inside - Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers

2013 January • February • March
Giving
by John “Jake” Greear, PE, TSPE President
I had planned on writing about the
upcoming legislative session or some
other TSPE business in this issue of the
newsletter. However, I struggled to find
the time to sit down and pull it together
or even determine the clear purpose around
which I was to organize my thoughts. I just
wasn’t inspired. Then I received my favorite
Christmas card of this holiday season and what I needed to write about
came into focus. Giving. It’s a common mission in my family, especially
during this time of the year, so I’m not sure why it took this jolt of
inspiration for me to see the light. Regardless, its receipt was timely.
The card came from Knox ProCorps, Inc. (www.knoxprocorps.org), a
non-profit organization in the Knoxville area created to provide area
professionals an opportunity to utilize their talents and expertise to
improve the health and welfare of impoverished communities in East
Tennessee and abroad.
I was first exposed to the organization through a fund-raising event to
support a water project in Guatemala called Project Ulpan. I learned
a little about the project and discovered that a local engineer I knew,
Mark McKinney (one of TSPE’s own), had volunteered to go to the
Ulpan Valley to serve as the project coordinator for a year. What I did
not realize, until Mark came to a Lakeway TSPE Chapter meeting to
discuss the project logistics, was that he was taking his family of six with
him! The sacrifices that he and his family are making are incredible. It
both amazes and inspires me.
So, with this motivation fresh in my heart, I am going to ask you to do
what I’ve thought to do countless times, but have carried out far too
seldom. In the coming year, give of yourself and your resources to better
the lives of others less fortunate than you. It’s easy to think of the plans
you’ve made for your next car, home improvement project, or vacation
and the hard work it will take to achieve it. It’s easy to feel deserving. It’s
easy to feel like you’re never quite at the level of comfort you “need” to
be able to give much, if anything, to others.
continued on page 5...
A very special Christmas gift
by Bryon Fortner, Sevierville Public Works Director and Past TSPE President and Mark McKinney, PE
Six engineers and other professionals took
a week out of their lives in December to
give the villagers of Semesche, Guatemala,
a very special Christmas present – clean
water. Kris Hatchell, Kevin Colvett, and
Mark McKinney have been working on
this project for several months, laying the
groundwork for a challenging, yet so very necessary, project.
The McKinneys live in the same complex with Kris and Dee Dee
Hatchell about 3 miles further up the valley. They have committed a
year of their lives for this work. Kevin Colvett and his family lived in
the Ulpan Valley prior to the McKinneys moving there.
Clean drinking water is one of our very basic human needs, yet we
sometimes take it for granted.
To give you a better sense of the living conditions, we should point out
that most of the Ulpan Valley has no electricity, even though almost
While there is a wet weather spring in the middle of Semesche, that
spring is far from pure or even reliable. In fact, during the five days
the team was there (a strange several days with clear, beautiful skies),
the spring had essentially dried up. This spring is the result of the karst
terrain of Guatemala, which carries surface drainage from an upstream
field that doubles as a pasture and soccer field.
After Mark McKinney took a trip to the Ulpan Valley of central
Guatemala in February, he and his wife Katy felt led to move their family there to help get clean water to the indigenous Mayan people living
under tough conditions. If you know Mark, you probably know that
he has four children – all 7 and younger – so this is a real commitment!
continued on page 2...
Inside
• MATHCOUNTS
• New TSPE Members
• Member News/Chapter News
• Engineers’ Day on the Hill
1
2012-2013 TSPE
Executive Committee
President
John (Jake) Greear, PE
[email protected]
President Elect
Patrick Smith, PE
[email protected]
Vice President
Randal Braker, PE
[email protected]
Secretary
Les Beaver, PE
[email protected]
Treasurer
Paul Kelly, PE
[email protected]
Past President
John Cole, PE, PhD
[email protected]
NSPE Delegate
Brent Johnson, PE
Christmas Gift
continued from page 1
every man has a cell phone! The village of Semesche is about five miles (and a 20-minute drive)
from the electric grid.
Kris, Mark, and Kevin have been working since February to secure the rights to a spring about
400 feet vertically above the village (it’s about 3,000 feet away!). This project all came together
during the second week of December.
With the help of dozens of Semesche village men, the team of professionals placed approximately
6,000 feet of PVC pipe and 9 spigots to serve health centers, schools, and churches. The system
was designed to be extended to other homes outside the village and even to other villages.
The project was a huge success and the team was able to see running water in the village before
they left.
As Mark and Kris stay for a few more months with their families, a large component of their work
will be to train and educate the men of Semesche in taking ownership of their system so that
they will be able to maintain it after the professionals leave. They will also be planning for future
projects and a possible expansion of the Semesche system.
What an experience it was for us to spend a week in Semesche, Guatemala, working on this
project! It made me even more grateful for the availability of clean water and electricity.
Editor’s note: Bryon Fortner will make a presentation on this project to the Lakeway Chapter meeting on February 12. For more information about the meeting, contact Jamie Carden
([email protected]) or Richard Kusmierczyk ([email protected]). If you would like to
know more about further opportunities, check out www.knoxprocorps.org for more info.
[email protected]
TSPE Headquarters
Tennessee Engineering Center
800 Fort Negley Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37203
615-242-2486
www.tnspe.org
Executive Director
Candy Toler
[email protected]
Manager of Member Services / Editor
Judy Logue
[email protected]
TSPE Partners
Crow Friedman Group, LLC
Lellyett & Rogers Services
Jacobs Technology
ACEC Business Insurance Trust
ACEC Life/Health Insurance Trust
AE Guidance, LLC
Concrete Paving Association of TN
Crom Corporation
Greenleaf 3 D, Inc.
Ryan Search & Consulting
Sherman-Dixie Concrete Industries
Smith Cashion & Orr, PLC
Strategies Group, Inc.
Tennessee Concrete Association
United Structural Systems, Inc.
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Pictured, front: Julio Caal, Mark McKinney, Kris Hatchell, Jon Harris
Rear: Kevin Colvett, Nate Peterson, Bill Graves, Michael McCall, Bryon Fortner
New TSPE Members
Knoxville Chapter
Nashville Chapter
John Shim, PE
David Foster, PE
Mikhail De Long, PE
William Cantrell, PE
Darrell Guinn, PE
Blake Brown, PE
John Harrington, III, PE
John Hunt, IV, PE
Jesse Eastenling, PE
Michael McMillen, PE
Robert Anderson, PE
Mark Morgan, PE
Lakeway Chapter
Student Chapter
Bruce Cantrell, PE
Whitney Burrell
Ziyue Song
James Wagner
Charles Forstall
Hannah McNeill
Memphis Chapter
Ray Witmer, PE
MATHCOUNTS
State Competition Mar. 16, 2013 T.E.C. – Nashville
MATHCOUNTS ® is a national program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement
through grassroots involvement in every U.S. state and territory. Celebrating its 30th anniversary,
MATHCOUNTS is one of the most successful education partnerships involving students,
volunteers, educators and industry sponsors. TSPE participates by sponsoring competitions
around the state at local TSPE Chapters and by hosting the state competition at the Tennessee
Engineering Center in Nashville. TSPE and TEF volunteers provide participants and their
families with refreshments and information on continued education and careers in Engineering.
Participation is easy (for the volunteers – the Mathletes work HARD!), it is fun for everyone and it
contributes to a core value of TSPE: promoting interest in Engineering. You can volunteer at your
local MATHCOUNTS competition (dates and times listed below) by contacting your Chapter
President or your local MathCounts coordinator, or at the State Competition, Saturday, March
16, 2013 at the Tennessee Engineering Center in Nashville. (Source: www.mathcounts.org)
Events Calendar
Feb 2
• Memphis MATHCOUNTS Competition
• Nashville MATHCOUNTS Competition
• Upper East MATHCOUNTS Competition
Feb 9
Chattanooga MATHCOUNTS
Competition
Feb 16
Tullahoma MATHCOUNTS Competition
Feb 23
Knoxville MATHCOUNTS Competition
Feb 17-23
Engineers’ Week
Chapter Activities & Member News
Chapter Activities:
Member News:
February 12 - Knoxville Chapter 2013 All
Engineers’ Banquet, Knoxville Convention
Center, Downtown Knoxville. Speaker, Eric
Berry – 3-year NFL veteran with the Kansas
City Chiefs, former Tennessee Vol.
Lamar Dunn & Associates is pleased to
announce a new President and CEO Mr. Jason
Brooks, PE. Jason brings new leadership and a
fresh perspective to the core values that have
made LD&A successful for the past 30 years.
He is a registered Professional Engineer in
Tennessee and a graduate of Maryville College
(BA Mathematics), the University of Tennessee
Knoxville (BS/MS Civil Engineering), and
Tennessee Tech University (MBA). Lamar
Dunn, PE, Founder of Lamar Dunn &
Associates, will continue with the firm in
senior management and will serve as chairman
of the company’s board.
February 19 - Memphis Chapter 2013
All Engineers’ Banquet, Christian Brothers
University. Speaker, John Schroer from TDOT.
To register to attend or for sponsor information,
contact Heather Kraus at (901) 374-9109 or
[email protected].
February 19 - Tullahoma Chapter will host a
Student Design Competition for high school
seniors and juniors at the Tullahoma HandsOn Science Center
February 20 - Tullahoma Chapter will host an
Engineer for a Day event at Arnold Engineering
development Center for high school seniors
and juniors
The TSPE Chattanooga Chapter and the ASCE
Chattanooga Branch had their Christmas
Social at the Stadium Club. They enjoyed
a turkey dinner and collected for Toys for Tots.
(pictured below)
March 4
• TSPE Board Meeting – 1 pm
TEC Board Room, Nashville
• Legislative Reception – 5:30 PM
Hermitage Hotel, Nashville
March 5
Engineer’s Day on the Hill
Nashville - 9 am-2 pm, Capitol
March 16
State MATHCOUNTS
Competition, TEC, Nashville
May 10-11
TSPE Board Retreat & Meeting
Paris Landing State Park
July 17-21
NSPE Leadership Conference & Annual
Meeting, Minneapolis, MN
Sept 11-13
TSPE / ACEC / ASCE Annual Meeting
Embassy Suites Murfreesboro
February 21 - Tullahoma Chapter 2013 All
Engineers’ Banquet, Manchester – Coffee
County Conference Center, Speaker is Dr.
Jan Davis, former NASA astronaut & current
Deputy GM of the Jacobs Technology
Inc. Engineering Science and Technical
Services contract at Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, AL contact John Jordan at
[email protected]
February 22 - Nashville Chapter 2013
All Engineers’ Banquet, Sheraton Music
City, Nashville. To register to attend or for
sponsor information, contact Jennifer Speich at
(615) 252-4331 or [email protected].
Pictured (L to R) are Mark Harrison, PE (President ASCE Chattanooga); Brandy Cookston, PE (Toys for Tots Chair);
Ric Gibbs, PE (Secretary/Treasurer TSPE and Vice President ASCE Chattanooga); Ed Foster, PE; Ben Byard, PE;
Ren Shanmugasundaram, PE; Mack McCarley, PE (President TSPE Chattanooga); Cameron Rose (UTC Student); and
Hailey Robert (UTC Student).
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Getting the Word Out!
By Candy Toler, Executive Director of TSPE and ACEC of TN
As we get used to using “2013,” the cycle
of TSPE activities begins anew. Happy
New Year!
MATHCOUNTS
MATHCOUNTS is one of the programs
NSPE and TSPE use to encourage middle
school students to consider studying
engineering. At the state competition, one of the young engineers talks
with the group about the connection between math and what engineers
do in real life. The chapters also probably use the opportunity to
communicate the message of engineering.
Right now, the chapters are preparing for their local MATHCOUNTS
competitions, including soliciting sponsors, and the state is getting
geared up for its competition on March 16 at the Tennessee Engineering
Center. Sponsors are always welcome and appreciated! For more
information or to sponsor or volunteer for your local MATHCOUNTS
competition, go to www.tnspe.org/mathcounts.htm.
The Legislature
The composition of the new General Assembly, which was sworn in
on January 8, is strongly Republican – 70-28-1 in the House and 26-7
in the Senate. The caucuses have elected their leaders and committee
appointments are being made. Legislation is being introduced, but no
issues are related to engineering yet. I will keep you informed through
the electronic newsletter. If you are not on the list, that can be fixed
by sending me an email ([email protected]). It’s a great way to remain
informed about legislative issues.
assure you that you do not have to visit legislators on your own. Groups
of 2-3 engineers work together and one of them will be a veteran of
E-Day. You may have to step outside of your comfort zone a bit, but it’s
for the good of your chosen profession. It’s all about the public’s health,
safety and welfare.
We have on our 2013 agenda getting to know the new legislators
(there are a lot of them!) and educating them about the significant role
engineers play in our lives. Plan to assist in that effort by attending
the Legislative Reception on March 4 and participating in Tennessee’s
Engineers Day on the Hill on March 5.
PE Magazine
On a different note, I have had the opportunity to work with the Delivery
Systems, Communications and Technology Task Force for NSPE in
the last 6 months. The task force is reviewing the relevancy of NSPE’s
communications programs and developing recommendations to target
recruitment, retention and education of members and nonmembers of
all ages. The subgroup I am chairing has been discussing distribution
of PE magazine. I would love to hear your thoughts on having PE
magazine delivered electronically to all members, with the option to pay
a minimal amount for the printed version. Some of you have already
opted to receive PE magazine electronically when it became available
last fall. What do you think?
It’s all about communications... educating students about what
engineering is, legislators about the impact of bills, and the membership
about what is happening in the profession. Join the fun by calling
(615.242.2486) or emailing us ([email protected])!
Another way to be informed about legislation is to plan to attend
Engineers’ Day on the Hill on March 5. If it sounds scary, I want to
Giving
continued from page 1
The reality is, there are so many people in this
world who would love to have your problems.
Their choice is not whether they can replace
that five- or six-year-old car with a new one;
it’s whether they can afford to eat today. It’s
not about how they need another bedroom
for guests; it’s about needing a home, any
home.
My hope is that more of us realize the
prevalence of these needs in our communities
and that we prioritize them above our own.
It’s the communities that put forth this effort
which are the closest and the ones I want to
immerse myself in. It’s companies that make
giving a priority, both corporately and at the
staff level, that I want to work for and with.
It’s guys like Mark, who think of others before
themselves, that I want to know and support.
I hope to be one of those guys too.
Humbly yours,
John Greear, PE
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5
Engineering the future.
Serving the world.
Lipscomb’s Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering has set
the stage for new standards and innovative programs that prepare
students to better serve corporations and communities, as well as
advance their careers.
In addition to our undergraduate degrees in civil engineering,
mechanical engineering, and electrical and computer engineering,
we offer a unique master’s program in engineering management
which helps experienced engineers learn what it takes to drive the
business of engineering.
In just a few short years, we’ve become one of the most well-respected
engineering schools in the area with an average 94% pass rate on
the FE exam, well above the 77% national average. We feature an
advanced degree faculty team that knows how to mix challenging
academics with real-world applications. And we’ve just welcomed
Dr. Justin Myrick as dean of the college, who spent most of his
engineering education time at Georgia Tech and is already creating
new learning opportunities for Lipscomb students in a constantly
growing and ever-changing industry.
Find out what makes Lipscomb’s College of Engineering stand out.
Contact our team for details or more information.
engineering.lipscomb.edu
[email protected] • 615-966-6244
6
7
Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers
Tennessee Engineering Center
800 Fort Negley Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37203
ret urn serv i ce req u ested
TSPE invites you to attend the Legislative Reception for the members of
the General Assembly and the engineering community on March 4 from
5:30-8 pm at the Hermitage Hotel (downtown), sponsored by the ACEC
Nashville Chapter. Then, on March 5, after being briefed about legislation
under consideration, participants will be armed with position papers and
paired with other engineers to make visits to area legislators. It all begins at
9 am. Join your colleagues and support your profession!
REGISTRATION FORM
_____ Yes! I will attend the legislative reception on March 4
_____ Yes! I will attend Engineers’ Day on the Hill on March 5
_____ Yes, I will attend the luncheon
_____ No, I will NOT attend the luncheon
Name:_________________________________________
Email address:___________________________________
State Senator: ___________________________________
State Representative:_______________________________
(If you do not know, tell me your home address and I’ll help you figure it out.)
Please send an email ([email protected]) with this information
no later than Feb. 26 or complete the form and mail it to:
TSPE, 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203.
8
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