TABLE OF I CONTENTS ENGINEERING NC. M A Y / J U N E 2005 V o l . 16, No. 3 F E AT U R E S 22 COMMON GROUND 12 14 State Member Organizations, ACEC National align strategic plan objectives. By Charles Kim AN OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE 14 Developing winning proposals takes advance planning, teamwork and a deep understanding of the client. By Darlene Bremer BETTER TO BE SAFE 18 On-site safety remains a major concern for engineering firms. 18 By Garrison Spik C OV E R STORY ENGINEERING Political pundits EXCELLENCE AWARDS 22 James Carville and The four-day Annual Convention C A B L E RISDON PHOTOGRAPHY Mar y Matalin were included Consulting Congress part of an impressive Day and celebrated the top lineup of guest 24 projects of 2005 at speakers at the the Engineering Excellence Annual Convention. Awards Gala. COVER PHOTO BY FORREST MacCORMACK D E PA R T M E N T S FROM ACEC TO YOU 2 engineering firms and affordable health 4 ACEC seeks harmonized national and insurance plans; Congress renews efforts on state strategic plans. the Water Resources and Development Act. NEWS & NOTES 4 BUSINESS INSIGHTS 40 Traf fic congestion is no longer just a big-city The strategic value of marketing; environmental problem; QBS ranked tops for picking A/E sustainability; how to win federal projects. firms; Census report shows A/E revenue MEMBERS IN THE NEWS 42 growing rapidly. Hubbell, Roth & Clark celebrate 90 years; MARKET WATCH 6 Parsons Brinckerhoff's William Smith named Inadequate communication technology 2005 Black Engineer of the Year; ACEC costing construction industry billions. `Welcomes' new member firms. LEGISL ATIVE ACTION 10 ONE ON ONE 52 Lawmakers to finalize TEA-21 bill; Energy Greg Graves, president and CEO of Burns & reform is back on the front burner; McDonnell, discusses winning ACEC's 2005 ACEC weighs in on size standards for small Grand Conceptor Award. Engineering Inc. promotes the advocacy and business interests of ACEC by offering news, legislative analysis and business practice information to member firms, clients, opinion leaders and policy makers. The articles and editorials appearing in this magazine do not represent an official ACEC position or policy unless specifically identified as doing so.