November 2014 Finance & Commerce Reports Growth in Construction Industry Current Vacancies for State Boards – Seeking Members 2015 Minnesota State Building Code Roads and Bridges – Watch it on November 30 Minnesota Gift Law – Expanded Corridors of Commerce Funding Announcement Minnesota Concrete Flatwork Specifications Now Available Carlson of Braun Intertec Presents at ACEC Fall National Conference Engineering Excellence Awards Call for Sponsors 2014-15 Assets Resource Guide Coming Soon! Annual ACEC/MN Shoot for the PAC Event Results 2012-14 AELSLAGID Biennial Report Now Available ACEC/MN & ASCE PE Exam Information Meeting – December 9 Scholarship Committee Thanks 2014-15 Sponsors Minnesota’s Transportation Conference – Seeking Sponsors ACEC/MN Basketball Tournament Slated for February 21, 2015 Emerging Professionals Group – Join Today! News From Around the Membership Welcome Returning Member Save the Date! Upcoming ACEC/MN Events! Got Your ACEC/MN Social Media Fix? ----------------------------------------------
Finance & Commerce Reports Growth in Construction Industry According to an article in the October 17th Finance & Commerce, the year-to-year employment growth by industry sector as of September 30, 2014 reports an increase in general construction of 6.1% (6,996 jobs) and a 3.2% increase in professional and business services (11,161 jobs). Professional and business services gained 4,100 jobs from September 2014 to October 2014, with engineering, architectural and related services, among the strongest subsectors, which grew 4.8% to 20,299 jobs gained. Source: Finance & Commerce│Vol. 127, NO. 207│Friday, October 17, 2014 ----------------------------------------------
Current Vacancies for State Boards – Seeking Members The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State released the November notice of vacancies for various state boards, councils and committees that are accepting applications, due November 25, 2014. Minnesotans are encouraged to apply and serve in demonstration of public service. The full list of vacancies is listed below and online. January 2015 Plumbing Board Vacancies: Six seats exist, including one Licensed Professional Engineer, one Water Conditioning Contractor, one Commercial or Industrial Plumbing Contractor, one Municipal Plumbing Inspector, one Commercial or Industrial Plumbing Journeymen and one Residential Plumbing Journeyman. January 2015 MN Board of AELSLAGID Vacancies: Five seats, including One Geoscientist Representative, one Licensed Engineer (Electrical) Representative, one Licensed Land Surveyor Representative, one Licensed
Architect Representative, and one Public Member. Application forms are available online and must be submitted by November 25, 2014, to assured of full consideration by the appointing authority. Appointing authorities may choose to review applications received by the Secretary of State after November 25. Applications may be submitted online, or a printable version is available for download. The printable version may be submitted by email to
[email protected], or by mail or in person to: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State 180 State Office Building 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. St Paul, MN 55155-1299 --------------------------------------------
2015 Minnesota State Building Code – Comment Period Open Most of the building codes slated for adoption in 2015 have been completed. The MN Department of Labor and Industry published the Building Code and Commercial Energy Code for public comment in the State Register on November 10. There will be a 30-day comment period for each code to follow to determine if a public hearing is necessary. Visit the Department of Labor and Industry’s website for more information. ----------------------------------------------
Roads and Bridges – Watch it on November 30 If you haven't seen the video Roads and Bridges, (produced by MN 2050, of which ACEC/MN is a member, and tpt MN) watch it on tpt MN channel 2.2 beginning on November 30 at 9:00 pm. Find more scheduled broadcasts here: http://www.tpt.org/?a=programs&id=23710 ----------------------------------------------
Minnesota Gift Law – Expanded The Minnesota Gift Law (MN State 471.895) has been expanded by 2014 legislation to include the following:
School board members Superintendents Principals District Officers (of any independent school district)
The Gift Law prohibits local officials from accepting gifts or prizes for personal use. The law allows trinkets or mementos valued up to $5. -----------------------------------------------
Corridors of Commerce Funding Announcement On October 7, 2014 Governor Dayton announced the distribution of funds appropriated by the Legislature for the Corridors of Commerce program. Thirteen more transportation projects will be accelerated due to new investments in the program and cost savings at MnDOT. Follow this link for a list of projects and more information. ---------------------------------------------
Minnesota Concrete Flatwork Specifications Now Available The 2014 Minnesota Concrete Flatwork Specifications are now available on the MnDOT website. The MnDOT State Aid Office recommends using these specifications that were developed for local agencies. The intent of this specification is to create uniformity for contractors and ready-mix producers as well as the agencies
administering contracts. Use this specification in its entirety, not only one part or another. These specifications cover the following types of concrete: A. Concrete Pavement 1. The Concrete Pavement Specifications are intended for small urban projects that consist of several blocks. Contact the Concrete Engineering Unit if you have a larger project and would like to discuss what specifications would best fit. B. Concrete Curb and Gutter C. Driveway Pavement Entrances D. Sidewalk and Concrete Median ----------------------------------------------
Carlson of Braun Intertec Speaks on Market Forecast Panel at ACEC National Fall Conference Jon Carlson, CEO of Braun Intertec Corporation, presented at the ACEC National Fall Conference in Hawaii on October 23. His presentation was part of a panel discussion, “CEOs Optimistic in 2015 Market Forecast.” Jon characterized his markets in the Upper Midwest as booming. "The trickle-down economics of energy development is resulting in huge investments in infrastructure, housing, and on-shoring of manufacturing, including fertilizer plants and steel production." We’re proud that Jon was requested to present at the National Conference. Congratulations on a job well done! Source: ACEC Last Word Vol. XXXV, Number 41 - October 29, 2014 http://acec.org/lastword/xxxv-41 ----------------------------------------------
2014-15 Engineering Excellence Awards Call for Sponsors This January, for the 48th time in its history, ACEC/MN will host its Engineering Excellence Awards banquet to honor and recognize engineering firms for projects that demonstrate a high degree of achievement, value and ingenuity. We hope your firm will join us in recognizing these outstanding accomplishments by helping sponsor the event. The banquet will be held on January 30, 2015 at The Commons Hotel in Minneapolis, where we expect nearly 300 engineering employees and clients to attend. This year, at the elite level sponsorship, you will receive two complimentary tickets to join us for this grand event! Sponsorship Levels: Elite Sponsor ($900 cash donation) Platinum Sponsor ($600 cash donation) Gold Sponsor ($400 cash donation) Silver Sponsor ($200 cash donation) As a sponsor, your business will receive exposure in a variety of printed materials including: Event program Event signage Client newsletter Member newsletter Assets, the annual ACEC/MN Directory, distributed to all members, including several member clients ACEC/MN Website Special recognition during the awards presentation This event is an excellent opportunity to promote your organization’s services to the attendees! If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please respond by Monday, December 8. If you have any questions, call 952/593-5533 or email
[email protected]. Look for an electronic invitation in early December to join us at the 48th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet on January 30, 2015 at The Commons Hotel in Minneapolis! ---------------------------------------------
2014-15 Assets Resource Guide Coming to Your Door Soon! The 2014-15 ACEC/MN Assets Resource Guide, which includes the membership directory, is now being printed and will be mailed out shortly. Look for it in your office in the coming weeks! -----------------------------------------------
Annual ACEC/MN Shoot for the PAC Event Results The 3rd Annual Shoot for the PAC clay shoot to benefit the ACEC/MN State PAC was held on October 7. It was a beautiful day for the event, and over $1,800 was raised. The winning team was John Giebenain, Tim Havlicek and Nate Schutte of CP Railroad, and Hans Erickson of TKDA. Congratulations! ----------------------------------------------
2012-14 AELSLAGID Biennial Report Now Available The Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design’s 2012-14 biennial report is now available online. Visit the AELSLAGID website to view the report. ----------------------------------------------
ACEC/MN & ASCE PE Exam Information Meeting – December 9 Are you or someone in your firm taking the PE Exam in 2015? Join the ACEC/MN Emerging Professionals and ASCE Younger Member Group for an informal information session about the Civil PE Exam to learn helpful hints about exam registration, preparation, and test taking! In this session, Younger Members who have recently taken the Civil PE Exam will share ideas on what resources they found to be most helpful for studying and what they wished they had known before taking the test! After an informal presentation there will be an open forum, so please bring your questions and ideas to share. This session will be especially helpful to those planning to take the Civil PE Exam in 2015, but anyone interested in learning more about the PE Exam is welcome! Please RSVP for you and guests. Snacks will be provided. There will be a lot of digital information to share, so bring a flash drive to copy the information. Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm Location: Court International Building 2550 University Avenue W, Suite 150S St. Paul MN 55409 Contact ASCE MN Younger Member Group at 612/845-5265 or
[email protected] for more information. Visit the ASCE MN’s website to register. ----------------------------------------------
Scholarship Committee Thanks 2014-15 Sponsors The scholarship program is off and running and the committee would like to thank firms that have donated to the fund this year, listed below. There is still time to donate! If you would like to contribute, please contact the ACEC/MN office by November 24, 2014. If your firm would like to contribute but cannot send a check at this time, please contact Melissa at
[email protected] or 952/593-5533. Century (Gift of $100 per index or greater) Braun Intertec Corporation Differt Consulting
Isthmus Engineering, Inc. TKDA VAA, Inc. Walker Engineering, Inc. Patron (Gift of $50 - $99 per index) Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP (AEM) CNA Consulting Engineers Hammel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc. (HGA) Mattson Macdonald Young, Inc. Wenck Associates, Inc. Wentz Associates, Inc. Contributor (Gift of $1 - $49 per index) Barr Engineering Company BKBM Engineers LHB, Inc. TSP, Inc. WSB & Associates, Inc. Don Stormoe Scholarship American Engineering Testing, Inc. Endowment Fund Partner Hiway Federal Credit Union ----------------------------------------------
Minnesota’s Transportation Conference – Seeking Sponsors Register now to become a sponsor at the 2015 Minnesota’s Transportation Conference (March 3-5, 2015), the largest transportation event in the state! The inaugural conference in 2014 drew more than 1,400 attendees including MnDOT, the Metropolitan Council, Metro Transit, local government, and other transportation organizations. Become a sponsor to engage with these stakeholders, share your industry expertise, and showcase how your organization's latest advances are moving Minnesota forward. Sponsorships are available at the following six levels: Platinum ($7,500) Gold ($5,000) Silver ($3,000) Bronze ($1,500) Copper ($1,000) Supporter ($500) To learn more about sponsor benefits and to register to become a sponsor, please visit the event website. Early registration is recommended for access to limited sponsorship opportunities that are available on a first-come, firstserved basis to Platinum, Gold, and Silver sponsors. With questions about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nicole Freese at 612-624-3708 or
[email protected]. ----------------------------------------------
ACEC/MN Basketball Tournament Slated for February 21, 2015 The annual ACEC/MN basketball tournament will take place on Saturday, February 21 at Skyview Community School in Oakdale. We are expecting another great turnout this year. Trophies will be awarded to the top teams. Profits from the tournament go to the ACEC/MN scholarship fund. If your firm is interested in participating, please contact Justin Schmidt at
[email protected]. The deadline to sign up is January 30th, 2015. ----------------------------------------------
Emerging Professionals Group – Join Today! The Emerging Professionals (EP) Group was created in 2007 to give younger professionals in the engineering industry an opportunity to learn, network and socialize with each other. The EP group is always seeking additional members. If you or someone you know would be interested in joining this group of young professionals, please contact Bridget Osborn of HR Green at
[email protected]. Upcoming Emerging Professional Events: November 13th: Fall Social with ACEC & ASCE! Free bowling and food at Park Tavern from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Please advertise this event to co-workers and friends! November 19th: EP Meeting at SRF at 7:00 am. There will be breakfast provided and a presentation by the Transportation chair committee, Randy Geerdes, CEO of SRF Consulting Group, Inc. National ACEC Conference - Washington DC April 19-22, 2015: The ACEC/MN Board of Directors is willing to sponsor two members of the EP committee to attend this conference (up to $1000 per attendee). National has discounted rates for EPer’s also! Learn more and continue to develop your skills. Please give Bridget Osborn
[email protected] or the ACEC/MN staff a call if you’re interested. ----------------------------------------------
News From Around the Membership Tanya Pierce has joined Clark Engineering Corporation as the Director of Business Development and Marketing. John Costello joined LKPB Engineers, Inc. as its newest Principal on October 15, 2014. LKPB Engineers, Inc. reached its 45 year anniversary this year. Congratulations to LKPB Engineers, Inc.! Redpath and Company, Ltd. announced in October that Mark Gibbs is now officially the firm’s Managing Partner. Stantec, St. Paul, hired Tony Rieger-Borer as a field services coordinator, ecological restoration; Eric Rose as a senior land development engineer; Tom Bader as Senior Principal in the Community Development Practice, and Jacob Burgstahler as a landscape designer. TKDA announced that Dennis Postler joined the Municipal Division as Assistant Vice President; Andy Wagstrom, a civil engineer, joined its rail division; and Jeff Hilden joined its surface transportation division as a senior transportation engineer. TKDA is celebrating the expansion and renovation of its office space in downtown Saint Paul. The $1.5 million project accommodates significant growth for the engineering, architectural and planning firm. In the last two years, TKDA has added nearly 70 new hires and now employs more than 240 people, and about 200 of them work in newly remodeled offices on five floors of the UBS Building. Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that John Bender has joined the Eden Prairie land development team as a senior project manager. ----------------------------------------------
Welcome New Member: We would like to welcome back Northern Technologies, Inc. (NTI), a consulting engineering firm specializing in civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering services. 1408 Northland Drive, Suite 107, Mendota Heights MN 55120; P: 651/389-4191; Principal: Marc Shannon PE ----------------------------------------------
Save the Date! Upcoming ACEC/MN Events
Emerging Professionals Group Fall Social – November 13 Emerging Professionals Meeting at SRF Consulting Group, Inc. – November 19 Euclid: Fiber Reinforced Concrete – November 21 Contracts From the Darkside – November 25 Build it or Buy it! – December 8. Thank you to our 2014-15 Monthly Meeting Sponsors: BW Insurance, Ingenuity Marketing Group and HDR!
Leading a Team of Business Builders – December 17 Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet – January 30, 2015 National ACEC Conference - Washington DC - April 19–22, 2015 ACEC/MN Partnered With VAA, LLC Scholarship Golf Tournament – June 15, 2015
2015 Title Sponsor ----------------------------------------------
Become a Fan of ACEC/MN’s Social Media! Keep you and your colleagues posted on industry information and ACEC/MN activities as they happen. If you’re not following us, please click on the links below and become a fan! *ACEC/MN on Facebook *ACEC/MN on Twitter *ACEC/MN on LinkedIn ---------------------------------------------If you have an announcement you’d like to see included in the next Parameters newsletter, please contact: Kristine Cassidy,
[email protected], P: 952-593-5533 F: 952-593-5552
