Engineering Influence from ACEC

A Conversation with Jeff Speck about Road Engineering Standards and a Lot More

What began as a conversation about induced demand with urban planner Jeff Speck quickly broadened into a wider discussion about U.S. road engineering standards, their impact, and what responsibility engineers may have to improve them.
Speck is the author of Walkable City, one of the most influential and widely read city planning books in recent years. He subsequently wrote Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places, which is targeted towards traffic engineers and transportation professionals. If you've read these books, you know he doesn't hold back on his opinions, and that trait comes through on this podcast. So, buckle up.

Government Affairs Update for 9-10-21

On this week's Government Affairs Update, Katharine Mottley, our tax and regulatory guru, joined the program to discuss the status of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill moving in Congress and how emerging divisions among congressional Democrats may impact the process.  We also discuss several revenue bills moving through Congress, including potential changes to important passthrough deductions for our industry.  

Minding Your Business: Wes Guckert Shares the Secrets to Successful Business Development

One of the most daunting challenges is business development, the pursuit of strategic opportunities for the firm, whether that be new clients, more business from existing clients, or even new partnerships or business relationships. This can often feel like you're racing on a hamster wheel that is always accelerating.
Wes Guckert came on the program to help us dig into how to succeed at business development. President and CEO of The Traffic Group in White Marsh, MD., Wes is a frequent speaker on the subject and recently presented an online class for ACEC. 
Click here to link to the ACEC On-Demand class, What is BD's Secret Sauce?

MO Spotlight: Strategic Engagement with ACEC Indiana

On today's Member Organization Spotlight, we feature ACEC Indiana's former and current President Michael Rowe and Cash Canfield to discuss a strategic enrollment process they undertook with their DOT.

Speechworks Joey Asher on the Keys to Good Virtual Platform Presentations

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have spent a lot more of our workday in the virtual environment, talking to colleagues, clients, and others over Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.
Many engineering firms now do online client presentations, and they can be quite a challenge because the skills and systems that make for successful face-to-face presentations don’t necessarily transfer to the virtual world.
To share his insights into how to adapt client presentations to the virtual world, Joey Asher came on the program. Joey is president of Atlanta-based Speechworks, which offers communication and public speaking skills training and coaching to businesses nationwide.
 

Government Affairs Update for 8-27-21 With Steve Hall

Steve Hall came on the program to recap the month's events related to infrastructure and the PPP FAR credits clause.  

AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker Discusses the Architectural Billings Index and the Economic Outlook

ACEC Private Market Resources Vice President Erin McLaughlin talks with Kermit Baker, chief economist at the American Institute of Architects, about the Architectural Billing Index survey and the economic outlook for the design services industry.
For more information, the ACEC Research Institute has released two economic forecasts for the engineering industry:
2021-2025 Engineering Industry Forecast
2021-26 Engineering Industry Outlook Special Report: Infrastructure Scenarios & Their Impact on Engineering and Design Services.
 

Karen Susman on Tips and Tactics for Dealing with Difficult Conversations

Karen Susman of Karen Susman and Associates in Denver joins the program to offer her expertise on how engineers can deal with difficult conversations. The discussion is replete with big strategies and small tactics for handling tough topics with clients, employees, subcontractors, and friends and family.
Karen presented an online class for ACEC in June titled Dealing With Difficult Conversations: Communication, Conflict and Other Snafus. The On-Demand Class is available to stream here.