Gratitude & Appreciation for Opportunities to Serve ACEC

To the ACEC Community,

As I concluded my service as Senior Vice Chair of the ACEC Executive Committee in May, I took a few moments to look back over the past two years and reflect on our accomplishments and achievements.

It has been an honor to be a voice for the ACEC and business of engineering. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent the Mid-Atlantic Region and to serve alongside so many dedicated leaders across our federation. Working with Delaware, Maryland, Metropolitan Washington, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia member organizations has reinforced my belief that ACEC’s greatest strength is the commitment of its member organizations and volunteers who give their time, talent, and energy to advance the business of engineering.

Over the course of my service, I had the privilege of attending nine state annual meetings and conferences, eleven Engineering Excellence Awards programs, five visits to the ACEC Residence with state congressional delegations, and seven additional member organization meetings. These experiences provided invaluable opportunities to listen, learn, and better understand the unique challenges and opportunities facing firms across our federation.

I have also been honored to serve as the Executive Committee liaison to the ACEC Life/Health Trust and as a board member of the ACEC Research Institute Board. Both organizations play a critical role in helping our firms succeed—not only by providing valuable resources and benefits today, but by helping us prepare for the challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of our profession.

Throughout my time in leadership, I have advocated for an ACEC that reflects the full diversity of our industry. We need firms of every size, discipline, geography, and market sector to see themselves in our federation and recognize that their voices matter. Our future depends on continuing to engage underrepresented disciplines, encouraging greater participation from small firms, and creating pathways for the next generation of leaders to become involved.

To each Member Organization – we need firms of all disciplines and sizes to see themselves in ACEC federation – both at the member organization and at National – to reach our highest potential.  I encourage you to continue expanding programs that attract underrepresented disciplines and to challenge small firms to become more active at both the state and national levels. Those of us in small firms wear many hats, but our perspectives are important and deserve to be heard. ACEC is strongest when every segment of our industry has a seat at the table.

As the owner of a 50-to-75-person mechanical, electrical, and fire protection engineering firm, I have been proud to bring a perspective that is not always represented at the national level. ACEC has challenged me to ask new questions, broaden my understanding of our industry, and build lasting relationships with leaders across the country. I leave this role with a deep appreciation for all that I have learned and for the opportunity to serve.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. Thank you to my fellow Executive Committee members, to the ACEC Board of Directors, to the Mid-Atlantic Region, to the ACEC staff, and to the many volunteers whose dedication makes this organization successful. Thank you to my classmates Erica Vienne, Peter Moore, and Sean McCone for your friendship. Thank you to Gary Raba and John Rathke for your leadership.

Thank you to Linda Darr and your amazing staff for what they do for all of our members. A special thank you to Steve Hall, Jeff Urbanchuk, Sandy Lynch and Cyndi Spinks for your support. Thank you to Delaware, Maryland, Metropolitan Washington, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia for your hospitality and support. Thank you to my company Summer Consultants for supporting my service and to my wife for allowing me the time to contribute to ACEC’s mission.

Together, we have strengthened our federation, advanced the business of engineering, and positioned our profession for continued success. I am excited about ACEC’s future and look forward to continuing to support this organization that has given so much to me, my firm, and our industry.

About the Author:

Jim Hoffman, PE, LEED AP O+M, CEM, FACEC is President of Summer Consultants, Inc. He has held a variety of positions with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National, most recently concluding his term as Senior Vice Chair on the Executive Committee.