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Volume XVIII Number 11, July 2009
My apologies in advance for again asking philosophical questions that I do not answer. In reviewing the year for this, my last message, I became concerned that maybe not enough change had occurred. As you can see, I am haunted by the "leadership deals mostly with change” or, “If you are not growing, you are shrinking.” As I reflect back to my remarks being published in the annual report (FES Journal, August 2009), and on my first few messages for this communiqué, my mind has not changed in regard to those areas of FICE that I believe to be the keys to our success. Those areas are: · promotion of professionalism, · our legislative program, · member services, and · the Florida Engineer Leadership Institute. Our promotion of professionalism cannot waiver. There are many public agencies at the local level who would like to bid one firm against another for projects, with the misguided contention that this will allow them to save money. They do not understand that the Quality Based Selection system has proven time and time again to give the client the best value. So it is important that we not change our vigilance of this aspect. Please continue to notify staff when you see bidding as a form of selection. In my March message I noted the success of our legislative program, with 125 of our members attending PE Legislative Days and 32 legislators attending the CELC reception. I hope you have read the legislative report on our collective efforts to help manage change in several new or revised Statutes. Thank you for your efforts. I do not have enough space to report on all of the activities regarding member services, whether in our seminar program, our specialty business areas of GMEC, Structural, Transportation, or Water Resources, our Membership Committee which worked diligently to maintain our membership level in a down economy, or our PR Committee with their focus on enhancing the engineering profession. Suffice it to say that there were many hours given by many to make these efforts a success. This year, at the annual conference, the 6th class of the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI) will graduate. With this class, there will be over 200 graduates since its inception. FELI remains a wonderful idea that has evolved into one of the important things that we do. As the organization moves toward a leadership change later this summer, I want to thank Frank and our hard working staff, the Board Members and Committee Chairs, and the many individuals who gave time to make our profession better. We do not want this to change.
Please note the following changes to the FICE Update: (1) include an executive summary of FICE Minutes from the Board, (2) addition of FICE Committee meeting minutes, and (3) removal of non-FICE features. CCNA – New Statute Language – Signed by Governor CCNA Letter Campaign If a member firm or licensed engineer within a member firm knowingly violates CCNA, FICE believes you may be in violation of Chapter 471, rules and regulations. 2009 FICE and NSPE PEPP Award Recipients. This year FICE and FES Professional Engineers in Private Practice (PEPP) are pleased to announce the 2009 Award Recipients. This year two individuals and two firms will be recognized for their achievements. The FICE awards will be presented during the 93rd Annual Summer Conference and Exposition at The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach.
The Governor A.W. Gilchrist Award is presented annually to a member of the engineering profession who exemplifies the spirit of public service that betters humankind, therefore, bringing honor to the engineering profession. The 2009 recipient is Kimberlee B. DeBosier, PE. She truly exemplifies the spirit of the award. The Professional Development Award recognizes an engineering firm that has encouraged participation by its engineers in professional and technical societies, civic activities and in continuing education. Two firms are receiving this award in 2009 — one from a large firm (51 employees or more) and one from a small firm (50 employees or fewer). The winning firms are Barkley Consulting Engineers Inc. from Tallahassee and PBS&J with headquarters in Tampa. The PEPP Merit Award is presented to committee chairs or members, PEPP members serving in liaison functions or on joint activities, or to any other member who has made significant contributions. Florida is honored once again to have a recipient of this award. The 2009 award will be presented to Lennart E. Lindahl Jr., PE. The ceremony will take place on July 17th in St. Louis, MO at the NSPE PEPP dinner.
Additional information about the FICE awards program is available at http://www.fleng.org/FICE/ficeawards.cfm. Click here for this year’s winners.
Call for Entries for the 2010 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition. Engineering Excellence Award Program is an annual design competition recognizing engineering achievements that demonstrate the highest degree of merit and ingenuity. The deadline to submit the intent is September 11. Click here for the brochure.
The Water Resources Committee is currently reviewing the following issues: stormwater and irrigation rules and discussion on licensed PEs in WMD. Subcommittee reports include: Municipal - Two CCNA presentations have been given to the LOC; Army Corps – A meeting with Steve Duba and ASME occurred to discuss moving this committee forward; SJRWMD – Alternative water supply was discussed; SFWMD - Key comments from the District meeting included that there were no issues with the consultants at this time, the 25% shortfall in advolaram tax, SBE program, and number of contract assignments; and NWFWMD – He noted this was a new committee and needed members. To learn on the latest activities of the FICE Water Resources Committee. Please review their January 22, 2009 teleconference minutes >> The Professional Practices Committee is currently reviewing the following issues: commissioning and how this type of engineering work may fall under the CCNA law; breach of CCNA by submitting PEs/CA Holders; Piggybacking; and laws and rules education re: CCNA. To learn on the latest activities of the FICE Professional Practices Committee. Please review their May 6, 2009 teleconference minutes >> The following campaigns were approved by the FICE Consulting Engineers Legislative Council (CELC): In preparation for the election of its 2009-2010 officers, the GMEC Executive Committee selected Jeff “Paul” D’huyvetter, PE, as the nominee for Treasurer. In keeping with its practice of maintaining a geographical balance on the Executive Committee, the selection was made from the resumes of six well-qualified engineers. Current Executive Committee officers then advanced one position on the GMEC ballot. Election to the Executive Committee is a four-year commitment.
FICE is pleased to welcome the following firms as new members: CSA Central, Inc, Miami
Kennedy Engineering & Associates Group LLC, Fort Walton Beach
Sam Schwartz Engineering PLLC, Tampa
AECOM is pleased to announce that they have been selected for the utility pipeline design contract by the city of Sarasota. AECOM, one of four firms selected for the contract, will provide design services on a rotating basis. AECOM will also serve as prime consultant, on as an as needed basis, for the Town of Lady Lake Capital Improvement Program. Ardaman & Associates Inc. was one of three firms recently selected for continuing services contracts by the board of supervisors for the Tohopekaliga Water Authority. Under its scope of services, Ardaman is providing the Authority with geotechnical and environmental engineering, and materials testing and evaluation services on an indefinite duration, indefinite quantity continuing contract. Services for this contract will be performed by Ardaman’s Orlando office. The Authority has not determined the amount of the contract. Nordarse & Associates and Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants Inc., both located in Central Florida, were also selected for contracts. Bowyer-Singleton was recently awarded final design services for Wetherbee Road by Orange County. This 1.5 mile segment of Wetherbee Road, from Balcombe Road to Orange Avenue, in south Orange County, will be widened from two to four lanes, including a multi-span bridge over Florida’s Turnpike. Bowyer-Singleton’s services will include roadway, drainage and structures design, permitting, surveying, and maintenance of traffic. The Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants Inc. (GEC) Kissimmee Office will be providing geotechnical engineering and contamination screening for Hoagland Boulevard, Phase I in Osceola County. The Kissimmee Office was also recently awarded continuing services contracts for geotechnical engineering and materials testing with Osceola County, the City of St. Cloud and the Toho Water Authority. The GEC Orlando office will be serving FDOT District V as a geotechnical engineering subconsultant to HNTB under their districtwide General Engineering Consultant contract. After 20 years of successful implementation of the original Master Plan, Downtown Dunedin has gained the recognition of being “the best walking town in America” and one of the “Best Places to Live” (Money Magazine). The city is ready to take downtown to the next level by maintaining its unique character and sense of place, and making better use of downtown assets such as the marina/waterfront, the Pinellas Trail, and ongoing redevelopment projects. Wade Trim was retained to update Dunedin’s existing Downtown Plan and coordinate an intensive community outreach program to identify new challenges and opportunities, create a vision, develop future strategies and outline key actions and projects to develop a capital improvements program. The Village of Islamorada, located in Monroe County, hired Wade Trim to design one of the initial collection systems for the Middle Plantation Key Collection System. This is part of the Village’s $120 million wastewater treatment program launch, and Wade Trim’s contract is for $1.1 million. This program is in response to the 1999 Florida legislature mandating higher wastewater treatment standards in the Florida Keys. .
CDM is proud to announce that Michael P. Smith, PE, BCEE, has been promoted to Vice President. An officer-in-charge for several municipal clients on the central west coast of Florida, he is responsible for coordinating technical resources, project management and scheduling, project quality assurance, and client management. Smith is currently working on pumping improvements for a design-build water treatment plant project, as well as overseeing the design, permitting, and general construction services for two new pump stations for a major client in Tampa.
E Sciences Inc., was recently honored with a Golden Brick Award for its interior office space re-design and buildout by the Downtown Orlando Partnership during its annual Golden Brick Awards held at the Embassy Suites hotel in Orlando.
Inwood Consulting Engineers Inc. is pleased to announce that environmental scientist, Jason Houck, PWS, is an Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent. This designation is the result of a permit issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) after review of Mr. Houck’s demonstrated experience and training. Mr. Houck’s is authorized to provide Inwood’s clients with the surveying, excavation, trapping, marking, transporting, and relocating of gopher tortoises. As a result of the new gopher tortoise permitting guidelines FWC implemented in April 2009, Mr. Houck took the steps necessary to continue providing these services to clients. Clarence Anthony (top left), Chief Marketing Officer and Presiding Director of the
Tom Brzezinski, PE, Executive Vice President of Wade Trim has taken on the role of Chief Business Development Officer. He will be responsible for developing strategic plans and initiatives for geographic growth throughout 8 states - including Florida, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania - and 22 offices. While continuing to serve as executive vice president, Brzezinski will also oversee some of the company’s most high-profile wastewater clients such as Village if Islamorada, FGUA, City of Palm Bay, and North Key Largo Utility Corp. WilsonMiller is proud to announce that John English, PE, Sabrina L. McCabe, David J. Hurst, PE, Steven P. Sammons, ASLA, Evan R. Johnson, AICP, and Betsy O. Benac, AICP have recently become a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.
McKim & Creed, a full-service engineering and surveying consultancy with seven offices throughout Florida, has acquired JMR Surveying Group, LLC, a 3-D laser scanning and surveying company near Orlando. The acquisition was finalized on Tuesday, June 16. To read the complete press release, click here.
Civil PE Review Course sponsored by the Florida Engineering Society Are any of your promising young engineers sitting for Civil PE Exam in October?
For full details and registration
information, please check the web at www.fleng.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James A. Horton, PE 
Calvin, Giordano & Associates
Engineering consulting firm 
Board of Directors for global consulting firm PBS&J and former Mayor of South Bay, Florida, was recognized by the Orange Bowl Committee for his tireless work and contributions to the South Florida community. For additional information, 
Members of the Flower Garden Banks team receiving the award and presenters include (left to right): Ken J.P. Deslarzes, Geo-Marine, Inc.; Thomas E. Ahlfeld, MMS; Gregory S. Boland, MMS; Walter Cruickshank, acting Director, MMS; Ned Farquhar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management; Ken Salazar, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior; G.P. Schmahl, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; James E. Sinclair, MMS; Donald R. Deis, PBS&J; and William F. Precht, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
PBS&J is also pleased to announce the establishment of a new Sustainable Building Design group headquartered in the firm’s Orlando office. The group is a national practice providing a dedicated project management team to guide clients through the process of building for U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification, energy modeling, and building commissioning. Leading the group is , Vince Briones, PE, LEEP AP, (left) whose diverse experience on over 30 LEED projects includes two of Florida’s first LEED-certified buildings. For more information, 
STV/Ralph Whitehead Associates is pleased to announce the promotion of Terry Hall, PE (shown left to right) to Project Manager,
