September/October 2019

NSPE Today
2019 Professional Engineers Conference Wrap-Up

FROM LEFT: NSPE 2018–19 PRESIDENT MICHAEL AITKEN, P.E., F.NSPE; DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD GENE O’BRIEN, P.E., F.NSPE; NSPE AWARD DAVID THALER, P.E., F.NSPE; ENGINEERING EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARD DANIEL OERTHER, PH.D., P.E.; EMMA OERTHER; PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE AWARD DAVID HOWE, P.E.; NSPE YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARD VATSAL SHAH, PH.D., P.E.; AND NSPE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARK GOLDEN.

NSPE’S 2019–20 PRESIDENT DAVID MARTINI, P.E., F.NSPE, PRESENTS ERIC STRACK, P.E., WITH A PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION FOR STRACK’S ASSISTANCE IN CREATING A CONFERENCE SERIES FOR EMERGING LEADERS.

NSPE’s 2019 Professional Engineers Conference brought 375 engineers, PEs, and students to Kansas City, Missouri, for education, networking, and leadership development. The Society also installed new officers, celebrated member excellence, and put the achievements of the past year on display.

Held July 17–21, the conference was also about preparing for the future. The event served as a launch pad for implementing the Society’s updated strategic plan, including vision, mission, values, and goals (see article). The Society’s new vision: A world where the public can be confident that engineering decisions affecting their lives are made by qualified and ethically accountable professionals. And its mission: to foster licensed professional engineers in service to society.

KARL REID, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS, EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSE TEAMS.

The conference also continued a dialog about the top challenges for the profession and NSPE.

Perhaps the most well-received conference presentation was delivered by Karl Reid, executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers. Reid addressed the historical challenge of the profession’s lack of ethnic and gender diversity, why greater diversity leads to better outcomes, and how to create more inclusivity in the profession.

As Reid explained, diversity is being invited to the party; equity is when everyone gets to dance; inclusion is when everyone contributes to the playlist; and belonging is how you feel after the experience.

Later in the conference, the House of Delegates unanimously accepted the following addition to the “professional obligations” section of the Code: “Engineers shall treat all persons with dignity, respect, fairness, and without discrimination.”

KANSAS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS MEMBERS KEITH BEATTY, P.E., F.NSPE, KATE MIKHAYLICHENKO, E.I., PAUL GARRETT, P.E., ASHLEY VILLARREAL, AND LEVI BOND, E.I.