QBS---Simply Put

-from George Binder, Executive Director, Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers

The selection of an Engineer is one of the most important decisions that will be made throughout the process of completing a successful project. This statement also applies to the selection of architects, land surveyors, and related professional services.

Design has a major impact on all other costs related to the project, even though the cost of engineering services for the average project represents less than one percent of the total lifetime cost of construction, operation and maintenance. Investing in quality design services at the outset of the project often results in significant long-term savings. The quality of the services provided by the design engineer is the single most important factor in determining the overall construction costs and life-cycle cost of a project. Read the article (PDF)

ASPE MEMBERS RUDOLPH AND HAWKINS TAKE HOME PRESTIGIOUS ECOB AWARDS

The Engineering Council of Birmingham presented its 49 th Annual Awards program on Feb. 21 at The Club. This year, two women and a consulting firm president were chosen to take home the event’s biggest awards. A panel of judges has selected Alicia H. Rudolph PE of Volkert & Associates, Elizabeth M. Kuhn of Southern Co. and Lamar T. HawkinsJD PE of PEG Inc. as its top honorees for 2007. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges who selected the winners from a list of several finalists in three categories. The finalists were the award winners in their categories from the local engineering society that nominated them. Nominees were judged on their career accomplishments, as well as their contributions to their engineering societies and the community.

Distinguished Service Award

Lamar T. HawkinsJD PE, president of PEG Inc., who was nominated by the Alabama Society of Professional Engineers. After taking an early retirement in March 1998, Hawkins became president and majority owner of PEG Inc., a forensic engineering firm. He also maintains a civil law practice, where he helps prepare wills and power of attorney for those without funds. Hawkins previously served as a projection engineer for both Alabama Power Co. and Southern Nuclear Operating Company, and was a general superintendent, president and board member for Pawnee Construction Co. Inc. He was selected for the award based on his history of professional and community service. Hawkins is a past winner of the ASPE Engineer of the Year Award and two ASPE Distinguished Service Awards. He has served a complete officer rotation for the ASPE Birmingham Chapter, and currently serves as ASPE State Delegate to the National Society of Professional Engineers.

Engineer of the Year

Alicia H. Rudolph PE , Vice President and Manager of Operations for engineering and surveying at Volkert & Associates, was nominated by the Society of Women Engineers.Since joining Volkert in 1991, Rudolph has quickly ascended the firm’s corporate ladder. She started as a staff engineer and was a project manager and senior project manager before assuming her current role, which includes managing the firm’s team of engineers, surveyors, technicians and construction project representatives. Rudolph has worked on a number of noteworthy road construction projects across the state, including portions of the Birmingham Northern Beltline and Corridor X near Birmingham. She is also responsible for conducting quality assurance audits throughout the company and also coordinates the company’s in-house training sessions. Rudolph received the Young Engineer of the Year Award from ECOB in 2001. She has served a complete officer rotation for the ASPE Birmingham Chapter, and currently serves as ASPE State Vice President Central Region.

Young Engineer of the Year

Elizabeth M. Kuhn , senior engineer for Southern Co. Engineering and Construction Services, was nominated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Kuhn, who has worked at Southern Co. for more than 14 years, has been responsible for leading a team of engineers who have developed the design of large environmental controls at the company. Under her leadership, the team has developed controls to remove sulfur oxides from coal units in Southern Co.¹s fleet. The projects often last more than four years and cost more than $500 million. In addition to her career at Southern Co., Kuhn has also published several articles and presented at national conferences. She was the 2007 recipient of the Southern Excellence Award from Southern Co. Generation. Written by Ty West, Staff Writer for the Birmingham Business Journal, and printed with permission

MATHCOUNTS Alabama State Competition 2008

MATHCOUNTS is a national math enrichment, coaching and competition program open to all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.MATHCOUNTS brings together educators, youth, industry sponsors and volunteers. More than 17,000 volunteers from the business and education communities organize and conduct the annual program in communities nationwide. Local and state competitions are coordinated through the leadership of state and local chapters of the National Society of Professional Engineers. The Alabama State MATHCOUNTS Competition will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the University of South Alabama College of Engineering in Mobile. Top teams from the nine local chapter competitions will compete in the event for Best Mathlete in Alabama. Sponsors for the state MATHCOUNTS competition include the Alabama Society of Professional Engineers (ASPE), University of South Alabama College of Engineering, and Volkert & Associates, Inc.For additional information on MATHCOUNTS, please visit www.mathcounts.org. CONTACT: Sharon Kimbrough, P.E. MATHCOUNTS State Coordinator Phone: 251-342-1070 January 25, 2008 skimbrough@volkert.com

New Members

Events

• New ASPE website nears completion-projected live date is Jan 15th
• Old website domain will be redirected to new site
• There will be meetings coming up >>Read more

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