Upcoming Events:
In Memoriam of Robert Jenny, It is with great regret and sadness that we report longtime NJSPE member Bob Jenny, P.E., L.S., 76, passed away on Saturday, February 23rd, after a brief illness. As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Jenny Engineering Corporation, Engineer Jenny enjoyed the reputation as one of the world’s preeminent experts in the design and construction of tunnels and underground structures. An active member of the North Central Chapter, he was a regular attendee at meetings of the chapter and frequently hosted his colleagues by underwriting hors d’oeuvres served before dinner. Returning from the Korean War as a distinguished veteran, he completed his education at Newark College of Engineering, now one of the six colleges at NJ Institute of Technology. In 1988, he was honored as “Small Business Person of the Year” by the Small Business Administration. In 1993 he was named “Engineer of the Year” by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Jenny volunteered in many community activities, serving on the Board of Overseers of NJIT, as a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and in the New Jersey National Guard. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and four grandchildren. Those wishing to remember Bob with a gift may send donations to either… The leaders of NJSPE offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of this beloved man.
Pennoni Associates Announces Relocation of Cranford Office to Edison, NJ PHILADELPHIA – Pennoni Associates, an award-winning consulting engineering firm headquartered in Philadelphia, is pleased to announce that its Cranford, NJ, office will relocate to 105 Fieldcrest Avenue, Suite 502, Edison, New Jersey 08817. Pennoni plans to leave its Cranford office on November 30, 2007, and resume operation in Edison, NJ on December 3, 2007. The Cranford office currently accommodates 22 staff members in four divisions; Civil/Site/Landscape Architecture, Municipal, Environmental, and Transportation. With a larger office in Edison, Pennoni anticipates growing to 30-35 employees with the addition of an Environmental Permitting Group, a Mechanical/ Electrical/ Plumbing Division, and a Structural Division. The phone and fax numbers will remain the same: Phone: (908) 653-0691 “Pennoni is very excited about this relocation opportunity for the Cranford office,” stated James Gallagher, P.E., Vice President and Northern NJ/NY Regional Manager. “The Edison office provides better access to major transportation links in the area such as the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, I-287, Amtrak and NJ Transit Rail lines, and the Newark Airport. It also provides easy access to New York, Staten Island and Long Island, as well as New Jersey Counties in the southern and eastern part of the region including Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union Counties. Finally, it provides better spacing between our two other offices in the region.”
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President’s Message We start a new chapter in NJSPE that restores my faith that our organization can make changes to strengthen ourselves and pursue our mission. This issue of PErspectives comes at a time we implement a program to strengthen our grass-roots organization. Several years ago we recognized the steady decay in our chapters and many said, “Do something”. We did something…all of us. Past President Tim McGough, PE launched a Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Kevin Becica, PE, about two and a half years ago to assess the entire grass-roots organization structure and recommend not just improvements but a whole new approach if warranted. A plan was developed, new Bylaws approved by the membership, Operating Procedures approved by our Board of Directors and, now, we implement the plan. While it likely will not be perfect, we are going in the right direction. NJSPE is moving back to basics, back to protecting our licenses, and forward to promoting Professional Engineers and those on the licensure path. John A. Rhodes, PE Membership Approves New NJSPE Structure By an overwhelming margin, the members voted in the recent referendum to approve the consolidation of the previous Constitution and the previous Bylaws into a single governance document to be called the NJSPE Bylaws. President John Rhodes, PE commented, “To many members this could be viewed as a “ho-hum” bit of news. However, the new paradigm for NJSPE creates the opportunity for members to create interest groups in which they have a particular common bond.” This provision is patterned on the change made at the National level a couple of years ago when the Future Directions Action Plan was approved. Although the guidelines for creating a new interest group are being put in place at press time by the NJSPE Board of Directors (formerly Board of Trustees), one vibrant example of such a group in the Professional Engineers in Construction. With the common bond of either working in the construction field or having a keen affiliation with such engineering work, this group has been very active in providing scholarships for students pursuing such a career. It also conducts the annual Unity Dinner at which many affiliated with construction celebrate Engineers Week and here updates on public policy from well-known government leaders. As the concept of interest groups has been discussed among NJSPE leaders, various other topics have been mentioned as the bases for forming new groups. These have included:
As a part of the new structure, NJSPE dues for members have been streamlined. One flat amount will be paid by each member instead of the former arrangement in which members paid both State and Chapter dues. In the latter case for members belonging to relatively inactive chapters the funds simply had accumulated in an account without providing real benefit to the affected members. In the new paradigm both chapters and interest groups will receive funding based on an annual Operating Plan and associated budget. With more than twice the required number of members voting in the November 2007 referendum, about 84% supported the changes, while 7% abstained and only 9% objected. The referendum ballots were tabulated by an independent outside agency to ensure both greater member participation and validity of ballots cast. A special leadership forum is being planned for May at which existing leaders of chapters and NJPEC as well as other members who want to learn more about member opportunities will be briefed on the new process. Details of this forum will be sent electronically to all NJSPE members who have provided an e-mail address to either NJSPE or NSPE at which our member records are maintained.
Candidates Announced for NJSPE Ballot The Chair of the NJSPE Nominations Committee has presented the following slate to the board of Directors for its approval and inclusion in upcoming election ballot that will be sent to members before the end of April. “Based on term limits and other considerations, each position on this year’s ballot will feature a different name from the current Executive Committee roster,” stated Tim McGough, PE. “Biographical information about each candidate will be provided with the upcoming ballot.”
Nominations by petition may also be made for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Such petitions must be signed by 25 members in good standing and delivered to the attention of the Secretary at NJSPE Headquarters. The deadline is April 11. In accordance with new NJSPE Bylaw 16, Section 1, “A ballot shall be delivered to each member in good standing by the Secretary not later than April 30th of each year. Electronic delivery is considered the preferred option. A hard copy will be delivered to each NJSPE member who has informed Headquarters no later than April 15 that s/he is unable to receive an electronic ballot. It is the responsibility of each member to ensure that her/his electronic delivery information is current in the records of NSPE and NJSPE.” [Editor note: underline added for emphasis] Career Day Attracts Almost 300 Students Accompanied by adult escorts, high school students came from Sussex and Atlantic Counties and many in between to attend the annual event on March 19 at Rutgers Busch Campus. The students learned about a potential career in engineering as well as typical college admissions requirements and the differences in life style between high school and college freshman year.
Each participant received a booklet that describes the functions of engineering, e.g. R & D, systems engineering, etc., and the numerous fields of engineering that a student may consider. The booklet also outlines the steps to attain a Professional Engineer license and describes the role of NJSPE and its Educational Foundation that sponsors this event.
An engineer from the Naval Air facility at Lakehurst discusses aeronautical engineering The highlight of the event has representatives of various enterprises conduct 20-minute sessions for groups of students, who moved among various classrooms between 10:00 am and Noon in the Science and Engineering Research Center to learn about various types of engineering work. This year’s participating enterprises included Alcatel-Lucent, Dewberry, Ferreira Construction, NAVAIR at Lakehurst, PB Americas, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Washington Group International.
One of the classrooms visited by all students during this two-hour interval featured many of the engineering colleges in New Jersey. Representatives of Fairleigh Dickinson, NJIT, Ocean County College, Rutgers, Stevens, and The College of New Jersey shared admissions information and answered students’ questions. The students started the day at 9:00 am with a General Session during which the students and escorts viewed an introductory video entitled, “Ask an Engineer.” Then a college admissions person described the generic considerations for applicants to enter an engineering curriculum. Lastly, an engineering dean highlighted adjustments that are prevalent in matriculating from high school to a typical freshman experience, including living away from home, managing money & time, and being responsible for one’s own life.
Following the two hours of visiting the enterprise and college rooms, the students finished with lunch in the Busch Student Center where they could review with their escorts the highlights of the experience. Some of the participating schools have been sending students for many years, while others participated for the first time. Feedback from the attendees reinforced the value of the program and the generous effort of the participating speakers.
Pennoni Receives Recognition for Uranium Mining Services PHILADELPHIA – Pennoni Associates, a consulting engineering firm headquartered in Philadelphia, is pleased to announce that they have received the 2007 Business Achievement Award in the category of Medium Sized Firm, New Practice Area; presented by the Environmental Business Journal (EBJ). Serving the uranium mining industry, Pennoni received recognition for its increased revenue of $2 million exclusively in the new growth area, repeat business and multi-year contracts, an increase in training for staff involved in uranium projects, and expansion into new geographical markets. Pennoni has also successfully developed substantial expertise in uranium mining and milling techniques as part of promoting nuclear power as a key alternative to fossil-fuel energy dependence. Through this effort, Pennoni has expanded its technology and is currently supporting mining and milling projects in New Mexico, Wyoming and South America. "Our team is pleased to be recognized by the EBJ for our work in supporting the uranium mining industry as a renewed alternative form of energy,” stated Kevin J. Davis, P.E., Vice President. “We have built a strong technical team and we will continue to expand our services for this important market sector.” Between October and December of 2007, EBJ solicited the environmental industry via e-mail, website, and word-of-mouth for nominations for the annual EBJ Business Achievement Awards. Nominations were accepted in 200-word essays in either specific or unspecified categories. The full list of award winners will be published in the Executive Review issue of Environmental Business Journal. The official 2007 EBJ Business Achievement Awards banquet will be held Wednesday, February 20, 2008.
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Awards Ceremony Scheduled for June 12th Awards Ceremony Scheduled for June 12th Karen Anne Riley, Ph.D., P.E., L.S., P.P., C.M.E.,
Joins T&M Associates To Lead Pennsylvania Division
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