION, LLC
BREAZEALE, SACHSE & WILSON
BROWN & BROWN OF LOUISIANA
CXA SERVICES, INC
EAGAN INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL SALES, INC.
ENTERGY OF LOUISIANA
ERGON ASPHALT & EMULSIONS, INC.
FORTERRA PIPE & PRECAST
GALLOWAY JOHNSON TOMPKINS BURR & SMITH
HANNIS T. BOURGEOIS, LLP
INDUSTRIAL FABRICS
LORD & WINTER, LLC
O.R. COLAN ASSOCIATES, LLC
PENETRON USA
QUALITY SITEWORK MATERIALS, INC.
TECHNICAL COATINGS SERVICES, INC.
WRAY & PIERCE, L.L.P.
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Reports & Meeting Minutes
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Click here to access the latest minutes of the ACECL Board of Governors' meeting.
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ACECL members enjoy resources, benefits and access that non-members envy. That may be why Louisiana, despite being one of the smaller states when it comes to the number of engineering firms, has the ninth largest membership of all state ACEC member organizations.
Your ACEC
membership benefits
your firm in a multitude of ways including:
Legislative Advocacy
Legal Advocacy
Public-Private Partnerships and Professional Involvement
Education and Networking
Cost-Effective Insurance
and...
ACEC offers many business benefits to our members including
three (3) cost saving Trusts and discounted programs.
Check out the discounted programs at
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Let's Socialize!
Follow ACECL on Facebook and Linkedin!
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Our goal is to bring you the latest information about ACECL so you know how our organization is working for you. To get the word out, we're reaching out to our members and industry firms on social media. Use the links below to access these media channels and stay up-to-date on issues affecting engineering. Be sure to SHARE our news!
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