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To our friends and members impacted by Hurricane Ida, your ACECL family is here to assist as you recover and resume operations. We know your services will be needed by clients more than ever. It will be a challenge responding to their needs while you take care of your own families and properties. Know that you have fellow members to help you and who are praying for your safety and well-being.
That Ida hit Louisiana on the anniversary of Katrina is almost surreal for those who experienced her devastating effects. Not to mention a pandemic surge and Hurricanes Laura and Delta not yet in the rearview mirror for Southwest Louisiana. It leaves many wondering how much more our state and our people can take. I have seen our resiliency and I've marveled at our capacity to help one another and find a path forward. What we know to be true is that after the dark is a dawn. Beyond the devastation, a rebuilding. Let's be there for each other and keep everyone close in thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Doreen, Janet and Haleigh
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The next meeting of the Board of Governors will be September 17, 2021. |
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NATIONAL AND STATE COMMITTEES/FORUMS/COALITIONS |
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Being a member of ACEC and ACEC of Louisiana provides numerous benefits, not the least of which is access to local and national peer groups who engage to discuss problems and brainstorm solutions.
Both the state organization and the national organization have numerous committees and forums that provide a platform for members to engage and learn from peers on key industry issues through workshops, roundtables and networking events.
I encourage you and your firm members to join a state committee and a national committee, coalition or forum. There is something for everyone!
Click here for to join state ACECL committees.
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ACECL launched the first Louisiana-based salary study covering the salaries and benefits of engineering and associated positions. The final report will serve as an invaluable resource for your recruiting and retention efforts. All data collected will remain confidential and will reside with the independent consulting firm compiling the data. The final survey report will be available this fall. All those completing the survey will receive the final report free of charge. Those not participating will be able to purchase the final report for a fee.
Please click on the link below to complete the survey and ensure your firm stays ahead of the game in today's competitive market! Read the instructions first to understand how to complete the form and where to send completed documents.
The deadline to submit your complete survey is September 3, 2021. Please complete the survey today. If there are any problems completing the survey, please let me know! It's important that you participate to make this a worthy report.
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Click here for a risk analysis paper from Beazley relative to how professionals proceed in the aftermath of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Florida.
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Below is a list of issues being actively managed: |
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OCD/FP&C - Water Sector Program questions. Ongoing. ACECL has submitted numerous questions on behalf of members with timely responses from OCD and FP&C.
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Port of New Orleans, Rapides Parish School Board - RFPs in violation of QBS. Ongoing discussions to have RFPs amended to remove price.
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DOTD - active discussions
- 24-102 form changes
- Compensation Article questions and concerns
- Negotiation process
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EBR - Ongoing discussions about proposed moratoriums on development. Making progress.
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New Orleans -
- Standard contract language on DPW projects. Making progress.
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STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES/MODIFICATIONS TO THESE MEETINGS IN LIGHT OF HURRICANE IDA. WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE TO RESCHEDULE BOTH ONCE WE MAKE CONTACT WITH VENUES AND SPEAKERS. |
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The Baton Rouge Chapter will meet September 13 and welcomes Jamie Setze, Executive Director, Capital Region Planning Commission. Click here to register.
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The New Orleans chapter will meet September 9 and welcomes St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper. Click here to register. Stay tuned for updates in |
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We appreciate your membership and hope you will help promote ACECL by adding our Logo to your website! Show your support for ACECL today!
Right click on the logo to save as a high resolution .png
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FEDERAL: As you may know, in recent days Democratic leaders in the House have been balancing the competing demands of their progressive and moderate members in terms of the substance and the timing of votes on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package and a $3.5 trillion “reconciliation” package intended to carry President Biden’s social policy agenda. Last Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bowed to the demands of moderate members of her party and pledged to hold a final vote by September 27.
PPP Loan Forgiveness and FAR Credits Clause
ACEC reports that the the advancement of the infrastructure bill in the House has created optimism about securing a legislative fix to the PPP/FAR credits clause problem before the end of the year. Ten Senators signed on as co-sponsors of our legislative language to waive the credits clause for forgiven PPP loans. We came very close to inserting our fix as an amendment to the bipartisan infrastructure bill, but Senators’ determination to pass the bill quickly prevented them from considering our and other amendments.
We are now looking for a suitable piece of legislation to attach our amendment. We are focusing on the upcoming appropriations bills, such as the Department of Transportation spending bill, because several of our amendment co-sponsors sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Member Organizations in states with Senators who sit on the Appropriations Committee have reached out to urge their support for our amendment.
And in the House, thanks to the advocacy efforts of ACEC Maryland members, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has expressed support for a fix.
If we’re successful in these dual efforts, it’s going to be a good year—and many more going forward—for this industry. Stay tuned.
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STATE: If you missed the DOTD Secretary Forum with Dr. Shawn Wilson you can view the meeting here.
DOTD 100 Years of Infrastructure Panel Discussion with General Contractors will be held Wednesday, September 1 @ 9:00am in the DOTD Assembly Room. Click here for more.
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Please visit the Water Sector Commission portal for latest Q&A on the program.
Click here to access portal.
Blake Fogelman, P.E., an engineer with LDH, gave a presentation on state and federal funding sources for water projects at the August New Orleans Chapter meeting. Click here for his presentation.
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****CALLING ALL LAND SURVEYORS****
THIS ONE IS FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ASKED!
FIRST SESSION
The NEW 2021 ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards
This session qualifies for PDH hours by LaPELS, but will not meet the Minimum Standards for Land Surveying required professional development hour.
EARN 1.5 PDH
September 20, 2021
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Cost:
$75.00
After two years of work by the Joint ALTA/NSPS Work Group, the American Land Title Association and the National Society of Professional Surveyors adopted a new set of Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys effective February 23, 2021. The committee reviewed fifteen pages of suggestions and comments in developing the 2021 standards and this program will explain each change - why it was made and what the effect will be on the surveyor and the user of the survey. In addition, a number of FAQs will be addressed and links to helpful resources will be provided.
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Gary Kent
Professional Surveyor, Schneider Geomatics
Gary Kent is a Professional Surveyor with Schneider Geomatics in Indianapolis. After 37 years, he transitioned to part-time status in 2020 and formed Meridian Land Consulting, LLC to provide training, consulting and expert witness services. Gary has served as Chair of the Joint ALTA/NSPS Committee responsible for the ALTA/NSPS Standards since 1995. He has presented programs on the ALTA/NSPS Standards, easements and rights of way, boundary law, risk management, safety, and other surveying-related topics in all 50 states. Gary has served on the Indiana Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors since 2004 and is a past-president of both the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping and the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors.
Zoom link will be sent to all registrants!
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SECOND SESSION
Louisiana Minimum Standards for Land Surveyors
This session satisfies the LaPELS requirement
EARN 1 PDH
October 19, 2021
9:00am - 10:00am
Cost:
$50.00
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Steven B. Loeb - Partner
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson Attorney At Law
Steven Loeb's principal areas of practice include building and heavy construction, architect's and engineer's professional practice liability, public bid law, American with Disabilities Act, mediation and arbitration. His experience includes litigation of complex multi-party construction matters, drafting legislation and standard form agreements for the American Institute of Architects, and arbitration of disputes between owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, sureties and design professionals. Steven has also handled complex insurance and surety claims all as part of his construction law practice. Steven is a panel arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, and a Certified Mediator on Americans with Disabilities Act matters through Key Bridge Foundation/U.S. Department of Justice. Steven has taught several courses in the LSU School of Construction and the Southern University School of Architecture. Steven is recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers in the area of Construction.
Zoom link will be sent to all registrants!
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2021 VIRTUAL BUSINESS FORUM
REGISTER TODAY!!
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OPENING SESSION
September 21
8:30a - 9:30a CST
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
September 29
10:30a - 12:00p CST
RISK MANAGEMENT
October 5
10:00a - 11:30a CST
HUMAN RESOURCES
October 13
10:00a - 11:30a CST
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Update on Federal Infrastructure Legislation
Presenter: U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy
Maximizing your Business Development Return-on-Investment
Presenter: Richard S. Friedman, Friedman & Partners
Onerous Contract Clauses - What's Allowed Under Louisiana Law
Presenter: Trip McCormick, Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith
Performance Leadership - Instill in Your Employees a Desire to Perform
Presenter: Gary M. Golden, Golden Opportunities, LLC
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
$600 Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Your firm will be highlighted in all registration materials & branding during the webinars!
Up to 5.5 PDH available
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THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS FORUM SPONSORS! |
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The ACECL Federal PAC goal is $24,000 for 2021. If each of the 130 firms of ACECL secure a contribution of just $200 each, we can quickly and easily meet our goal. This is a great opportunity to support ACECL and enter a chance to watch LSU play in Tiger Stadium in the process! We’ve reduced the ticket price so more of your employees can financially participate in our fundraising effort. Our success protecting the business of engineering results in your success and that impacts each and every one of your employees. This raffle will close on September 30th so do not delay!
Send your completed sweepstakes form to jtomeny@acecl.org or mail to: ACEC/L, 9643 Brookline Avenue, Suite 112, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 by September 30, 2021. Please note that federal law prohibits corporate check and corporate credit card contributions to the ACEC PAC. All sweepstake contributions must be made with personal checks or personal credit cards only!
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2021 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
September 30, 2021: Submission Deadline
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ACEC/L is pleased to announce it will once again host a competition to recognize engineering firms for projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement and value. The EEA competition celebrates the outstanding achievements of the profession. All recipients will be eligible to submit their project to the National ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards.
DATES TO REMEMBER
JULY 15, 2021: Call for Entries
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021: Submission Due Date
NOVEMBER 18, 2021: Award Recipients Notified and Announced
MARCH 10, 2022: Awards Ceremony
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- Sept. 9: New Orleans Chapter Meeting
- Sept. 10: HR Forum Meeting
- Sept. 13: Baton Rouge Chapter Meeting
- Sept. 17: ACECL Board of Governors Meeting
- Sept. 20: Land Surveying Webinar
- Sept. 21: Business Forum Webinar: US Senator Cassidy
- Sept. 21: Transportation Committee Meeting
- Sept. 29: Business Forum Webinar: Business Development
- Sept. 30: EEA Submission Deadline
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ACECL WELCOMES NEW AFFILIATE MEMBERS
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Cycle Construction Company, LLC is a family-owned general construction firm located in Kenner, LA.
Specialty areas are heavy/civil construction, marine construction, environmental infrastructure, underground utilities, demolition, waste management, heavy haul trucking and emergency response services. Cycle's extensive portfolio features projects of all types, sizes and levels of complexity – from small private sector work to large-scale federal projects.
Contact: Jonathan N. Kernion
Phone: 504-467-1444
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ETEC is a manufacturer's representative organization covering both the municipal and industrial water and wastewater markets in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Western Tennessee.
We partner with a range of manufacturers to offer our clients the highest quality products for their environmental projects. In addition, we continue to seek manufacturers that not only produce stellar equipment, but are also technological leaders in their field.
ETEC has in-depth knowledge and years of experience in municipal projects, and our professional staff has specific industrial expertise in such areas as pulp and paper, petrochemical, and poultry processing. Our depth of knowledge is matched by our deep team, which features eight outside salespersons, eight support staff and six service technicians. With these resources our clients can feel confident they will be consistently provided with exceptional service and guidance they can trust.
Contact: Ronnie Hebert
Phone: 225-295-1200
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ACEC Affiliate Members
ACEC Business Insurance Trust
ACEC Life/Health Insurance Trust
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Alexander & Sanders, a division of BXS Insurance
Barriere Construction Group, LLC
Benefits One, LLC
BFM Corporation, LLC
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP
Brown & Brown of Louisiana
BRAYN Consulting, LLC
CxA Services, LLC
Cycle Construction, LLC
Durable Piling Restoration, LLC
ELOS Environmental, LLC
Environmental Technical Sales, Inc.
Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc.
Foley & Judell, LLP
Forterra Pipe & Precast
Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith, LLP
Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP
Headlight
HUB International
Industrial Fabrics
Keogh, Cox & Wilson
Quality Sitework Materials, Inc.
Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn
Wray & Associates, L.L.P.
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Doreen Brasseaux
President & CEO
ACEC of Louisiana
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