The South Carolina Engineering Conference and Trade Show
The South Carolina Engineering Conference and Trade Show was held June 9-12, 2011 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa in Hilton Head, South Carolina. 

The South Carolina Engineering Conference’s goal is to offer the most complete Engineering Conference in South Carolina.  This year the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina, The American Society of Civil Engineers South Carolina Section, and The South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers were joined by the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, and the South Carolina Professional Land Surveyors, to offer a complete engineering experience.  The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulations sponsored fifteen professional development seminars offered during the conference. Read More...

Labor Licensing & Regulation Moving to Columbia Vista
LLR, including the SC State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors is moving into vacant space in the Columbia Mills building which also houses the State Museum.

Ms. Catherine Templeton, Director, said “There are many benefits to this move – cost savings, central location and an open floor plan.” The move is scheduled for the spring of 2012. 

LLR is currently in the Synergy Business Park at the intersection of Bush River Road and I-20.

2011-2012 SCSPE Officers and Board Installed at Annual Meeting
The SCSPE Officers and Board Members were installed by Mr. Harvey Hnatiuk, PE, NSPE Representative, at the SCSPE Annual Meeting Friday, June 10 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa, during the South Carolina Engineering Conference and Tradeshow. Read More...

Legislative Report
As I write (June 24) the General Assembly is still meeting although the session was supposed to have ended the first week of June. The chambers are dealing with gubernatorial vetoes, a few bills covered in the Sine Die resolution and reapportionment. As for engineering issues, the legislation directly important the profession was complete.  Read More...

SC Society of Professional Engineers Awarded its Engineer of the Year at the 2011 SC Engineering Conference Awards Banquet

L-R Gene Dinkins and Marguerite McClam

The 2011 SCSPE Engineer of the Year is Mr. Gene L. Dinkins, PE, PLS, of Columbia, SC.  Mr. Dinkins is president of Cox & Dinkins, Inc. where he responsible for all professional operations of the firm. He is licensed to practice engineering in three states.
                               
Cox & Dinkins perform comprehensive site development engineering and land surveying services.  Typical projects include major military projects, apartment complexes, large-scale commercial developments, governmental and institutional projects. Read More...

2011 Young Engineer of the Year
David McNeice, P.E. was named the 2011 Young Engineer of the Year by the South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers at the South Carolina Engineering Conference & Tradeshow in Hilton Head, SC, June 11, 2011. 

A 2002 graduate from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering, he then received a Masters degree in Civil Engineering in 2004.

Since joining SCSPE McNeice has been an active member in the Columbia Chapter.  He is the 2011 – 2012 Columbia Chapter President.  McNeice is a member of the Structural Engineering Association of South Carolina as well as the American Institute of Steel Construction. 

McNeice is currently a project engineer with Mabry Engineering Associates Inc. in West Columbia, SC.  He is in charge of entire projects from design to construction. He has been the project engineer on a variety of structural engineering projects throughout the east coast, and also has worked on some international projects.

McNeice regularly gives back to his community.  He donates platelets and plasma once a month to the American Red Cross.  He is also a supporter of the Oliver Gospel Mission and Harvest Hope Food Bank.

“We give this award to a young engineer who has made, and will make an impact in the engineering field” said Joe Jones, SCSPE Executive Director, “David fits that mold.”

Former Chair of SC State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors Recognized for Service to NCEES Southern Zone

At its 2011 interim meeting in Austin, TX, the NCEES Southern Zone awarded Mr. Gene Dinkins, PE, PLS, its Distinguished Service Award.

The award recognizes Mr. Dinkins’ service to the zone and to NCEES. He currently serves on the NCEES board of directors as its treasurer. Prior to that, he was the Southern Zone Vice President from 2007 until 2009.

Mr. Dinkins, who is president of Cox and Dinkins, Inc., a land surveying and civil engineering firm, has been a member of the SC State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors since 2004 and served as its chair in 2009-2010. 

NCEES is a national nonprofit organization composed of engineering and surveying licensing boards representing all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. An accredited standards developer with the American National Standards Institute, NCEES develops, scores, and administers the examinations used for engineering and surveying licensure throughout the United States. NCEES also provides services facilitating professional mobility for licensed engineers and surveyors. Its headquarters is located in Clemson, S.C.

Tort Reform Gets Help from the Top
In the heat of the debate on tort reform legislation, Governor Nikki Haley held a news conference in the SC State House alongside SC House Speaker, Mr. Bobby Harrell, and SC Senator, Mr. Larry Martin urging the SC Senate to pass tort reform.

The Governor said, “Strong tort reform is critical to giving South Carolina a competitive edge in recruiting new companies and protecting our existing businesses from frivolous lawsuits. Improving our state’s business climate depends on the Senate quickly passing a meaningful bill with reasonable limits on punitive damages.”

Speaker Harrell said, "This is about one issue and one issue only - Jobs.  Tort Reform is one of the most effective economic improvement issues before the General Assembly this year. Right now, South Carolina is less competitive than our neighboring states because they have already adopted these lawsuit abuse reforms that lawmakers and our business community are working so hard to pass this session."

Joe Jones Installed as SC Society of Association Executive President
The SC Society of Association Executives recently installed the 2011-2012 Officers and Board of Directors at the Society’s Annual Conference held at the Hilton Head Marriott.

ACEC-SC and SCSPE Executive Director and Jones, McAden & Associates owner, Joe Jones was installed SCSAE President. Mr. Jones has been on the Society’s board for a number of years and served as treasurer and vice president.

SCSAE is an organization of chief executive officers and professional staff who manage a variety of trade, professional and nonprofit associations as well as companies that provide products and services to the association community. Organized in 1963, SCSAE has more than 250 association executives, meeting planners, association staff members and business partners as members.

Ten years prior to being elected SCSAE President, he served as the society’s administrator for about 10 years.

Jones challenged the SCSAE members to recruit their fellow CEOs and to encourage their staffs to join and participate in the organization.

Jones, McAden & Associates wins Best in Business Awards
The SC Society of Association Executives recently announced its Best in the Business award winners, and Jones, McAden & Associates (provides association management for the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina and the South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers) received awards for entries in the public relations and event marketing categories.

The 2010 ACEC-SC Engineering Excellence Awards program won a Best in the Business award in the public relations category for JMA. This engineering award program is held at the Columbia Museum of Art. There were 17 EEA entries in the 2010 competition.

JMA also won a Best in the Business award in event marketing for the 2010 South Carolina Engineering Conference which took place in Charleston. This conference grew significantly from the 2009 to the 2010 conference in attendance and trade show exhibitors.

Thanks to those who Sponsored or Exhibited at the 2011 SC Engineering Conference & Tradeshow
ACEC-SC, ASCE–SC, and SCSPE would like to thank the 2011 SC Engineering Conference & Tradeshow Sponsors and Exhibitors. Read More...

Water Resources Project Manager-Columbia, SC W.K. Dickson & Co., Inc., a Civil Engineering Consulting firm, is seeking a Project Manager in our Columbia, SC Regional Office. Proven experience with design and construction administration of municipal water/wasterwater projects required. The position will include monitoring projects and their budgets, marketing services to potential, current and former clients, among additional duties. South Carolina PE is required.                   Company offers a very competitive salary and other excellent benefits in a progressive, career oriented work environment. Interested candidates please respond in confidence with resume to hrdept@wkdickson.com.  EOE www.wkdickson.com Engineering Intern – Columbia, SC W.K. Dickson & Co., Inc., a Civil Engineering Consulting firm, is seeking an energetic Engineering Intern ready for a progressive career in our Columbia office.  A minimum of 2 to 5 years experience in water/wastewater design, degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering and successful completion of the FE exam is required. Must have experience in AutoCAD with Civil 3-D. Responsibilities of this position include preparing engineering reports and construction contract documents; permitting; funding/grants and construction administration. Company offers a very competitive salary and other excellent benefits in a progressive, career oriented work environment. Interested candidates may respond in confidence with resume to hrdept@wkdickson.com.  EOE www.wkdickson.com Dean of Technologies Spartanburg Community College (SCC) invites applicants for Dean of Technologies, who is responsible and accountable for all personnel management functions, duties, and tasks within the Business/Computer and Industrial/Engineering Technologies Division.  Read More.... Nuclear Power Officers If you like to see the fundamentals of theory applied in important ways and want to be part of a core group of technical experts, a career as a Naval Reactors Engineer could be ideal for you. Here, you can fuel a passion for problem solving by defining and redefining the cutting-edge of nuclear propulsion. Read More.... Civil Engineering Corps U.S. Navy Civil Engneer Corps is offering challenging and rewarding job assignment where you will oversee massive projects and be a member of a world-class construction team.  Constructing city-size bases, airfields and harbor facilities.  Managing large budgets and ambitious public works plans.  Overseeing some of the most skilled and accomplished members of the construction trades on projects that span the globe.  Great benefits with long-term career opportunities.  A premiere engineering organization. Read More....

Save the Date June 14-17, 2012 for the
2012 SC Engineering Conference & Trade Show