Last month, Chapter Officers representing ASPE’s five Regions got together for the annual Region Meetings, which were held in Boston, Evansville, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Houston. I thank those who attended as well as the Chapters that hosted this year’s meetings, which went very well. Some of the topics that were discussed were the payoff of past dues rebates, activities of our special-interest groups, the latest education and certification news, available Chapter Officer resources, the Professional Engineer Working Group (PEWG), and the upcoming Convention & Expo in Atlanta. These meetings were an inspiration for everyone in attendance, and I believe we as a team have grown from the experience.

Speaking of the PEWG, we are still taking one step at a time. The latest news is that Georgia has now agreed with the importance of adding a plumbing option to the Mechanical Engineering Principles and Practice exam, joining Ohio and Arizona in supporting this initiative, but we still need the support of at least seven more states. The PEWG is asking licensed ASPE members to back this project by writing letters of support to their respective state licensing board, even if someone else has already contacted that board. The more letters sent to each state board on the importance of this initiative, the better chance we have of achieving our goal. California has already considered the proposal but is waiting for more states to come on board before they approve the request. Letters seeking support have also been sent to the Alabama, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia state boards, but we need more of you to get involved. The Working Group is looking for ASPE members who are licensed in Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming to help lead the charge. If you want more information on this initiative, go to aspe.org/pewg, where you will find letter templates along with some other useful information that you can use to write your own letter in support of this initiative. We appreciate any help that you can offer.

The transition from the ASPE Research Foundation (RF) to the Education & Research Foundation (E&RF) is complete. The State of California has approved the request, and the paperwork has been filed. Now the real work begins, as we have to set up an organizational chart and the bylaws that will help guide this new endeavor. The purpose of the E&RF is to provide our members with a solid education and to provide the necessary tools and training based on research. Once the framework of this new entity is in place, we will start by enhancing our educational programs while working to get some research projects off the ground. We are taking small steps now, but to be successful in the long run, we need to make sure we have a solid foundation.

Applications for the next Society Board of Directors have been submitted, and the Nominating Committee chaired by past President Bill Hughes, CPD, LEED AP, FASPE, has begun reviewing the candidates. The committee consists of the Chair, one representative from each Region, and two Presidential appointments, so the Society is well represented. The primary role of the committee is to develop a recommended slate of officers for the Delegates. To do this, the committee must review all of the applications to make sure the candidates qualify for a position in accordance with the Bylaws. The committee then schedules an interview with each candidate to discuss their goals and the reasons why they believe they should be elected to the Board of Directors. This is a very important piece of the process because most of our Delegates do not either know the candidates personally or have the time to perform their own personal interviews with all of them. The committee does the majority of the legwork for the Delegates, and this is why they prepare the recommended slate of officers, which consists of the candidates the committee believes are the best-qualified individuals for the positions. Once this process is completed, the Nominating Committee will release the recommended slate of officers so the Delegates can start reviewing all of the information before they cast their ballots in Atlanta. 

Speaking of the Convention, registration is open at expo.aspe.org, and we are expecting a record turnout this year. If you have never attended an ASPE Convention & Expo, you need to consider it this year. This is the largest event for plumbing system design professionals of its kind. The Convention kicks off with a Green Plumbing Design workshop, followed by numerous committee meetings. If you have ever wanted to see our committees in action, these meetings are open to anyone. A few special events will be held specifically for the Women of ASPE (WOA), ASPE Young Professionals (AYP), first-time attendees, ASPE certification holders, and those members who have been with the Society 25 years and longer. The Expo is the largest of its kind, and this year we will have more than 300 exhibitors with more than 600 booths for you to explore and learn all about the latest trends in the industry. If you are looking to earn CEUs, you are in luck. Continuing education credits can be earned simply by visiting the exhibition show floor and learning about plumbing system products from the many different manufacturers and their design engineers who will be in attendance. You can also earn CEUs by attending any of the technical sessions that will be offered on topics ranging from design, sizing, and construction to equipment and the latest trends. Attendees will also have some time to relax at the Sunday Night Party that will be held at Tabernacle Atlanta in the Centennial Park District. Hopefully you will be able to join us this year in Atlanta, which should be an unforgettable experience for everyone.

The Women of ASPE Announce the 2018 WOA Leadership Forum Program

The Women of ASPE (WOA) have released the schedule for the 2018 WOA Leadership Forum being held September 28 at the Hilton Atlanta. During this full-day event sponsored by Delta Faucet, business experts will lead discussions on how to maintain successful career growth in today’s ever-changing construction industry. The full schedule is available at expo.aspe.org under the Convention menu. The expert speakers and presentations will include:

• Jason Gonzalez: Keynote Address
• Cynthia Wentland: Fostering Generational Diversity
• Judaline Cassidy: Mentorship Is Access to Success!
• Paul Lorentz, LEED AP: Bucking the Professional Binary: A Man Doing “Woman’s Work” in a “Man’s World”
• Candy Barone, CMCP, MBA, BSME: Say YES to Biz: Strategies to Destroy the N.O.I.S.E.
• Sarah Balz, PE, CPD, LEED AP: The Women of ASPE

Congratulations 2018 Alfred Steele Scholarship Recipients!

We are pleased to announce that the following students received ASPE Alfred Steele Scholarships this year to help them in their pursuit of a career in engineering:

• Miya Preston, who attends the Milwaukee School of Engineering, has a 3.0 GPA, and is majoring in Architectural Engineering, received $2,000.
• Sarah Wood, who graduated from Thunder Basin High School with a 3.87 GPA and will attend the University of Wyoming to major in Mechanical Engineering, received $500.
• Jonathan Capua, who attends the University of Alaska–Anchorage, has a 3.475 GPA, and is majoring in Civil Engineering, received $1,500.

RWC Joins ASPE’s Affiliate Sponsor Program

Reliance Worldwide Corp. is a global provider of water control systems and plumbing solutions for domestic, commercial, and industrial applications. Their Affiliate Sponsorship includes the brands Cash Acme and SharkBite, as well as Holdrite, which has been an Affiliate Sponsor for several years.

For more information on ASPE’s Affiliate Sponsors, visit aspe.org/affiliates. To join the program, contact Brian Henry at bhenry@aspe.org or 847-296-0002 x235.

Final 2017 CPC Report Is Published

Last year’s Community Plumbing Challenge brought together a team of tradespeople from around the world to deliver life-changing water and sanitation systems to the residents of Cicau Village in Cikarang, Bekasi (West Java), Indonesia. We once again thank ASPE members Nicholas Hipp, CPD, and Vincent “Vinny” Falkowski, PE, PMP, CCM, for participating in the 2017 CPC. You can access the report and other documents here. 

Second-Quarter 2018 Board Reports Are Available

You can find out what ASPE’s Board of Directors has been doing since the January 2018 Board meeting at aspe.org/bodnewsletter (member login required).

ASPE Partners with Convention News Television

We are excited to announce a new partnership with CNTV, a media marketing company that creates TV news-style broadcasts to promote meetings worldwide. In addition to developing pre-show promos, CNTV will be on-site during the 2018 ASPE Convention & Expo, interviewing attendees and exhibitors and producing videos under the “ASPE Live” brand. You can find our promotional videos at expo.aspe.org as well as on our social media outlets and in ASPE Pipeline.

Numerous Professionals Earn the CPD Credential

The 2018 Certified in Plumbing Design (CPD) exam was held in April, and we are pleased to announce that a majority of the candidates passed and now have the honor of using the CPD designation after their name. You can find the entire list of new CPDs at aspe.org/cpd-directory-new. The CPD, the only international credential program in the plumbing engineering field, sets the standard for leadership within the industry and provides formal recognition of outstanding professionals with advanced skills in the design and specification of plumbing systems.