FALL 2020 INC.INC. www.acec.orgwww.acec.org ENGINEERINGENGINEERINGAWARD-WINNING BUSINESS MAGAZINE ● PUBLISHEDPUBLISHED BYBY AMERICANAMERICAN COUNCILCOUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES WATERSHED Barge Design Solutions’ reclamation project wins big at the 2020 Engineering Excellence Awards MOMENT Spotlight on PLI Survey: Profi le Black-Owned Member Firms on ACEC Firms Survive and Thrive Colorado THE BRIGHTEST IDEAS ARE IN ASPHALT Visionary engineers and researchers are constantly innovating asphalt pavements to meet the needs of the future. They’ve created game-changing products like warm-mix asphalt and Thinlays for pavement preservation — and they’re not done yet. The industry is already working on asphalt roads built to accommodate the safe use of driverless vehicles. This commitment to innovation is paving the way for even longer-lasting, higher-performing pavements. WHEN IT COMES TO INNOVATION ASPHALT PERFORMS LEARN MORE AT WWW.DRIVEASPHALT.ORG CONTENTSFall 2020 COVER STORY 2020 ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS The first-ever virtual Gala showcased 203 projects 18 from leading firms around the country. The Copperhill Watershed Restoration in Ducktown, Tennessee, by Barge Design Solutions in Nashville, won the 2020 Grand Conceptor Award. The ACEC Research Institute provides the industry with cutting edge trend data, research and analysis to help firm owners make decisions and arm the Council with information to advance engineering’s essential value to a broad audience. The ACEC Research Institute wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to its generous contributors As of October 15, 2020 Founder’s$1 MILLION+ PREMIER Circle P ($50,000+)ARTNERS On Behalf of Richard and Mary Jo Stanley John & Karen Carrato Joni & Gary W. Raba Foundation Chairman’s Circle ($25,000+) Anonymous Contributor President’s Circle ($15,000+) Ed & Brenda Alizadeh Charles & Ann Gozdziewski Gayle Packer Ambassador’s Circle ($5,000+) Mitch & Diane Simpler Kenneth & Sheri Smith Elizabeth Stolfus & Steve Mystkowski Jay & Ann Wolverton Contributor’s Circle Beth Bauer Daphne & Jeff Bryant CRS Engineering Linda Bauer Darr James A. Smith, Jr. ACEC Research Institute 1015 15th Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005 | 202.347.7474 | ACECResearchInstitute.org FEATURES 14 2020 ACEC VIRTUAL FALL CONFERENCE WRAP-UP The three-day online event, which featured an all-star lineup of speakers, panel discussions, education sessions, roundtables, and a virtual exhibit hall, exceeded expectations. 50 POST-ELECTION UPDATE As Inauguration Day nears, unanswered questions remain. 52 PROFILES IN PERSEVERANCE Leaders of eight black-owned ACEC Member Firms provide exemplary services as they work to overcome systemic challenges. 59 52 2020 ACEC PLI SURVEY OF MEMBER FIRMS FOR FY 2019: SURVIVING AND THRIVING Cyber liability and the pandemic have created additional 68 risks, but there’s reason to be optimistic. 64 2020 ACEC COALITIONS: PREPARING FOR A POST-COVID-19 WORLD Amid unprecedented challenges, ACEC Coalitions look to partnerships and new business opportunities. 68 ACEC COLORADO: STRENGTH THROUGH DIVERSITY 59 Its rich history includes impressive victories in education, advocacy, and member project achievements. DEPARTMENTS 4 FROM ACEC TO YOU 12 THE PRIVATE SIDE Despite 2020 challenges, Council does not miss a beat. Communications market remains strong, single-family residential surges. 6 MARKET WATCH 72 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Warehouse logistics and data center markets emerge during ACEC deal-makers damn the torpedoes, go full speed ahead. the pandemic. 74 RISK MANAGEMENT 8 ACEC RESEARCH INSTITUTE Pressing “play” on paused projects. ACEC Research Institute Scholarship Program continues to award the profession’s best and brightest. 75 MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Kelly named president and CEO of STV; Watson named CEO 10 LEGISLATIVE ACTION of Woodard & Curran; Schuchard named interim CEO of KLJ ACEC seeks clarification on treatment of forgiven PPP loans Engineering; and Pesnell promoted to president of Maptech, Inc. and firm overhead rates. 76 BUSINESS INSIGHTS COVER: BARGE DESIGN SOLUTIONS Diversity and inclusion course back by popular demand. ACEC’s award-winning quarterly magazine Engineering Inc. provides expert analysis on all issues affecting the overall business of engineering. Other highlights include in-depth interviews with major policy makers whose decisions impact bottom lines; updates on critical advocacy issues and industry news, best practice management trends and marketplace projections, along with member firm innovations and announcements. The articles and editorials appearing in this magazine do not represent an official ACEC position or policy unless specifically identified as doing so. FROMACECTOYOU ENGINEERING INC. PUBLISHED BY: Despite 2020 Challenges, AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES Council Does Not Miss a Beat AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES CHAIRMAN Charles J. Gozdziewski t was a turbulent 2020 for the world, the business marketplace, the PRESIDENT & CEO Linda Bauer Darr engineering industry, and ACEC. Looking back, the deadly pandemic CHIEF OPERATING Laura O’Neill Kaumo OFFICER presented many unique operational challenges that few could ever envision, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, Steven Hall Imuch less instantly pinpoint best practices for implementing. ADVOCACY Being the strong and resilient federation that we are, however, it didn’t take SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, Marie Ternieden BUSINESS RESOURCES long for new strategies to be established to deal with the new normal and to AND EDUCATION pave a path moving forward. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, Daphne Bryant One essential Council triumph was maintaining our strong connection with MEMBERSHIP AND MO SERVICES Member Organizations and Member Firms, despite a new socially distant, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, virtual workplace. Those initiatives include the launch of our Rescue/Recover/ ACEC RESEARCH INSTITUTE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, Michael Pramstaller Rebuild education and advocacy program, successfully holding our first virtual MEETINGS, EXHIBITS, Board of Directors meeting, offering dozens of free roundtables and education AND AWARDS VICE PRESIDENT, Jeff Urbanchuk webinars, and weekly calls with MO leaders to share strategies. COMMUNICATIONS AND As the pandemic raged on, the Council secured funding for transit MARKETING agencies and airports in the CARES Act relief package, as well as inclusion DIRECTOR, MEMBER Alan D. Crockett COMMUNICATIONS of tax provisions to support cash flow in stimulus packages. We also helped STAFF EDITOR Andrea Keeney extend Paycheck Protection Program loans and increased flexibility on [email protected] loan forgiveness. 202-682-4347 Later in the year we successfully held our 2020 Virtual Fall Conference, soon SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS Gerry Donohue followed by the 2020 Virtual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala—labeled WRITER “a celebration and multi-sensory experience for our members” (coverage of both ADVERTISING SALES Chris Galione 703-598-9216 virtual events begins on page 14). [email protected] Congratulations to Barge Design Solutions and its Copperhill Watershed Restoration in Ducktown, Tennessee, which won the 2020 Grand Conceptor IMAGINATION Award as the year’s most outstanding engineering achievement, and to all the MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Wright 2020 winners who were among 203 entries, the most in EEA’s 53-year history. ART DIRECTOR Nancy Roy Congratulations also to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect PROJECT DIRECTOR Kristie Amella Kamala Harris on their likely victory. Our mission is to make sure the business interests of our Member Firms are heard early and often by this new White House (see post-election update on page 50). Engineering Inc., Volume 31, Number 4 (ISSN 1539-2694), is published quarterly by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), This issue also highlights several black-owned ACEC Member Firms from 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005-2605. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Annual across the nation that share insights on their engineering careers, and the subscriptions are $24 for members (included in dues as a non-deductible challenges of starting and growing their businesses (see page 52). amount); $45 for U.S. non-members; $65 for institutional subscriptions. Back issues are $15. Here’s wishing each of you a joyous and safe holiday season. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Engineering Inc., c/o ACEC, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005-2605. © 2020 American Council of Engineering Companies. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied, downloaded from the ACEC website, stored in electronic or hard-copy format, and disseminated to third parties for educational and information purposes. ACEC expressly disclaims any liability for damages of any kind in connection with such copying, downloading, storage, and/ or dissemination. By copying, downloading, storing and/or disseminating this publication, the recipient of this publication expressly agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold ACEC, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers and Charles J. Gozdziewski Linda Bauer Darr agents harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, claims, causes of action and liabilities, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, arising out ACEC Chairman ACEC President & CEO of or resulting from the recipient’s use of this publication. Notwithstanding the above, no part of this publication may be altered, resold, licensed, or used for any other commercial