To the ACEC Community,
May was another busy and hugely successful month for ACEC, highlighted by the record attendance at our Annual Convention and Legislative Summit and a sold-out Engineering Excellence Awards gala that honored the very best engineering accomplishments from the past year.
The Convention featured a lobbying campaign to push lawmakers for action to restore the deductibility of R&D expenses, as well as key industry priorities on workforce and the future of the IIJA. The program also featured cutting edge education sessions, as well as record-breaking fundraising for ACEC/PAC. Congress gave final approval in May to an ACEC-backed FAA reauthorization bill, we delivered state-specific economic assessments to our MOs and held events at our Capitol Hill residence for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
We’re headed into summer on a high note, with a lot of progress behind us and opportunities ahead of us.
Some highlights:
Advocacy
The Convention lobbying program featured hundreds of visits to House and Senate offices focusing on restoring the deductibility of R&D expenses, solutions to the workforce challenge, and funding and regulatory recommendations related to IIJA implementation.
Secured final passage and enactment of the FAA Reauthorization bill, which includes significant increases in airport infrastructure funding and provisions to facilitate additional utilization of unmanned aircraft.
ACEC spoke at an infrastructure industry roundtable on Capitol Hill regarding IIJA implementation hosted by the New Democrat Coalition.
Provided a briefing for ACEC-MA’s Utilities & Energy Conference featuring representatives from the utility and renewables industries.
The PAC raised $215,000 in May (a record high) bringing the overall total to nearly $700,000 so far in 2024; the Annual Convention Sweepstakes drawing drew a record 2,201 entries sold.
3 events were held at the ACEC Residence in May:
Check Drop with House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-CA) with 35 members of congress attending raising $121,000.
Lunch for Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Chair of the House Committee on Science & Space Technology attended by 5 ACEC Oklahoma members.
ACEC California Congressional Reception with 18 members of Congress from California attending.
ACEC Research Institute
Previewed the initial findings of the Lump Sum contracting study at the ACEC Annual Convention.
Partnered with FMI to deliver an education session at the ACEC Convention: What’s Next for the Economy in 2024 and Beyond, featuring the Institute’s sentiment study and economic work. Second highest attended session.
Provided all State Member Organizations with a customized state-level economic assessment report to use in their visits with legislators on Capitol Hill during ACEC’s Legislative Summit.
Released 2024 Q2 Engineering Business Sentiment report and conducted Future of Engineering Roundtable: State of the Engineering Economy 2024 Q2 with nearly 100 attendees.
Presented Institute data and perspective as a panelist on Deltek’s Clarity Study webinar.
Presented the Diversity Roadmap at the ACEC MN Transportation Conference.
Communications & Marketing
Received a silver Telly Award for the ACEC Duty to Defend education video.
Drafted the EEA gala script and assisted with the show production.
Drafted scripts and supporting materials for the Annual Convention and EEA and supported the production of the overall event.
Recorded several red-carpet interviews before the EEA, which are being posted now to the ACEC YouTube channel.
Recorded podcasts with keynote speakers, ACEC sponsors, guests, and members at the Annual Convention.
Meetings, Exhibits & Awards
The 2024 Annual Convention & Legislative Summit wrapped up on May 16, having hosted a post-pandemic record attendance of 915 people.
The event included keynote sessions addressing election reform and the upcoming election, how to communicate about the sensitive subject of ESG, and an inspiring talk from an MMA fighter-turned-humanitarian who is working to bring potable water and important infrastructure to indigenous communities in Africa.
The meeting culminated with the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, which saw a record-setting 798 seats sold and was hosted by a new emcee, award-winning comedian Paul Mecurio.
The Gala recognized the year’s top 203 engineering projects and culminated with the announcement of the top prize, the Grand Conceptor award, which was given to AECOM for the MTA Grand Central Madison (formerly East Side Access) project in New York City.
Membership, MO Services & BRE
Released the Intermodal & Logistics Market Brief providing five market trends, government affairs action, and business development insights.
Hosted the “Adaptive Re-Use, What’s Next for Office?” live, online market briefing focused on providing intel for engineers.
Presented an economic and market update to ACEC Michigan.
Hosted a live panel with three prominent developers at the Land Development Coalition roundtable meeting at the annual spring convention.
Kicked off Managing Small Projects Successfully, a four-part online course, which was sold out with 45 participants. Learn more about ACEC’s upcoming online education offerings.
The Coalition of American Structural Engineers (CASE) released new documents on the following topics: Making Remote Work Work, Succession Planning, Best Practices for use of Analysis and Design Software, and a white paper on teaming agreements. These tools and others in the document library are available for all ACEC members and free to CASE Coalition members. Check out the library and learn more about CASE.
Wrapped up the two-part online series titled Managing a Multi-State Business: A Guide to Compliance and Growth, which is now available on demand.
Have a great week,
Linda Bauer Darr
President & CEO
American Council of Engineering Companies | ACEC
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