Emerging Leader's Training (Technical and/or Business Development)

Description

ACEC/MN has designed two series for individuals committed to developing their leadership abilities. These series impart specific skills and competencies identified by top principals and young leaders within ACEC/MN as critical for leadership success. The interactive sessions are divided into two series; developing technical business skills and business management skills. Participants may sign up for one or both series. Programs are led by experts in the field who work with the ACEC/MN engineering community and are very familiar with the industry. 

Who Should Attend:
Most participants are employees of ACEC/MN member firms (mechanical/structural/electrical/civil engineers, EITs, drafters, technicians, etc.) with up to six years of experience.

Series 1: Technical Development
Program #1                The Big Picture & Working with Clients
Engineering firm leaders bring work to their firms. Learn where to find work, how to respond to requests, and how to develop client relationships as a team.
 
Workshop leaders:
Susanne Miller, Loucks (marketing)
 
Program #2  Construction Administration & Legal Issues              
Discover what the common liability issues and situations that arise in the practice of engineering and how you can identify them, prepare for them, and handle them in a way that does not put your firm or license at risk.

Workshop leaders:
Eric Heiberg, Heley, Duncan & Melander, PLLP (attorney)
Dave Rettner, American Engineering Testing, Inc. (geotechnical)

Program #3   Delivery Methods & Risk Management     
Our presentation will cover the variety of delivery methods available to the engineering community, the roles and responsibilities of the engineer, owner, and contractor, and the professional risks and potential rewards of each method.
 
Workshop leader:  
John Dillingham, Alliant Engineering, Inc. (civil)
 
Program #4  Financial Operations & Practices  
Consulting firms are in the business of providing professional services while generating income for their employees.  Learn the basics of company revenue, expenses, and profit. Find out about the financial practices and management of a consulting business.

Workshop leader:
Randy Geerdes, retired from SRF Consulting Group, Inc. (civil)
 
Series 2: Business Development
Program #1  Interpersonal Communication                
Communication skills are often understated and taken for granted, yet they are the backbone of our daily lives in both the personal and professional engineering worlds we live in. This presentation will discuss the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication and give specific examples of the positive and negative implications on how to use them. Whether you are a new employee, project manager, or a friend; if you want to enhance your communications skills, this presentation will give you many tips to improve them.
 
Workshop leader: 
Doug Cooley, PE, Michaud Cooley Erickson (mechanical)
 
Program #2   Career Track
Learn how to create a career track that helps you maximize your professional potential and minimize the risks of career derailment along the way. Understand how to align your strengths with your firm’s goals and find opportunities to grow your career.
 
Workshop Leader:
Steve Salmi or Kevin Johnson, Corporate Psychologists, LLC (leadership and career development)
 
Program #3  Engineering Ethics/Rule Renovation: Updates to the MN Rules of Professional Conduct
It is critical to be ethical in the A/E/C industry. In this session, we will review new and updated Minnesota rules of conduct for design professionals; refresh the design professional’s understanding of the Minnesota rules on professionalism and ethics; learn how ethical practice protects the public health, safety, and welfare; and learn about the Licensure Board’s Complaint Process. Through discussion of cases, you will learn how to identify ethical dilemmas in practice, both in the office and in the field, and learn how to do the right thing when faced with ethical issues.
 
Workshop Leader:
Kristine Kubes, Kubes Law Office, PLLC (attorney)

Program #4  Leadership Meets the Technical Professional 
So, you want to be a leader... Or maybe you are not quite sure.... In this session, we will look at leadership from the world of the technical professional. What does it mean to be a leader? How do your choices change? What do you need to develop? How can you do this? You will leave this session with greater clarity of your personal leadership choices and begin to make a plan.
 
Workshop Leader: 
Margaret Smith, UXL (individual and team coaching)