Engineering Inc. - March/April 2008 - (Page 2)

FRoM aCEC To YoU engineeringInc. THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES ChaIRMaN pRESIDENT & CEo VICE pRESIDENT, opERaTIoNS VICE pRESIDENT, GoVERNMENT aFFaIRS VICE pRESIDENT, INSTITUTE FoR BUSINESS MaNaGEMENT DIRECToR, CoMMUNICaTIoNS and MEDIa STaFF EDIToR From BIM to Annual Convention Much has been made of the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM). The new 3D modeling software is being called revolutionary for its potential to reduce errors and omissions and provide a high level of design flexibility. Despite this enthusiasm, software providers and many users have concerns about adaptability and liability. (See story on page 12.) The Primary Season Orrin B. MacMurray David A. Raymond Mary Ann Emely Steven Hall Jeffrey L. Beard Alan D. Crockett Andrea Keeney akeeney@acec.org (202) 682-4347 We are also in the midst of an exciting election year with tremendous implications for our industry. The Council will be playing a prominent role in supporting candidates favorable to our industry. Last year’s record ACEC/PAC fundraising increased our financial clout for backing candidates who support our positions on energy, infrastructure funding, repeal of the unfair 3 percent withholding mandate and other important issues. (For a complete list of 2007 ACEC/PAC donors, see page 36.) Make Your Voice Heard ACEC PUBLIC RELATIONS AND EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ChaIRMaN Edward J. Mulcahy THE MAGAzINE GROUP EDIToRIal DIRECToR Thomas Halligan Corey Murray aRT DIRECToRS Jeff Kibler, Melissa Hamid pRoJECT MaNaGER Mary Mieszczanski MaNaGING EDIToR ADVERTISING SALES Nina Goldman Assistant Director, Advertising & Sales ACEC 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor Washington, D.C. 20005-2605 (202) 347-7474 ngoldman@acec.org These challenges will be the focus of our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill at the upcoming Annual Convention, April 27–30, in Washington, D.C. The Convention will feature election perspectives by Fox News’ Chris Wallace, Tucker Carlson, host of MSNBC’s Tucker, and former Clinton adviser Paul Begala. A town hall debate will address “Who should own America’s infrastructure—the public or the private sector?” This issue of Engineering Inc. also features the positions of leading presidential candidates on issues of importance to our industry, and a look into the realities of political polling. (See page 10.) We also extend congratulations to ACEC/California, which changed its name from the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California (CELSOC) to become the 50th Member Organization of ACEC to subscribe to the common name. See you at the Annual Convention. Your participation this year is very important. Engineering Inc., Volume 19, Number 2 (ISSN 1539-2694), is published bi-monthly by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005-2605. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscriptions are $24 for members (included in dues as a non-deductible amount); $45 for U.S. non-members; $65 for institutional subscriptions. Back issues are $15. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Engineering Inc., c/o ACEC, 1015 15th Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005-2605. © 2008 American Council of Engineering Companies. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied, downloaded from the ACEC website, stored in electronic or hard-copy format, and disseminated to third parties for educational and information purposes. ACEC expressly disclaims any liability for damages of any kind in connection with such copying, downloading, storage, and/or dissemination. By copying, downloading, storing and/or disseminating this publication, the recipient of this publication expressly agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold ACEC, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers and agents harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, claims, causes of action and liabilities, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, arising out of or resulting from the recipient’s use of this publication. Notwithstanding the above, no part of this publication may be altered, resold, licensed, or used for any other commercial purposes without the prior written permission of ACEC. Recipients may opt out of receiving the electronic version of this publication from ACEC by sending an e-mail with the subject line “Unsubscribe” to ACEC at magazine@acec.org. For more current news on ACEC issues and developments, subscribe to the weekly electronic newsletter, Last Word. To subscribe, contact abrandstadter@ acec.org. For members without electronic access, a fax-on-demand version is available. Contact Ann Brandstadter for information at 202-682-4333. Orrin B. MacMurray ACEC Chairman David A. Raymond ACEC President & CEO WWW.aC EC.oRG 2 ENGINEERING INC. MaRCh / apRIl 2008 http://Www.acec.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - March/April 2008

Engineering Inc. - March/April 2008
Table of Contents
From ACEC to You
News & Notes
Market Watch
Legislative Action
Election Preview
BIM
Bottom-Line Strategies
From the Ground UP
2008 Annual Convention Primer
Across the Federation
Business Insights
2007 ACEC/PAC Honor Roll
Membrs in the News

Engineering Inc. - March/April 2008