Kansas Professional Engineer
eNews
September 2007, Issue
3
In this Issue:
 PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
by Christopher Price, P.E.
Welcome to the ‘07-’08 KSPE
Season! Much like your favorite NFL team, the KSPE draft picks have been
made and the negotiations are complete. Thus, we are ready to begin another
winning season.
Like most of you I’ve grown
up as an engineer, a Professional Engineer. Being a Professional Engineer
is much more than a job title or career. It is a profession, one that is
recognized and vital to the public health, safety and welfare and a
profession that we all take very seriously. Let me say that it is a very
humbling position to be chosen as president of the Kansas Society of
Professional Engineers and I appreciate this opportunity that you have given
me.
I have four priorities as
your president, each consistent with our Mission and the long-term goals of
the Society.
First, we are conducting a
comprehensive update to our Strategic Plan. As part of that effort, Tom
Roberts with Kansas State University has helped us conduct a detailed
web-based survey of our membership. Many of you took the time to complete
the online survey in recent weeks and your participation is greatly
appreciated. Your input is already shaping our efforts. Nearly 30 of our
state and chapter leaders participated in a full-day strategic planning
retreat in late August in Topeka, moderated by Mike Tracey, an organization
consultant from Overland Park. Working with Mike gave us the chance to
reaffirm the foundation of why we belong to the Society and prioritize the
basic functions of the organization. This effort will continue through this
fall with various task teams at work and culminating in presentation of a
detailed plan to our full Board at their meeting in December.
Second, we are expanding our
state government relations program to better utilize our grassroots
capabilities and raise our profile with state decision makers. The
unfortunate situation involving the Board of Technical Professions
disciplinary action against Eldon Ray for practicing design work without a
license and the legislature’s resulting knee jerk reaction to block the
Board’s enforcement action demonstrated that state policy makers don’t
adequately understand the role of licensure for Professional Engineers.
Perhaps we’ve had it too easy the past few years. We’ve become complacent
with our government relations activities; comfortable that a few experienced
folks are watching what goes on in the Statehouse without all of us
maintaining a personal relationship with our state representatives and
senators. It is disappointing that none of our KSPE members were contacted
by their legislators when the Eldon Ray issue first arose. We intend to
learn from that experience and rebuild a much more active grassroots network
of Professional Engineers.
Third, we are strengthening
our relationship with the Kansas Department of Transportation in particular
as we broaden our services to all Professional Engineers working in state
and local public service. The recent collapse of the Minneapolis bridge
serves as a grim reminder of the vital role public sector engineers play in
protecting the public health, safety and welfare. The past decade we’ve all
watched as the compensation gap between public sector and private sector PE
jobs has continued to grow. In addition, we’ve watched as jobs previously
filled by Professional Engineers have been backfilled by persons without
technical expertise and licensure. We must ensure that KDOT, KDHE, Kansas
Water Office, and local city and county governments understand the
importance and value of employing high quality Professional Engineers in
positions where their expertise is needed. Nothing less than the public’s
safety and confidence is at stake.
Finally, we will embark on a
significant membership development campaign to grow our membership resources
and expand our influence. Although our core programs are outstanding, we
continue to experience a long, slow decline in our membership. It would
seem that belonging to a professional society does not hold as high a
priority for today’s PE’s as it has in the past. There are a number of
reasons: university faculties are more involved in promoting technical
societies, KSPE/NSPE membership is expensive by comparison to technical
societies and many of the programs of the Society seem out of touch with the
“what can you do for me now” mentality. But not withstanding these
challenges, I know and you know that our profession needs a vibrant and
effective Professional Society. No one is at work in the Kansas Statehouse
protecting the value of your professional license but the Kansas Society of
Professional Engineers and our PEG group, ACEC of Kansas. No other
engineering society supports prudent investment in state and local
infrastructure like funding of deferred maintenance of our state
universities, and funding of the state comprehensive transportation plan.
No other professional society provides the variety of continuing education,
networking and mentoring options to broaden your leadership skills and
advance your career.
To be sure, we can do a
better job as your Professional Society. Our strategic planning activity
will ensure that we do make improvements. I encourage each of you to join
me in the effort, attend a chapter meeting, volunteer in a local or state
chapter program, and discuss membership in the Society with your peers.
We have many opportunities
to participate. Please contact your local chapter president, our executive
director Ron Gaches, or myself to learn more about how you can help
strengthen our Society and the communities in which we live. Thanks again
for calling on me to serve our Society and I look forward to visiting with
each of you over the next several months.
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 PAST PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
by Christopher Bohm, P.E.
The perception of time seems
to accelerate exponentially over time, and my tenure as KSPE president is no
exception to that observation. It has been a great year, and I look forward
to the term of Chris Price which began at our Annual Conference .
I came into office last year
hoping to achieve three main goals; 1) put to bed the continuing struggles
with our relationship with NSPE; 2) encourage each chapter to get involved
with a local charity; and 3) jumpstart the Engineers Foundation of Kansas
with a challenge grant aimed at other engineering firms. One out of three
isn’t bad!
Our relationship with NSPE
continues to consume many of the resources of our state society, most
particularly those of Ron Gaches and Tim Austin, our Executive Director and
NSPE Board of Directors member respectively. I’d like to thank both Ron and
Tim for their tireless efforts to create change in the way NSPE relates to
each state society. There is more to be done, and that duty will fall upon
Chris Price as he assumes his duties as president. Soon, our KSPE Board
will be considering changes to our constitution and by-laws that will allow
us to operate independently of NSPE should the need arise. I’m sure Chris
will keep you well informed on this issue.
Thanks to Topeka, Eastern,
and Wichita Chapters for taking me up on the idea of participating with a
local charity (and any other that did and I haven’t heard about). Hopefully
the participation alone is its own reward – and I challenge each Chapter to
make this an annual event.
The EFK challenge really
never got off the ground, and two firms, by their own initiative, stepped
forward to donate - Poe and Associates of Kansas and HNTB Corporation. I am
willing to extend our challenge grant another year should the EFK Board wish
to make a run at soliciting each ACEC of Kansas member firm to donate $500.
I would be remiss if I did
not acknowledge the true engine that is KSPE, that being the staff of Gaches
Braden Barbee & Associates. Ron Gaches, Dale Walden, Vicky Dressler, Brandy
Johnson, and Christina Driggs each contribute their special talents to KSPE.
Without their expertise we could not hope to remain informed on issues that
impact our engineering profession. Take a moment to thank the GBBA staff at
the conference next week. We are served by true professionals.
My impression of KSPE at the
end of my term is one of strength. We have an excellent Board of Directors
and Executive Committee who are committed to maintaining the strength of
KSPE. We have offered KSPE resources to the Kansas Department of
Transportation, and are beginning to see the fruits of that relationship.
We will be considering steps, as I mentioned above, to insure that KSPE can
operate independently, both in membership and finances. This again provides
us with strength to move into the future. This July will mark the return of
a P.E. license recognition ceremony hosted by KSPE, again, strengthening our
society by forming a bond with those who have earned the right to practice
this wonderful profession.
In closing, please take time
to remember what is important in life. Your engineering career can indeed
contribute to the betterment of all, but it should be a compliment to your
life. “Life is lived forward but can only be seen in the past” is a quote I
heard recently, and it struck me how true this is. Thanks to everyone who
has assisted me through my term as president. I have great optimism for the
future of KSPE.
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|
We hope you are planning to attend
the 8th Annual
Engineers’ Foundation of Kansas Fundraiser Golf Tournament. The
tournament will take place on Friday, September 28, 2007 with a
Shotgun Start at 9:00 a.m. at Colbert Hills in Manhattan. As in
past years, it promises to be a great day with prizes awarded for
top three places on three flights. Registration includes green fees,
cart, practice balls, and lunch.
This is for a great cause. Revenue
from the event is used to support activities of the Engineers
Foundation of Kansas, including MATHCOUNTS competitions and grants
to the three Kansas Engineering Colleges to be used for student and
faculty development.
Please go to
www.kansasengineer.org, download the registration form and
return it to the KSPE office as soon as possible. We look forward
to seeing you at Colbert Hills!
If you have any questions, please
call the KSPE office at 785.233.2121. |
To Top of Page
2007 KSPE Annual
Conference: “A Capital Event”
KSPE would like to thank the following sponsors
and vendors for their support of the 2007 Annual Conference held June 20-22
at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka. Their support helped make this years
event a great success.
Ice Breaker Sponsor
ACEC Business Insurance Trust
Platinum Sponsors
Bartlett & West Engineers
HNTB Corporation
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Gold Sponsors
Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation
George Butler Associates
Lockton Companies
MKEC Engineering Consultants, Inc.
Ruggles & Bohm, P.A.
Silver Sponsors
Baughman Co., P.A.
Bibb and Associates, Inc.
Black & Veatch
Kansas Asphalt Pavement Association
Kirkham Michael & Associates
Missouri Kansas Concrete Pipe Association
PB Americas, Inc.
Poe & Associates, Inc.
Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A.
Wilson & Company, Inc.
Van Gilder Agency
Bronze Sponsors
AXA Equitable
BG Consultants, Inc.
Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, P.A.
Cretex Concrete Products Midwest
The Heavy Constructors Association of Greater
Kansas City
Kansas State Univ. College of Engineering
LC Engineers, P.A.
Level-4 Engineering, LLC
M J Harden, A GeoEye Company
MO/KS Chapter, ACPA
Oldcastle Precast, Vanguard Division
Schwab-Eaton, P.A.
Seiler Instrument
Donald D. Taylor, P.E.
TranSystems
Univ. of Kansas School of Engineering
Vendors
ACEC Business Insurance Trust
AEROMETRIC
A.S.P. Enterprises, Inc.
AXA Equitable
Advanced Drainage Systems
Kansas Asphalt Pavement Association
Kansas Data Access and Support Center
Kansas State University
Mayer Specialty Services, LLC
Missouri Kansas Concrete Pipe Association
M J Harden, A GeoEye Company
Oldcastle Precast, Vanguard Division
Project Lead the Way
Univ. of Kansas School of Engineering
Utility Maintenance Contractors, LLC
Western Air Maps, Inc.
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To Top of Page
KSPE 2007 Awards Recipients
Congratulations to the
following Kansas Society of Professional Engineers Award winners who were
recognized at this year’s Annual Conference on Thursday, June 21st
at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka.
Outstanding Intern Engineer
 The
Outstanding Intern Engineer Award is given to an engineer that has passed
the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, but is not yet a registered
professional engineer. Criteria considered in the selection process are:
KSPE and NSPE membership and activities; technical society activities;
special awards and recognition; published papers; civic and humanitarian
actives and education/continuing education activities and achievements.
This year, the Outstanding Intern Engineer Award went to Jessica Rhein
of the Wichita
Chapter.
Jessica is a Kansas State
University graduate with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. She works as
an Engineer I at Parsons Brinckerhoff. She is an active member of KSPE and
attends regular monthly meetings and has volunteered to be a grader for the
MATHCOUNTS competition in the Wichita Chapter in 2005 and 2007. Jessica is
a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and has served as
Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President of the Wichita Branch. In other
activities, Jessica has volunteered approximately 2 hours/week, providing
engineering mentoring, as part of the Future City competition. She has been
a judge for the Science Olympiad. Jessica has also continued her education
with the KDOT Roundabout Design Course in 2006, ASCE Leadership Conference
in 2005, and KDOT/ACEC of Kansas Partnering Conference in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Outstanding
Young Engineer
 The
Outstanding Young Engineer Award is given to a KSPE member who is a
registered professional engineer 35 years of age or less. Criteria
considered in the selection process are: KSPE and NSPE membership and
activities; technical society activities; special awards and recognition;
published papers; civic and humanitarian actives and education/continuing
education activities and achievements. This year, the Outstanding Young
Engineer Award went to Jason Rourke of the Smoky Valley Chapter.
Jason is a University of
Nebraska-Lincoln graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering. He currently
works as a Project Manager for Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation in
Salina. While at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Jason performed
independent research on fiber reinforced polymer, was a member of ASCE and a
referee for intra mural sports and Special Olympics. He is involved in the
Society at both the state and local level. Jason served on the Annual
Conference Planning Committee for 2006-2007, has been a member of the Young Engineers'
Roundtable Planning Committee since 2002, and is a grader for the State
MATHCOUNTS competition. Jason is currently serving as Second Year Director
for the Smoky Valley Chapter, chairman of the Publications Committee, and
Young Engineer Roundtable Chapter Committee Chairman.
He is a LEED accredited
professional and in 2006 presented to an international audience a best
practice session title “Utilization of InRoads v8.7 in Designing the
Northwest Wichita Bypass. In his spare time, Jason is a member of AMBUS,
serves on the Citizen Review Committee for the Salina Area United Way, an
organizer/captain for a team for Bowl for Kids Sake with Big Brothers/Big
Sisters, volunteered to assist with international news media as part of the
Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer, and is a member of Ducks Unlimited.
Outstanding Teacher of the
Year
The Outstanding Teacher of
the Year award is presented to an individual that goes beyond the regular
classroom curriculum and challenges and expands the students’ exposure to
math and/or science. This year KSPE had two categories for this award,
Grade School and Middle School.
 This
year’s Middle School Teacher of the Year is Peggy Harrington. Peggy
is a Gifted Education Teacher for Prairie Star Middle School in the Blue
Valley School District. She is a member of the Prairie Star Middle School
Leadership Team and the Prairie Star Middle School Representative for the
Blue Valley Professional Development Council. Ms. Harrington teaches 6th,
7th and 8th Grades and has assisted students in
activities such as the Future City Competition, MATHCOUNTS, Reverse Engineering
Project, Mathematical Problem Solving Goal, First Lego League, Stock Market
Game, and GROW (Girls Reaching Our World) just to name a few.
This year’s Grade School
Teacher of the Year is Cindy Curran, a science teacher for 5th
and 6th Grade at St. Mary’s Grade School, Salina. She has
incorporated an innovative method of instruction to enhance the Science
curriculum at St. Mary’s School. Some of the projects, all aligned with the
National Standards for Science, include The Egg Drop, Rocketry, Mouse Trap
Cars, Toothpick Bridges, Kites, Catapults, Alternate Energy Sources, Food
Can Roll (cans were donated to the local food bank when the project was
completed) and Paper Airplanes. Mrs. Curran also works with the fifth and
sixth graders to design hands-on projects suitable for kindergarten through
fourth grade students. The upper grade students pair off with the younger
students, in what has been dubbed the Young Einstein Club, to work on
projects together on a monthly basis. Ms. Curran was not in attendance to
accept her award.
Outstanding
Engineering Achievement Award
 The
Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award is presented to an engineering
project, product or system utilizing engineering principle. Criteria
considered is the reason for the project, obstacles to overcome, financing,
uniqueness and/or engineering innovation, safety features and benefit to
general public. This year’s Outstanding Engineering Award went to
Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation for the Design of the LEED
Accredited Office Building.
Bucher, Willis & Ratliff
Corporation recently designed a new office building, with over 16,000 square
feet, utilizing the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Green Building Rating System for New Commercial Construction and Major
Renovation. The LEED Green Building Rating System helps to assist in the
creation of high performance, healthful, durable, affordable and
environmentally sound commercial and institutional buildings. This project
was privately financed and will benefit the occupants' with an interior space
that maximizes occupant’s comfort and performance levels by reducing
absenteeism, enhancing recruitment, and improving employee morale. The
building benefits the environment by reducing emissions, energy and water
consumption and provides an overall environmental benefit. And the building
is an economical benefit to the owners with reduced operating and
maintenance costs.
Some of the unique features
of this project include reducing the heat island effect of the parking lot
and roof, controlling light pollution off of the site and utilizing energy
efficient lighting and controls on the inside, water efficient landscaping
and plumbing fixtures, improving indoor air quality by prohibiting smoking
anywhere on the property, and the use of low-emitting adhesives, sealants,
paints, coatings, carpets, composite wood and agrifiber.
Professional Development
Award
 The
Professional Development Award is presented to the place of employment that
promotes the development of licensed professional engineers and shows
support for continued education and development. This year’s recipient is
George Butler Associates.
George Butler Associates
has a total of 242 employees of which 112 are classified as engineers. Of
the 112 engineers, 79 are licensed as professional engineers and 33 are
engineers in training. All 112 hold a bachelor’s degree in a field of
engineering. And of these 112, 21 hold a masters’ degree in the field of
engineering. GBA encourages professional and educational activities that
allow for the growth of the individual and the professional with such
programs as the Initiative for Quality program, the Project Leadership
Training program, and the Career Development Plan program. GBA also
encourages its employees to obtain professional development hours and to
develop “soft” skills. GBA encourages their employees to be active members
in their professional and technical societies by providing job time to
participate in activities, attend meetings and prepare and present papers.
Outstanding Citizen Award
 Criteria
considered for the Outstanding Citizen Award in the selection process are:
civic, fraternal and other affiliations and activities and accomplishments.
This year, the Outstanding Citizen Award went to William Anthony, of
the Eastern Chapter.
Bill is a graduate of KCMO
Junior College with an A.A., a graduate of Kansas State University with a
B.S. in Architectural Engineering, and a MBA Candidate in Business from UMKC.
Bill has been very active
in his profession and in his community. Several of the organizations that
he is involved with include: American Society of Civil Engineering, member;
Associated General Contractors of America, member; CoreNet Global, member;
Design Build Institute of America – Mid-America Council, member; Heart of
America United Way, loaned executive two years and leadership circle;
Johnson County Citizens Coalition for the Arts, facilitator; Johnson County
Museums Friends, board member & past president; Kansas City Area Development
Council (KCADC), member; Leadership Lenexa graduate; Lenexa Chamber of
Commerce, board member for four years; Business and Industry Hall of Fame,
award winner; Chairman’s Ambassador, past chair; Legislative Committee,
current chair; Education & Finance committees, Member of the Year Award;
Diplomats, past chair – winning best committee award two times; Overland
Park Christian Church, current Elder’s council, Trustee, adult education
committee and teacher, past board member, treasurer, stewardship & finance
committee and deacon; Shawnee Mission West Wings Program, ‘At Risk’ student
mentor for four years and Urban Land Institute, member, just to name a few.
Bill also has been
published on many occasions with articles such as: “Design Considerations
for Economical Formwork: Simplified Design – Reinforced Concrete Building
of Moderate Size and Height, published by the Portland Cement
Association; “A Matter of Forming” Concrete Construction Digest
“Advances in Concrete Construction Technology” published by the British
Cement Association.
Government Engineer Award
 Criteria
considered for the Government Engineer of the Year Award in the selection
process are: KSPE membership, education, professional registration, awards
and honors, civic and humanitarian activities, continuing education, and
engineering achievements. This year, the Government Engineer of the Year
Award went to Scott Lindebak, of the Wichita Chapter.
Scott is a Kansas State
University graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering. He is currently
employed by the City of Wichita, Public Works. He is a licensed engineer in
Kansas and Illinois. Scott is a member of APWA, ASCE, Association of State
Floodplain Managers, Certified Floodplain Manager, and International Erosion
Control Association in addition to NSPE. He is a current member of the
Wichita/Sedgwick County Flood Plain Task Force and is a member of the
Wichita Parks and Open Space Technical Advisory Group and Scott volunteers
at a weekly church based children’s program.
A few of the engineering
achievements that Scott has been involved with include Initiating a citywide stormwater sewer inventory to create a stormwater GIS layer,
developed a stormwater review checklist for final drainage plans submitted during the
plotting process with a goal to standardize plan submittal format, was
project engineer for more than ten stormwater projects that have improved
localized drainage problems, and initiated a project that is converting engineering’s microfilm street, grading and drainage records to a digital
imaging system making it easier to share engineering plans with design
consultants and others.
Special Recognition Award
 The
Special Recognition Award is given to an individual or group who, through
their service to KSPE, their profession and/or the community deserves
special recognition for their efforts. This year we have two awards.
The first award is in
recognition of the innovative engineering design by the City of Wichita
for the Phase I Equus Beds ASR Project.
This project has previously
received the outstanding engineering achievement award for the initial
stages of the project. The Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
Project is the first project of its kind in Kansas. The project captures
water from the Little Arkansas River during periods of above normal flow.
This water is then utilized to recharge the Equss Beds Aquifer which has
been used as a component of the City of Wichita’s water supply since 1940.
The water level in the aquifer has declined as much as 40 feet from
predevelopment levels. It has been estimated that the dewatered component
of the aquifer can store up to 65 billion gallons of water, which is
equivalent to the amount of water in Cheney Reservoir.
Because this is the first
project of this type in Kansas, the City worked extensively with all of the
regulatory entities to help develop the regulatory tools needed to
administer the project. The water appropriations from the State were issued
in August of 2005. The City also obtained a Class V permit from KDHE for
the recharge project that identified the water quality standards for the
water recharged into the aquifer.
This phase of the project
was intended to capture water from seven diversion wells drilled next to the
river. These are the first wells in Kansas to have an appropriation for
surface water. However, site testing determined that instead of being able
to divert 10 mgd with the wells, they were only able to divert approximately
3 to 4 mgd and the City would only construct three diversion wells.
In October of 2005, the
City decided to build a surface water diversion in addition to the diversion
wells in order to achieve the 10 mgd goal established for Phase I. The City
had acquired the services of Burns & McDonnell Engineering to design the
Phase I ASR Project. The surface water diversion project was contracted
with CAS Construction/CDM Engineering to complete the surface water
treatment plant.
The treatment plant was
operational on September 1st, 2006 and the rest of the facilities
a few days later. The aggressive schedule forced engineers, contractors and
supplier to work together as a team to utilize unusual techniques in order
to have the project completed in time to take advantage of expected fall run
off events. Ironically, 2006 turned into one of the driest years on record
and the facilities were not utilized until March of 2007.
Our second Special
Recognition Award went to the Cynthia McCann.
 Cynthia
is a graduate of Kansas State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and
a graduate of the University of Kansas with a M.S. in Engineering
Management. She is currently serving as Project Engineer/Squad Leader with
HNTB Corporation. While Cindy was attending KSU she was involved in many
activities including a student member of College of Engineering Dean Search
Committee, volunteer and speaker for the Society of Women Engineers Girl
Scout Engineering Day, and a KSU Engineering Ambassador, just to name a few.
Cindy has been a MATHCOUNTS
greeter, grader and scoring computer operator. She is also currently the
Engineers Week Co-Chair. She served as a member of ASCE from 1993-1999 and
served as President in the KSU Student Chapter in 1996 and is a past member
of the Society of Women Engineers.
Cindy is very active in her
church serving as a lector, a middle school catechism teacher from
2000-2005, and Catechumen Sponsor in 1999-2000. She also judges high school
debate and forensics tournaments.
She has presented to the
American Society of Engineering Managers KU student chapter on Engineering
Management & Gender, and the KSU student Society of Women Engineers chapter
on Work as a Young Professional, just to name a few.
KSPE Award
 The
KSPE Award is a new award for our state society. Criteria considered in the
selection process are: membership in both technical and non-technical
organizations; service to the profession; service to his/her community and
for the benefit of humankind; honors or awards bestowed; technical,
professional, or non-professional offices held; regional, national or
international activities of unique quality; and special regional, national
or international advisory assignments. The first ever KSPE Award went to
T. Michael Garrison of the Eastern Chapter.
Mike is a graduate of the
University of Kansas with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a graduate of
Stevens Institute of Technology with a Master of Engineering in mechanical
engineering.
Mike has served as
Secretary, Treasurer, Second Vice-President, First Vice-President, Past
President and Chairman of the Nomination Committee of KSPE and served as
President of KSPE in 1990-91. Mike is currently a Life Member of KSPE and
has been a member in good standing since 1966. In the Eastern Chapter, Mike
was recognized as the Engineer of the Year in 1988-89. Mike also worked on
several Annual Conferences Committees, particularly 1990 and 1991 and
organized the Dean’s Breakfast at the 1995 Annual Conference. In the Topeka
Chapter, Mike served as President in 1977-78, worked on several Annual
Conference Committees and Chaired the Membership Committee for 3 years,
Program Committee for 2 years and Awards Committee for 2 years.
Mike has been a member of
the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers since 1978 and is currently a
Privileged Member. He is a member of the Engineers Club of Kansas and
served several offices including President in 2000-2001. Mike is also a
member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services, serving as
President of the Kansas City Chapter in 1987-88 and was awarded Fellow
Status in 2004.
Mike has also served NSPE
as the North Central Region PEPP Vice President from 1992-94. He is also an
active member, with Life Member status, of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers and was President of the Student Section at KU in
1960-61.
Prior to retirement, Mike
was active in American Public Works Association, Association of Energy
Engineer – Certified Cogeneration Professional, Society of American Military
Engineers, and Highway Engineers Association of Missouri.
Mike has served on the
Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board at KU for over 10 years and founded
the Marketing University at GBA in 1998.
Mike has presented a
technical paper on “Alternative Fuels and Waste Heat Utilization in Diesels”
to the American Public Power Association 26th Annual Engineering and
Operations Workshop and prepared a report on “State-of-the-Art Survey of
Diesel Bottoming Cycles” for the Electric Power Research Institute.
Articles published include
“In-House Marketing University: Five Years and Growing,” SMPS Marketer;
“Managing a Municipal Electric System,” Florida Municipal Utility
Association’s FMUA News; and “Put Those Diesels to Work,” American Public
Power Association’s Public Power.
Outstanding Engineer of the
Year
 The
Outstanding Engineer of the Year Award is awarded to a registered
professional engineer, who is recognized by his or her peers to be a highly
qualified engineer with a high level of integrity. Nominees for this award
are evaluated on the basis of their contributions to the profession, through
their activities and personal growth in the engineering field along with
their civic involvement. They are evaluated on their contributions and
activity in KSPE, at the chapter, state and/or national level. The 2007
Outstanding Engineer of the Year was presented to Kent Dvorak.
Kent has a degree in Civil Engineering from Iowa State
University and is the Division Business Development Manager for Terracon
Consultants Inc. Kent has served as the Eastern Chapter President in 1994,
where he has been a member since 1982. With KSPE Kent has served as the
State Awards Committee Chairman from 1999-2001 and was State Director in
1995 and 1996. On the national level, he was a member of the NICET
Committee for Technician Certification from 1999-2003.
Kent has published a paper
on Cold Weather Concrete for Construction Specifier Magazine.
He is a member of the
American Society of Civil Engineers; Engineer’s Club of Kansas City; Society
of American Military Engineers; Rural Fire District No. 3, Johnson County,
serving as chairman; De Soto Rotary Club; Redeemer Lutheran Church, serving
as President of the Congregation 1995-2001; and Boy Scouts of America Cub
Master, Pack 3054, 1996-2002 and Committee Member of Troop 54, 1998-present.
Over the past 25 years,
Kent has developed extensive experience in both geotechnical and materials
evaluation and testing. Just a few of the projects that Kent has been the
project manager or principal in charge of include Sprint Center, Kansas
City, MO; Sprint World Campus Headquarters, Overland Park, KS; The Federal
Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO; Bartle Hall Ballroom
Expansion, Kansas City, MO; Community America Ballpark, Home of the Kansas
City T-Bones Minor League Baseball Team, Kansas City, KS; and H & R Block
World Headquarters, Kansas City, MO.
Kent has been very involved
in the Eastern Chapter helping with the Engineers Week Celebration, bridge
building and MATHCOUNTS programs.
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KSPE 2007 Order of the
Engineer Recipients
The Order of the Engineer is a solemn obligation
to oneself to uphold devotion to the standards and the dignity of the
engineering profession. It is an obligation to turn to practical use the
principles of science and the means of technology...to serve humanity by
making the best use of earth's precious wealth. The following received their
rings at the KSPE Annual Conference on June 21, 2007.
 Melinda
K. Nichols
Amy Martens
Anita K. Ranhotra
Clinton D. Robinson
Brian Armstrong
Sid Arpin
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2007-08 KSPE Executive Committee
President
Christopher Price PE
HNTB Corporation - Overland Park
President Elect
Thomas Roberts PE
Upward Consulting - Manhattan
First Vice President
Douglas Danaher PE
Wilson & Co Engineers & Archts - Overland Park
Second Vice President
Brian Armstrong PE
Bartlett & West Engineers - Topeka
Secretary
Glenn Knak PE
Bucher Willis & Ratliff Corp -
Salina
Treasurer
Edward Sexe PE
Cretex Concrete Porducts - Shawnee
Past President
Christopher Bohm PE
Ruggles & Bohm - Wichita
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state-only affiliate member
approved
The KSPE Board of Directors has approved
modification of the KSPE By-Laws to authorization creation of a State-Only
Affiliate Membership category. Draft language will be reviewed at the
December Board meeting. As directed by the Board, the draft language will
authorize the Board to set the membership criteria for the Affiliate Member
category. It is expected that the initial guidelines will allow only those
who are not eligible for NSPE membership to become State-Only Affiliate
Members.
Creation of the State-Only Affiliate will allow
those who are not Professional Engineers but interested in supporting the
Mission of KSPE to become members of the Society. Affiliate Members would
not be eligible to become state officers in KSPE.
In a related decision, the National Society of
Professional Engineers House of Delegates approved in July a Resolution
authorizing creation of State-Only Affiliates. In something of a fine point
of distinction, the NSPE State-Only Affiliates authorization does not allow
the Affiliate to be called a Member. The NSPE State Only Affiliate is
restricted to those individuals or firms who are not eligible to become
regular members of NSPE. The NSPE House of Delegates action followed a long
debate over the Four State Resolution, endorsed by the Kansas Society, which
would have authorized State Societies to create any criteria they wished for
State-Only Affiliate Members.
Implementation of the KSPE and NSPE State-Only
Affiliates authorization will be completed in the coming months.
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Kansas mathcounts national
competition report
by Don Taylor, PE, Kansas MATHCOUNTS Chair
 The
Kansas team and coaches ventured off to Fort Worth for the 24th annual
Lockheed Martin National MATHCOUNTS Competition. Lockheed Martin hosted the
competition in downtown Fort Worth. With side trips to the rodeo and to the
science museum, students were kept occupied when they weren't working
tests. A tie between two teams had to be broken using the Tie-Breaker
Round. At the end of it all, Kansas finished 35th out of the 57 teams competing. At
the Fort Worth Convention Center, the Kansas team posed in front of a Texas
map showing a bunch of the trails. From left to right are: David Wang;
Assistant Coach David McCoy; Leiming Tang; Coach Phyllis Hoyt; Pavan Kota;
and Paul Goodwin.
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 EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
by Ron Gaches, J.D.
Ray Case Reveals Work to be Done
An unfortunate incident in the closing hours of
the 2007 Kansas Legislative Session revealed that Professional Engineers
have a long way to go to have the kind of presence in the Statehouse needed
to protect their interests.
By now, you’ve probably all heard the story of
Eldon Ray, an 83 year-old retiree in Jackson County who designed an addition
to his church. Eldon volunteered his design work, as did the many church
members who helped to build the addition. The community response was very
positive, and the Topeka Capital Journal recognized Eldon for his volunteer
design services in a glowing article. The newspaper's coverage caught the
attention of AIA-Kansas who filed a complaint with the Kansas Board of
Technical Professions alleging Eldon was practicing architecture without a
license.
The Board conducted an investigation, contacting
Eldon and the church, and asked Eldon to sign a letter acknowledging he had
acted in violation of the law and pledging not to do so again. The Board
also asked Eldon to pay a $500 fine for the violation. (Note – the maximum
fine for this violation is $5,000.)
Enter the Kansas Legislature. During debate on
the final appropriations bill of the session, freshman Representative Rocky
Fund offered a floor amendment (called a budget proviso) that explicitly
prohibited the Board of Technical Professions from spending any money in any
further enforcement action against Eldon Ray. Eldon was a hero, explained
Rocky, and should be commended for his efforts, not harassed and fined by a
powerful state agency. Who do you support, Rocky challenged the House
members, your constituents or the state bureaucrats? (This is a
paraphrase. I’ve deleted the more emotional language.)
The budget proviso passed overwhelmingly as I
rushed from the House Gallery to the Senate to stop what looked to be a
runaway train. I was already too late. State Senator Dennis Pyle, whose
district includes Jackson County, had already negotiated a deal with Senate
budget conferees to accept the House budget proviso protecting Eldon Ray
against action by the Board of Technical Professions. In the midst of the
broader budget bill debate, this issue was viewed as a minor item and Senate
conferees were not going to back up on their agreement, notwithstanding
their misunderstanding of the issue.
Since the end of the session, several
legislators have discussed the need to pass legislation that would prohibit
or limit the Board of Technical Professions’ authority to prosecute
individuals who volunteer their “design” services or who provide “design”
services to churches and other not-for-profit organizations.
To my knowledge, not a single licensed
professional, engineer or architect, was contacted by any legislator in
advance of taking action on this issue. Neither Representative Fund nor
Senator Pyle contacted KSPE or AIA-Kansas, not did either of them contact
the Board of Technical Professions.
Clearly, Professional Engineers, and design
professionals generally, have not established the personal relationships
with legislators and political presence in the Statehouse that we need to
prevent the legislature from misdirected policy. We have to do a better
job, yours truly included, of informing state policy makers about the value
of licensure and the important role Professional Engineers play in
protecting the public health, safety and welfare. Next issue, “How to
become a more effective grassroots advocate.”
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Kansas State University is offering a
15-credit-hour graduate certificate program in Applied Statistics through
distance education. The program is designed for graduate students and
working professionals who need a statistics background to enhance their
graduate degree programs or advance in their professional careers. This
program is offered entirely by distance, which makes it easy to study and
learn on your own schedule.
For more information, visit
www.dce.ksu.edu/artsci/appliedstats, call 1-800-622-2KSU, or e-mail
informationdce@ksu.edu.
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The Metropolitan Kansas City Chapter ICC is
sponsoring seminars based on the 2006
International Building Code that will be held October 22-23, 2007.
The seminars topics are Wood
Framing, covering the design and construction requirements of
buildings, and Accessibility and
Usability, which will address the design and construction
requirements of accessible structures. Participants will earn .6 CEUs. For
more information see the Metro KC Chapter web page at
http://www.metrokcicc.org or contact Bill Watson at
816-513-1574.
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