Happy Holidays from JMA
The staff of Jones, McAden & Associates, association managers for ACEC-SC and SCSPE, would like to wish you a very Happy Holidays and prosperous New Year.

As in years past, in lieu of sending cards, JMA adopted a family of 4 from Families Helping Families and a child from the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree.  We are excited to help make each person’s Christmas wishes come true.

Best wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season and a Successful and Happy New Year.

Holiday Schedule for ACEC-SC & SCSPE
December 23, 2014– Office will close at 1:00 for Office Christmas Party
December 24, 2014 – Office Closed
December 25, 2014 – Office Closed
December 26, 2014 – Office Closed
January 1, 2015– Office Closed
January 2, 2015 – Office Closed

Design Construction Partnership Legislative Reception
ACEC-SC, SCSPE, ASCE-SC, AIA SC and Carolinas AGC are hosting the Design Construction Partnership legislative reception on January 27, 6:00-8:00 pm at The Palmetto Club in Columbia. Please RSVP Ginger Booker by January 20 if you would like to attend. Click here to download and print the invitation.

From the SCSPE President
George H. McCall, PE, SCSPE President

George McCall

Here we are at the end of another calendar year.  With all of the hustle and bustle of everyone getting ready for the Holidays, it is easy to lose sight of what is going on in your professional society.  I’m here to let you know. 

SCSPE held its annual Fall Symposium a little over a month ago in both Greenville and Charleston.  I attended the Greenville Symposium and let me tell you, Mel Lester of the Biz Edge led  a wonderful and educational session.  He gave attendees tools they could use immediately.  

Starting in July, SCSPE began a membership recruitment tool that allows new members to come to one of our PDH seminars free.  Also, you as a member can attend a seminar free if you recruit a new member.  This program has already started paying off.  Since July SCSPE has welcomed in 27 new members.  This is a great start.  If you see one of these new members please welcome them and help get them involved. 

As we begin the new year, we also start a new legislative session.   With this not being an election year, we hope this will be the year we get some things to move.  SCSPE will be pushing for Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) to be adopted for all public design work this year, and for this to happen we will need your help.  QBS is defined as a competitive procurement approach for selecting and retaining design professionals that emphasizes qualification to achieve the final project performance and ownership cost objectives.  QBS is already legally required at the state and federal levels.  It is our job as engineers to educate the public on what QBS is and why it is the best way to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public when selecting engineering services for public projects. 

SCSPE does have a couple things on the horizon that we’d like to invite you to.  On Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, SCSPE is participating in the “Design Professionals Legislative Reception”.  This is free to our members, and we encourage you to come and speak with your legislators about the issues engineers face this year.  On Feb. 25, 2015 ACEC-SC & SCSPE Winter Meeting which has two tracks environmental and business. We partner with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control on the Environmental Track.   Do not forget that the new year is when Chapter MathCounts competitions start.  Check with your Chapter President to find out when your Chapter’s competition is, and please volunteer.  Lastly, do not forget to nominate a colleague for Engineer of the Year and Young Engineer of the year.  

Happy Holidays, and may you all have a great New Year.

South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers’
Executive Director’s Report – Joe S. Jones
The end of the year has become a busy time here at the office. Discussions on the introduction of the Engineers’ and Surveyors’ Practice Act have been surprising. The SC State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors has discussed the issue at the last three board meetings and has not come to any final conclusions. Read More...

Opening on SC State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Jeff Mulliken is stepping down as a member of the South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors at the end of his term, Jan. 1, 2015.

The S.C. Council of Engineering and Surveying Societies (SCCESS) is the legal body entrusted to send qualified registered candidates to the Governor for the open seat on the Registration Board.  ACEC-SC and SCSPE each have three SCCESS representatives. ASCE-SC, SCSPLS and IEEE are the other active SCCESS members. ASME has been active in the past.

Five candidates submitted the required paperwork to SCCESS for consideration for the open position.  Upon review and interviews of the candidates in January, SCCESS will make the recommendation to Gov. Haley.

SCSPE Welcomes new Members
The bloodline of any association is who belongs to the organization.  Our members are what we count on to make SCSPE meet our mission.  We have many new members we’d like to welcome to SCSPE.  Read More...

ACEC-SC & SCSPE Winter Meeting
The American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina and the South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers is holding the Eighth Annual Winter Meeting on Feb. 25, 2015 at Seawell’s in Columbia.

The Winter Meeting begins with an update from the president of each group.  Then attendees choose from the business and environmental tracks.  Everyone reconvenes for lunch with a key note speaker.  With full day participation, 6 PDH’s can be obtained.

Save the date to attend the ACEC-SC/SCSPE Winter Meeting Feb. 25, 2015 at Seawell’s in Columbia, SC. Click here to register.

SCSPE Fall Symposium: “A Business Edge for Design Professionals” a Success
Four the fourth year in a row, the SCSPE Fall Symposium was a hit.  SCSPE held the fall symposium on November 12, in Greenville, and in Charleston on November 13.  Both locations sold out.

Mel Lester of BizEdge, lectured about quality, why quality programs fail, and root cause analysis.  During the 8 PDH session attendees broke into groups and worked hands on with real life business problems scenarios and formulated solutions.  Lester’s unique methods keep attendees well engaged as they have a chance to use what they are learning the day of in the group exercises. 

With 90 attendees between the two locations, SCSPE received rave reviews.  If you missed the Fall Symposium “A Business Edge for Design Professionals”, do not worry.  SCSPE had such great feedback, that Mr. Lester is leading a full day session this summer at the SC Engineering Conference & Trade Show, June 11-14, 2015 at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort.

SCSPE Educational Foundation
Secretary of State, Mark Hammond, said, “Give with the heart, but give wisely.” It is time to make a contribution to the SCSPE Educational Foundation, Inc. As an engineer, this contribution to the Educational Foundation can be from the heart as your donation goes to providing scholarships to rising juniors and seniors studying engineering at a South Carolina ABET accredited Engineering School. The foundation also sponsors the state MathCounts competition.  Read More…