September 2019
In this issue…
VSPE Board Initiates Action Items Toward Licensure
VSPE Welcomes New Director and Trustee
Advocacy Campaign a Success—But More Action Needed
2019 Fall Webinar Series Open for Registration
Find Quality Candidates or a Great New Job
VSPE Board Initiates Action Items Toward Licensure
During the Board of Directors meeting held at the VCU School of Engineering in early September, several important initiatives were spearheaded by our leadership. Dialog with the VCU College of Engineering Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Gregory Triplett, Jr, PhD, was beneficial to help us focus on several issues. We found that since VCU’s engineering curricula does not include Civil Engineering, licensure is not held as an important component for graduating seniors. ODU for example, requires all graduating senior students to take an EIT review course, and it is mandatory for seniors to take the EIT exam.
Triplett emphasized the need for us to provide documentation or a formal report that demonstrates the benefits to industry for their graduates to hold licensure, and we’ll look to our partners at NSPE for help regarding this. Triplett also invited VSPE to be part of their annual Engineering Capstone Expo held during Engineers week in the spring of each year and held at the Science Museum of Virginia.
We also worked on our FY 20 budget and are going to tighten our belts where we can and focus on the tiered membership models NSPE now offers to state chapters. When we chose our current model, we were in a major transition with the Executive Director position transitioning to volunteer management and we now need to look more closely at the revenue and service options, while continuing to work on ways to increase membership.
New Director on VSPE Board and New Trustee on VSPE Educational Fund: Dares Charoenphol, PhD, PE, PMP
The VSPE Board of Directors and the Trustees of the VSPE Educational Fund are pleased to announce a new Director and Trustee, Dares Charoenphol, PhD, PE, PMP. Dares was born and raised in Bangkok (Thailand), attended St. Francis Xavier Convent School from pre-school to K-12, and received her BA in Accounting from Chulalongkorn University prior to coming to the US.
Dares is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California, Virginia, and District of Columbia, with a doctorate in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering. She received her engineering BS, MS and PhD from the University of Texas, the University of Virginia, and the George Washington University respectively. Dares is a member of the Department of Defense Acquisition Corps and holds DAWIA certification in Program Management (Level III). She also earned Project Management Professional (PMP) credential from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Prior to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer, Dares held the positions of comptroller and financial analyst with a BA in Accounting, a BS in Business Administration and an MBA. She worked for Mitsubishi Joint Venture prior to coming to the US to pursue her MBA. After completing her MBA, Dares decided to start a more challenging career in the US and went back to school to earn her engineering degrees. She became a member of the Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), earned an EIT from the State of Texas, and received a full scholarship for the engineering graduate program from the University of Virginia.
Dares has worked for the State of California, Department of Interior, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy and Department of Defense in various capacities and earned promotions and greater responsibilities and experience in areas of Project Engineer, Project Manager, Supervisory Civil Engineer, Supervisory Program Analyst, and Program Manager.
During her leisure time, Dares enjoys sight-seeing, exploring new territory in the US and learning new things in general.
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Advocacy Campaign a Success—But More Action Needed
More than 100 NSPE members either met with or called their legislators and staffers on August 7 as part of the Society’s Professional Engineers Day advocacy campaign. It was the largest such campaign in remembered NSPE history. PEs joined together to speak up for the importance of licensure and passage of a federal bill that would require PE oversight of utility pipelines, following the 2018 Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts, gas line explosion.
NSPE’s Manager of Government Relations and Advocacy Stephanie Hamilton called the day “a strong success” as enthusiastic NSPE members worked to build lasting relationships that will help them be seen as experts on licensure and technical matters now and in the future.
However, the week before the campaign, the Senate version of the bill was added as an amendment to a larger pipeline safety bill and watered down to remove the PE requirement. According to Hamilton, the Society was “disappointed” and “dismayed” about this change to the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act, named after the teenager killed.
It’s not too late to make a difference, however. NSPE members are urged to contact their legislators.
Read More
- PE article on the advocacy campaign;
- Hamilton’s column on the changes to the bill and how members can take action;
- Popular Mechanics article highlighting the personal impacts of the deadly explosion.
2019 Fall Webinar Series Open for Registration
Register now for the 2019 Fall Webinar Series ! Develop your skills and earn continuing education credits this fall. Stay current on a variety of topics from the comfort of your home or office. Don’t miss NSPE Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel Arthur Schwartz’s Ethics Forum each month—register for individual webinars or get a special bundle price until September 17.
Sign up now for these webinars:
- Ethics Forum: Conflicts of Interest – Employers and Clients – September 18
- Leading Project Teams: Emerging Technologies and Smart Design – September 25
- Mindfulness in Action – October 2
- Ethics Forum: Conflicts of Interest – Vendors and Colleagues – October 16
- Clients are from Venus, Consultants from Mars: A Guide to Effective Management of Consultants – November 6
- Ethics Forum: Conflicts of Interest – Serving the Public – November 13
And don’t forget that, as part of your NSPE membership, you also receive access to15 free online seminars.
Find Quality Candidates or a Great New Job
NSPE’s online event for employers and job seekers will take place again on October 2 from 11 am – 3 pm Eastern.
Whether you’re an engineer just starting out or an experienced professional looking for a new opportunity, you can connect with employers from the comfort of your home, office, smartphone, or tablet. The event is free for job seekers.
Companies in search of top talent will be able to access professionals representing all engineering sectors around the country.
Employers: Learn more and register.
Job seekers: Learn more and register.
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