10th Annual ACEC-SC/ SCDOT Annual Meeting & Tradeshow

This year’s joint meeting was held on October 10, 2007 at the Embassy Suites in Columbia from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

This meeting’s objective is to improve the coordination between the Department of Transportation and the engineering community.  With registration starting at 8:00 A.M., a light breakfast was served for attendees to enjoy as they visited the tradeshow. 

At 9:00 A.M.  Robert Pratt, P.E. and M.L. Love, P.E. called the meeting to order.   
SCDOT State Highway Engineer Tony L. Chapman, P.E., made the special remarks.  The presentations got underway with a session on Ethics and Fraud in Highway Projects, lead by Ray Sanchez.  After the session attendees had a break and a chance to visit with tradeshow exhibitors.  Next, Mark Lester, P.E., and Matt Lifsey, P.E., SCDOT led an interesting Preconstruction Reorganization session.  Lunch followed with the keynote address by Tate Jackson, AASHTO TRAC Nation Manager.  Mr. Jackson gave an overview of the TRAnsportation and Civil Engineering program an education outreach program designed to interest K through 12 students.

The afternoon continued with more sessions with Lessons Learned from Katrina with John E. Durrant, P.E., M.ASCE, Managing Director of Engineering Programs for the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Jim Ewart, P.E. Team United Project Manager, led a great session on the Palmetto Parkway Project Approach. 

Leland Colvin, P.E., SCDOT, gave everyone an overview of the Cooper River Bridge Demolition Project.  For the final session of the day, Doug MacFarlane, SCDOT, provided information on the changes in the consultant contract negotiation process as outlined by the revised SCDOT Engineering Directive 41.

Robert Pratt, P.E. and Joe S. Jones, ACEC-SC Executive Director gave closing remarks.  This all-day meeting provided 6 PDHs to everyone who participated in all sessions. 

We would like to thank our trade show exhibitors: 

• American Concrete Pavement Association
• Carolinas Concrete Pipe and Products Association
• Duncan-Parnell
• Insurance Management Consultants, Inc.
• Mar Mac Construction Products Co., Inc.
• ModernTech
• Professional Service Industries, Inc.
• Quixote Transportation Safety
• Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc.
• U.S. Bridge