Kansas Professional Engineer News the Official Publication of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers March/April 2020
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Kansas Professional Engineer News The official publication of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers March/April 2020 President’s Message 3 8 KSPE Legislative Update Kansas MATHCOUNTS 2020 Results 12 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT 6 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 7 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 8 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Above: KSPE Government Relations Committee meeting at the end of February. 10 ENGINEERS WEEK 2020 10 PE LICENSURE CEREMONY 11 WATER QUALITY SEMINAR 12 MATHCOUNTS OF KANSAS 2020 KANSAS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER NEWSLETTER 16 PRACTICE DIVISION UPDATES PUBLISHER Travis Lowe 17 UPCOMING EVENTS EDITOR Rachel Nincehelser CONTACT 18 2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 825 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. 500 Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 233-2121 19 THANK YOU SPONSORS! [email protected] [email protected] DISCLAIMER: Kansas Professional Engineer Newsletter is published quarterly by the Kansas Society of Engineers, 825 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 500, Topeka, KS 66612. Opinions expressed by authors herein are not necessarily those of the Society. As a matter of policy, KSPE does not endorse any item, product or advertisement. Select Engineers Foundation of Kansas as your preferred charity when you shop. ADDRESSING COVID-19 KSPE recognizes the growing concern associated with the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) as federal, state and local governments work to minimize risk and prevent its spread. We are closely following the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our public health officials. To that end, KSPE is postponing the 2020 PEG Seminar scheduled for April 1 in Wichita for a date to be determined. KSPE will be issuing refunds for attendees that have registered for the event. We also urge our society chapters to follow CDC recommendations regarding upcoming meetings this spring. No other changes have been determined for future KSPE state events at this time. KSPE staff remains committed to maintain membership services without interruption. eW are equipped with technology services and solutions that allow us to continue serving you from our Topeka office or in the event staff must work from home. KSPE has a dedicated conference call line available for committees and chapters to continue necessary business while avoiding in-person meetings. For assistance in this area, please contact our office at 785-233-2121 or info@ kansasengineer.org. We will keep our membership abreast of updates as soon as it becomes available. We urge our members to use caution and stay safe during the following weeks. Stay safe, KSPE Staff A Message From Your 2019-2020 KSPE President Greetings from Wichita! This is my second attempt to write this message. The first message I submitted about two weeks ago was full of talk about March Madness, upcoming conferences and seminars, and other (at the time) pertinent info. It is scary to realize how much can change in a very short amount of time. Here in Sedgwick County, talk has started about working from home, and other ways to avoid contact with people. Technology will play an important role in the coming months as we utilize work from home connections, video conference calls, and online review tools. I’ve been through some recent health issues just before all this began, and it has really made me pause and take stock in what is important in my life. Playing catch with my son or watching a movie with my daughter are no longer things I take for granted. A good work-life balance has always been important to me, but even more so now. It’s easy to get bogged down in the everyday mundane, and it’s important to stop and enjoy the small things while we can. I know parts of the state have been dealing with this situation longer than others. I feel like this is going to affect us all, in all parts of the state, in many ways. We will be recovering from this for a long time, economically, financially, and in general health. The good thing about our state is we will make it through and come back stronger. Until next time, stay healthy! 3 Jessica J. Rhein, P.E. 2019-2020 KSPE President EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT KSPE Members, Greetings from KSPE World The Society has several important Headquarters! The new decades events on the horizon. Our 2020 continue to offer countless Annual Conference will be in opportunities for KSPE. We have Olathe on June 3-5. Registration many updates to share but first will open April 1. If you are not we want to thank you for your already an annual partner sponsor, continued support of KSPE that please consider being a sponsor enables us to provide and operate of this event. We hope to see efficiently for you. you all there! We just finished the Water Quality Seminar, which is KSPE is working on multiple fronts. a combined day event with ACEC The 2020 Legislative Session Kansas and KDHE. We had over 60 has reached its halfway point, people attend with a lot of positive known as Turnaround, with many feedback. Thanks to all that took issues of interest for the Society. the time to attend! Licensure issues have dominated KSPE advocacy efforts, fueled We also just finished E-Week, the members that volunteered to by stakeholders questioning the which encompassed very exciting help make these events successful! role of licensure and asserting events across the state. The KSPE the claim it provides barriers Eastern Chapter held its annual As we look ahead, KSPE is growing to employment. Our legislative lunch in Kansas City with the MSPE with well over 500 members. update in this publication provides Western Chapter, where nearly We urge our newer members to more information on the licensure, 500 people attended the event sign up for a committee to get transportation and other legislative and lunch. Chapters across the involved. This helps KSPE, the issues under the dome. state celebrated the week. It is local chapter and fosters new great to see how much work and relationships for you. Our office is sends out weekly time volunteers spend to bring legislative updates on Fridays. We awareness to the profession. Thank Membership remains an important hope you take a few minutes to you! action item for our society. look them over. Our Government Please talk about KSPE to your Relations Committee, led by Travis The same can be said about fellow P.E.’s. Mentor new and/or Stryker, is meeting monthly in the this year’s MATHCOUNTS. Last young hires in your department, KSPE office to review the status of month, chapters held local schools and firms and press the the legislative session. We usually MATHCOUNTS competitions importance of KSPE. Remember, have a legislator join us for lunch where the winners advanced to the for anyone joining the association to discuss their view of our issues. state event on March 6 in Topeka. or renewing after July 1, 2018, Thanks to all involved for the Congratulations to the winners KSPE membership dues dropped support! and participants and thank you to from $329 to $299. We hope 4 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT you help us retain and grow our With all the activity and news In the meantime, please stay membership by promoting the in this issue, check out the safe, dues reduction and the benefits ways KSPE is working hard on KSPE provides. While most your behalf. There are many Travis Lowe associations are having to increase opportunities to get involved KSPE Executive Director dues to account for rising costs with KSPE. We appreciate your and inflation, KSPE is reducing support to help promote and the dues. Please help spread this protect Licensed Professional message. Engineers. Now Hiring: Project Engineers Open positions include traffic, highway, and structures. Find Out More at: www.affinis.us/career-opportunities 5 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Eastern Chapter Smoky Valley Chapter Katlyn North Siddharth Choudhury Brett Wilkinson, P.E. University of Kansas University of Kansas Kaw Valley Engineering Ankeny, IA Shawnee, KS Salina, KS Ellen O’Gorman Emily Guzy University of Kansas University of Kansas Topeka Chapter Lawrence, KS Lawrence, KS Clair Bexten Kennedy Pate University of Kansas Jacob Hammil Lawrence, KS University of Kansas University of Kansas Bentonville, AR Lawrence, KS Alexander Chamberlin Chaudhry Hassan Rasool University of Kansas University of Kansas Fallon Herrick Lawrence, KS University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Prairie Village, KS Aneeq Chaudhry Kristen Sawyer Derek Hopkins, P.E. University of Kansas University of Kansas Lawrence, KS TranSystems Lawrence, KS Mission, KS Matthew Drummond Ashlyn Turk Robert Krewson, P.E. University of Kansas University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Alfred Benesch & Co. Lawrence, KS Overland Park, KS Ethan Henderson Ryan Winkle Shreya Kulshrestha University of Kansas University of Kansas University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Lawrence, KS Overland Park, KS Kyle Kelsey Zac Lenz University of Kansas Wichita Chapter University of Kansas Topeka, KS Joseph Cillessen Lawrence, KS Cillessen & Sons Brittany Kracht Kechi, KS Martin Ntonjira, P.E. NSPE Unified Government of Lawrence, KS Justin Harris Wyandotte and Kansas Kikham Michael & Associates City Kansas Anh Le, EIT Goddard, KS Kansas City, KS University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Emily Orawaru Steve Schultz, P.E. World Trade Council of Wichita Bartlett & West Inc. Monty McCoy Wichita, KS Overland Park, KS U.S. Water Services Lawrence, KS Viraphonh Soukamneuth, P.E. Michael Terman ARCCA Inc. University of Kansas Hailey Neidig Aventura, FL Overland Park, KS University of Kansas Lansing, KS Dana Weir, P.E. 6 Burns & McDonnell Overland Park, KS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT DANA WEIR, P.E. KSPE Chapter: Eastern Chapter Education: BS in Civil Engineering, WHY DID YOU University of Iowa, 2007; MS in Civil Engineering, University of Kansas, 2012 BECOME AN ENGINEER? What is your employment/education history? I’ve been at Burns & McDonnell My high school chemistry since 2008 working in the municipal water/ teacher turned me onto wastewater group.