Engineering Inc. - January/February 2008 - I-21

and competitive advantage is the ability to attract and retain top performers. While firm leaders understand their biggest asset is their staff, few know how to position their firm as a choice employer. This session will examine the state of today’s HR industry, explore the hiring and retention secrets of successful firms, and provide best practices to help companies become “employers of choice.” reasons for avoiding the Alternative Dispute Resolution processes: “too long,” “too costly,” and allowing “no appeal.” Economic Loss Doctrine: Peculiar Name, Critical Loss Prevention Tool Richard Nakamura and Nicholas M. Wierczorek, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP March 12, 2008 The Economic Loss Doctrine is a legal principle with broad practical effects on design practice. Recognizing its application can avoid potential “unlimited liability” for claims, and enforce mutually negotiated contractual terms and provisions. Participants will learn the status of the Economic Loss Doctrine in jurisdictions across the country, how to recognize it in design practices, and how to interface effectively with insurance carriers or third-party claims professionals to handle legal disputes. Wal-Mart effect. To succeed, firms will need to learn how to differentiate themselves from competitors, understand and deliver on client demands, and maximize the knowledge value of their workers. This session will look at both internal project delivery processes and external demands of clients. Strategizing Winning Proposals from Value Proposition to Differentiation on Deadline Clare Ross The Clare Ross Organization May 13, 2008 What are the essentials of a good proposal? What are the key content points a decision maker wants to see? How should content be organized? What about differentiation from the competition? How can proposals be written faster? This seminar offers answers and ideas for writing powerful, persuasive proposals that win business. Finance and Economics Merger and Acquisition Transactions—Looking Ahead Colvin Matheson Matheson Financial Advisors April 2, 2008 Setting the stage with a look ahead at the marketplace through year-end, this seminar will review the basics of firm valuation in anticipation of mergers and acquisitions. The discussion also will cover the nuances of deal structures and closing transactions. The interested seller will gain information to help manage expectations about the worth of a typical engineering firm and what to expect in a deal structure. On the buyer side, the session will examine the entire M&A process and provide tips on getting to closure. Human Resources Now That I Have Them, How Do I Keep Them? Greg Churchman Churchman Consulting February 5, 2008 Organizations focus a great deal of their time and effort on hiring…but that is often the easy part! Based on declining workforce projections, your firm’s ability to keep valuable staff members will become more and more essential. A creative and solid retention strategy is key to the future success of every business, large or small. The Talent War—Recruitment and Retention in Today’s Competitive Engineering Industry Lori Oakes-Coyne, ZweigWhite March 25, 2008 The Number One factor limiting a firm’s growth potential Marketing and Business Development The PR Plan: A Strategy to Increase Visibility Susan Frost SEF Consulting Inc. January 22, 2008 As a vital integral component of a firm’s overall marketing plan, a strategic public relations plan can create recognition and favorable public perception, strengthen brand and position, and facilitate the ability to develop new business. Research, participation, content, strategies, tactics and buy-in will be explored in this seminar. Escaping the Wal-Marting of Engineering Robert vanArsdall XL Design Professional April 15, 2008 External pressures on the engineering industry are forcing a commoditization of the engineering industry—the Communications and Information Technology rcep.net: The NCEES/ ACEC Nationwide Portal to Continuing Education for Engineers Jeff Beard, ACEC, and Erin Carroll, NCEES April 16, 2008 Now there’s a solution to the challenge of keeping track of needed PDHs: rcep.net. This new online education management system being built by NCEES and ACEC enables engineers to search out, find and select relevant courses; maintain personal educational and professional history; record PDHs; and track continuing education requirements in all states. Contracts and Risk Management Arbitration and Mediation… for the People Who Write the Checks Darrel V. Holmquist, CTL/ Thompson Texas, LLC, and Robert Meade, American Arbitration Association January 15, 2008 Arbitration and mediation can be coordinated for better results. This seminar outlines the processes and provides the tools to control the cost, time, and frequently, the outcome. Participants will also examine responses to the often-cited sPrIng seMester 2008 I-21

http://www.acec.org/education/eventDetails.cfm?eventID=965 http://www.acec.org/education/eventDetails.cfm?eventID=974 http://www.acec.org/education/eventDetails.cfm?eventID=958 http://www.acec.org/education/eventDetails.cfm?eventID=972 http://www.acec.org/education/eventDetails.cfm?eventID=960 http://rcep.net http://www.acec.org/education/eventDetails.cfm?eventID=971 http://www.acec.org/education/eventDetails.cfm?eventID=968

Engineering Inc. - January/February 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - January/February 2008