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the association for the advancement of cost engineering |
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North Florida Section |
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North Florida Section |
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Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering® International (AACEi) |
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Program: The Construction Estimate and Cost Controls: From Formulation to Project Closeout — A Help or a Hindrance in Litigation?
Intended as an interactive discussion between the presenter and participants, this seminar is designed to explore how construction estimates are viewed and used in dispute resolution. From formulation and bidding through project closeout, the estimate is more than a set of numbers against a quantity takeoff. The estimate represents the culmination of a review, evaluation, and development of a plan on how best to succeed on the project (or, at least it should). Thus, the estimate forms the foundation of any successful project. Further, the estimate, together with responsible project cost controls, necessarily form the center piece of any successful request for additional compensation.
This seminar will address common pitfalls in the estimating and cost control process which can doom recovery in litigation (or any other dispute resolution format).
Speaker: Gregory Martin, Attorney at Law, Gregory S. Martin & Associates, P.A.
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February/March 2012 |
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At the December holiday meeting, speaker John P. Orr, PSP, Senior Scheduling Engineer, URS Corporation explained how cost and resource loaded CPM network schedules provide detailed planning information to the owner’s project management team.
Resource loading provides evidence that the contractor has planned thoroughly, identifying all resources and equipment required to complete the project.
But network schedules are designed to measure and manage time, not dollars. Schedule updates must provide valid projections of completion in order to support the management team.
This presentation evaluated the problems inherent in using cost-loaded schedule updates as the basis for progress payments. It also recommended steps toward a “divorce” of the cost tracking from the schedule tracking during the course of construction.
Our gratitude goes to John Orr for this informative look into how cost loaded schedule updating can benefit your company. If you missed this program, it’s available for download on our Resources page. |
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The North Florida Section of AACEi awarded its fifth annual “You’re a Star” Award to John P. Orr, PSP. The presentation took place at the recent Section Holiday Dinner Meeting held December 8th, 2011 at Siemens Energy in Orlando, Florida.
This Section honor was presented as a result of nominations from members and vote of the Award Committee to recognize John’s valuable leadership and continued outstanding contributions to this Section, and thus to AACEi as a whole.
“At this time of year, it’s our tradition to present our Section’s most prestigious honor, the North Florida AACEi “You’re a Star” Award,” said Section President David L. Harrison. “This goes to a member who has made significant contributions that have made a positive difference to the programs and activities of the Section. Previous winners include Joe Brown, Bill Sheerin, Susan Zimmerman, and myself.
“This year’s winner, John P. Orr, PSP, has been a Section member since 2007, and has served on the board as a Director for the past two years. He has been an active participant in all our Section and board meetings, generously and graciously sharing his expertise, experience, and wisdom.
“He’s given valuable technical presentations to our Section, and has helped to represent our Section at AACE International by giving sessions at their annual meetings and contributing to their Cost Engineering magazine.
“John is AACE-certified as a Planning and Scheduling Professional, and regularly volunteers to help proctor certification exams hosted by the Section. He has also been nominated for the CCTS Engineer’s Week Technical Excellence Award.
“We have benefitted greatly from his enthusiasm, leadership, dedication to perfecting his profession and his many contributions to our programs and activities.
“In-between his globe-trotting trips to exotic countries in pursuit of US embassies that need building, John’s outstanding participation and out-going personality are always welcome at our meetings and have certainly made a positive difference for our Section.”
Upon receiving the award, John said, “I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the North Florida Section of the AACEi for choosing me to receive the 2011 "You're A Star" Award. Before joining this Section four years ago, I had never presented a technical paper to my peers, either at a local or national level. The encouragement and enthusiasm of the Section members has been an invaluable contribution toward my professional development, and I truly appreciate receiving this honor.”
Our sincere congratulations to John for winning this important recognition. |
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· Member Survey Still Open: In case you haven’t completed our recent “How Are We Doing?” Member Survey, we’re keeping it open awhile longer to give everyone a chance to participate. Please click the link in your e-mailed notice and add your feedback to help us better serve our members. Need your survey link again? E-mail your request to survey@nflaace.org. · Latest CCTS News:
· North Florida AACEi is proud to have 40 current members who are certified, and that number is steadily increasing. Want to know who’s certified? Just visit the Certification page.
· AACEi Scholarship Winners: North Florida AACEi has two 2011 scholarship winners: Andres Boral $8,000 and Maryam Mirhadi Fard $2,000. Andres Boral was AACEi's top award winner this year, and also received an all-expense paid trip to the Annual Meeting in CA. Congratulations to both winners. · Welcome New Members! Here’s a special note about new members who have recently joined our Section. Welcome to all, and hope to see you at a meeting soon! · Earn Your Professional Certification Advantage. In this competitive economic climate, it pays to give yourself and your employer an edge by earning and maintaining a cost engineering professional certification.
· Don’t miss out on the valuable benefits and resources AACEi offers for your professional career! Now is the time to renew your dues for the upcoming year. Just click https://www.aacei.org/PortalTools/Login.cfm and log in.
· Visit the newest job openings on our Employment page! And, please help keep our Employment page active by sending us any suitable cost engineering job openings you may know of, or any employment wanted listings. You may e-mail these brief listings to jobs@nflaace.org. We’ll keep your notice posted at least three months, or until the position is filled or you’ve found employment. · Sign Up Now for Online Company Listings Page! We’re now open for submissions for our new online Company Listings page. This special Web site page contains 35-word descriptions of companies that employ local AACEi members, and/or offer supplies or services of interest to local AACEi members.
And don’t forget…
· Member Spotlight: Be sure to check out our newest Member Spotlight article featuring Section board member Dallas R. Lee, CCE. It’s available now on the Member News page. · Webinar Update: More Webinars are being planned! We appreciate your interest in our pilot Webinar program. Webinar availability will depend on speaker experience and preference. We believe it’s an important benefit to offer our members, and will continue our efforts as possible. Many thanks for your participation during this start-up process! · Have a great idea for a meeting speaker or topic? Please let us know! Just e-mail us at programs@nflaace.org.
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Please take note... |
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5D Building Information Modeling (BIM) Featured at January Meeting |
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At our January 2012 meeting, speaker Ian Turner, Technical Sales Manager at Vico Software, showed how using a BIM model for estimating is a unique advantage in today’s commercial construction market. With a 5D model, cost engineers including estimators, planners/schedulers, and cost control managers can guide the Owner through many budget impacts.
Mr. Turner explained how to derive construction-caliber quantities from the model geometry, and also how to edit formulas for model-based and non-model-based quantities. Also explored were the benefits of creating iterative cost plans as more and more detail is known about the project, allowing estimators to determine if the estimate is missing any scope...and add it back in quickly.
A lively question and answer period followed the presentation. Our sincere appreciation goes to Ian Turner for his valuable insight on how 5D BIM can help cost engineers. |
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North Florida AACEi is now on LinkedIn! |
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Here’s a great opportunity to use an online professional networking site to make connections with other cost engineers and advance your career:
· North Florida AACEi is now on LinkedIn, the premiere networking site for professionals and businesses. Soon, we’ll also add our own discussion group for questions and idea-sharing. Don’t wait — click the link below to get connected!
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To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here. Questions or comments? E-mail us at info@nflaace.org. For more information about North Florida AACEi, visit our Web site at www.nflaace.org. Have a great idea for a speaker or program? Sent it to programs@nflaace.org. For past newsletter issues, click here. Newsletters are published every other month during the regular program year September through May. |
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Special Joint Meeting! |
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Don’t miss our February 16th special joint meeting of the North Florida Section of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACEi) and the Orlando Chapter of the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). Join us for this excellent professional networking opportunity! |
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February 16th, 2012, Siemens Energy, Inc., Orlando, FL, 6:30 p.m. Optional dinners offered at $10.00 per person with advance reservations. Deadline 02/15/2012. Click here to R.S.V.P. See Meeting Notice for details. Open to the public. |
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Mr. Martin is a shareholder in the law firm of Gregory S. Martin & Associates, P.A. He earned an undergraduate degree in Building Construction in 1987 from the University of Florida and his J.D. in 1990. Since 1993, he has represented those in the construction industry and is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar. Mr. Martin represents clients from contract preparation, review and negotiation through ultimate dispute resolution including litigation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution procedures. He also acts as external general counsel to certain clients, providing advice on a variety of issues particular to the construction industry. Mr. Martin has actively participated in trials, arbitration, administrative hearings and DRBs throughout the federal and state systems, including Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Connecticut, Texas, and California. Mr. Martin is also a Certified Circuit Court Mediator by the Florida Supreme Court and a member of the AAA Commercial Panel of Neutrals. |
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John P. Orr, PSP (center) receives North Florida AACEi’s 2011 “You’re a Star” Award from President David L. Harrison, CCC, CPE (right), while John’s wife, Carole (left), looks on. |
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If you’ve received recognition or participated in a special project at work or as a volunteer, please let us know! E-mail difference@nflaace.org. |
