January/February 2024

ACEC/Michigan Capitol Update

ACEC/Michigan finished 2023 strong with our PAC fundraising efforts and, thanks to the commitment of our member firms, we met BOTH our State and National PAC goals!

For 2023, we raised a record $35,767 for the ACEC MI PAC and had 256 individuals from 46 different member firms contribute, many contributing for the first time. Thank you to all the individuals and firms that support our political affairs program and Political Action Committee. Your involvement has been crucial as we protect and promote the business of engineering in Michigan.

The 2023 ACEC/Michigan Capitol Update provides a summary of key legislation affecting member firms that was tracked by the ACEC/Michigan political affairs team as well as a list of ACEC member firms that contributed to our PACs.

Engineers, Architects & Surveyors

Legislative Day

The 2024 Engineers, Architects & Surveyors Legislative Day will be held on Wednesday, March 13. We are returning to an in-person event this year, giving members the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their elected representatives.

A key issue for this year’s legislative day will be supporting a solution to funding Michigan's transportation system. Many major freeway reconstruction projects were, and will be, completed through the Rebuild MI bonding program, but MDOT is now saddled with $270-$300 million annual debt payments for the next 25-30 years. The legislature must enact a long-term, sustainable and equitable funding solution or our transportation system will continue to decline. The Governor has placed fixing our roads at the top of her priorities and we have an excellent window of opportunity in 2024 to pass a sustainable funding solution. Engineers are crucial in communicating the importance of this initiative. Engineers have the expertise and knowledge to explain the need better than anyone. But we need to show up. Please prioritize March 13 and encourage your employees to participate in Legislative Day and meet with their legislators.

We will be hosting a legislative day webinar on Monday, March 11 at 12:00 to help members prepare for meetings with legislators and provide background and talking points on key issues for discussion.

An in-person reception (with legislators) is being hosted by our lobbyist Kelley Cawthorne at their Lansing office following Legislative Day meetings for those who are able attend. There is no charge for the webinar or reception, and you can RSVP using the following link:

https://kclobbyday.wufoo.com/forms/z11e78vy0idv121/.

We encourage all attendees to make a PAC contribution. $75 is suggested and you must use a personal credit card for PAC contributions. Personal checks are also accepted.

Please register early so we can secure meetings with your elected officials. Registration deadline is February 28.

This year’s Engineers Week theme – Welcome to the Future – is about celebrating today’s achievements and paving the way for a brighter and more diverse future in engineering.

Founded by NSPE in 1951, EWeek (February 18–24, 2024) is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.

Follow ACEC on social media this week as we celebrate some of the fantastic work done by our member firms and our year-long efforts to introduce young students to careers in engineering.

2024 Engineering & Surveying

Excellence Awards Gala

Please join us for the 2024 Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on Saturday, March 9, at One Campus Martius in Detroit. This spectacular 16^th floor venue provides breathtaking views of downtown Detroit, creating the perfect backdrop for an evening of celebration and recognition. 

The Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala, an ACEC/Michigan hallmark celebrating its 59th 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/Michigan members and their guests will see firsthand the impact engineering and surveying has on our everyday lives.

We encourage you to invite clients and team members to this special evening as we celebrate and honor our own.

Registration is available through the ACEC/Michigan website until February 23.

Sponsorship of the gala is an excellent way to support the engineering profession and gives your firm great exposure to the various owners and clients attending the event. Sponsorship details are provided in the attachment, and sign-up is on the ACEC website. The sponsorship deadline is February 23.

We sincerely hope you are able to join us as we anticipate a night filled with inspiration, camaraderie and achievement.

MDOT-ACEC Partnership Charter Award

On Friday, February 16, the 11th annual MDOT-ACEC Partnership Charter Award was presented to WSP and the MDOT Metro Region Oakland TSC for the partnering efforts on the Modernize 75 project from M-102 to South of M-59. The team was able to reduce the period of time to rebuild this important 18 mile stretch of I-75 from 16 to 8 years. The award was presented by MDOT's Chief Operations Officer, Gregg Brunner, PE, and ACEC/Michigan Executive Director, Ron Brenke, PE.

L to R in Photo: Ron Brenke (ACEC), Ed Tatem (WSP), Barb Arens (Cincar Consulting Group), Colin Forbes (MDOT), Jeff Chenault (WSP), Matt Oumedian (WSP), Tim Day (WSP), Mark Dubay (MDOT), Gregg Brunner (MDOT), Jerry Luttman (WSP).

The 2024 MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop was held on February 16 at the Lansing Center, following a leadership reception the evening of February 15. Attendance was over 800 participants, setting another record as this event continues to grow.

This annual event brings together transportation professionals from across the state to share the latest information, technology, and processes being used to design and build Michigan's transportation system.

MDOT Director Brad Wieferich kicked off the event, 34 unique educational breakout sessions were offered, and the keynote speaker was Michigan’s first ever Chief Growth Officer, Hilary Doe, who discussed the work and recommendations from the Governor's Growing Michigan Together Council.

ACEC/Michigan Scholarship Raffle

​Each year the ACEC/Michigan Scholarship Committee holds a raffle, which is the only fundraising event for the ACEC/Michigan Scholarship Program. This event is crucial in raising funds to assist promising college students pursuing careers in engineering or surveying. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, every dollar generated from raffle ticket sales directly contributes to supporting scholarships.

Winning tickets will be drawn during the ACEC/Michigan Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

This year’s prizes include: 

1. Florida Vacation – One week stay at a beautiful three-bedroom, ocean-front view princess condominium on Hutchinson Island. *Travel expense not included. Sponsor: Testing Engineers & Consultants
2. Lake Michigan Charter Fishing Trip - $1,050 value. 7 hour trip, up to 6 passengers in Saugatuck, Michigan. 2024 weekdays only. *License and gratuities not included.
3. $500 Amazon Gift Card
4. $500 DoorDash Gift Card

Tickets are $25 each, 3 for $60, or 6 tickets for $100, and only a limited number of tickets are printed.

Visit the ACEC/Michigan website for ordering information.

RAFFLE PRIZE SPONSORS:

AR Engineering

​Hubbell, Roth & Clark

OHM Advisors

PCIA

Ruby+Associates

SME

Testing Engineers & Consultants

WSP Michigan, Inc.

Michigan Infrastructure Conference

Call for Presentations

Michigan MATHCOUNTS 2024

The MATHCOUNTS Competition season is well underway with 13 Chapter competitions taking place statewide in February. Next up will be the State Competition, hosting the highest scoring teams and individuals in the State on Saturday, March 23 at Michigan State University’s Anthony Hall. 23 teams and 40 individuals will compete to advance to the RTX MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Washington, DC in May.

We need volunteers for competition day to really make this work. Volunteers will assist in the testing or scoring rooms with handing out tests, proctoring, or scoring tests. Each test must be scored by hand twice, so we need your help. Volunteers can be members, non‐members, groups, high school or college students, or just about anyone who can read and follow directions! If you can assist us by volunteering some time on March 23, please use this link to sign up to volunteer or you can contact Nancy_McClain@msn.com if you have questions. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A4DA8AE29A4FE3-47590142-michigan

The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series is a national program that provides students the opportunity to compete in live, in‐person contests against and alongside their peers. Created in 1983 by NSPE and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, it is open to all U.S. 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students. MATHCOUNTS stimulates student interest by making math achievement as challenging, exciting and prestigious as school sports. The Michigan MATHCOUNTS program is funded by the Michigan Engineers Foundation and coordinated by volunteer members of MSPE. Donations to the program can be made at: Michigan Engineers Foundation | Mightycause

ASCE Scholarship Applications

The Michigan Section of the ASCE encourages the advancement of the Civil Engineering profession by qualified and interested students. To that end, the ASCE Michigan Section offers financial support through two scholarships: the Mackinac Scholarship and the Zuidema Scholarship. These scholarships have been endowed through the efforts and generosity of individual Civil Engineers and leading Civil Engineering companies throughout Michigan. Applications are due by Memorial Day.

Click here to access more detailed information and the application itself.

As we stand at the intersection of technology and the workforce, the landscape of employee benefits is undergoing a transformation, fueled by the advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the economy, and the job market. Join experts from Axion Risk Management Strategies at Hubbell, Roth & Clark in Bloomfield Hills on March 20, 2024 for an insightful exploration into the current and future economy of employee benefits in the rapidly evolving AI-powered world. Join us for an exclusive event where we bridge the gap between AI, the modern workforce, and employee benefits. 

Covered topics include:

• Bringing Fortune 500 Healthcare & Risk Management Strategies to Middle Market Engineering Companies
• Ways to Save Healthcare Costs & Reinvest those Dollars in People
• Creating Efficiencies & Keeping Great Employees for Years

Registration is capped at the first 30 attendees. This event will provide valuable information for finance, operations, and human resources professionals as well as company principals.

For more information and to register, visit the ACEC/Michigan Website.

SMPS/ACEC Seller-Doer Workshop:

Relationship-Based Negotiations with Dan Oblinger

This year's Seller-Doer Workshop for Technical Professionals will take place on April 4 at 9:00 AM in East Lansing. ACEC/Michigan is excited to partner with the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) SE Michigan and West Michigan chapters for this annual interactive business development program. We encourage anyone who is involved in marketing and/or business development to attend.

The annual SMPS/ACEC Seller-Doer workshop will be held in Lansing on April 4, with Dan Oblinger, hostage negotiator.

What if a hostage negotiator could sit next to you for your most stressful and valuable professional conversations?  We are excited to host Dan Oblinger, veteran hostage negotiator and A/E/C consultant, as he leads our Seller-Doers in a series of team exercises so we all can discover the foundational principles of relationship-based negotiations! Learn to preserve profitability, create strong agreements, and preserve client satisfaction through simple and powerful principles and negotiation practices. Leave with new capabilities and a customized plan for continual growth long after the event is over.

Registration is available through the SMPS event page. ACEC members are eligible to attend at the SMPS member rate but must contact ACEC for the discount code.

Applied Ethics for Engineers

ACEC/Michigan - New Member Firms