President’s Message: November 2024

Dear FES members,

As always, I want to express my gratitude to each of you for your continuous support and contributions to the Florida Engineering Society and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida. I would like to again give pause to those families and friends impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. I also want to extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones because of these tragedies. My sincerest respect goes to the many individuals who have and still are providing support and rescue efforts. To many of us, it may seem like we have experienced a much higher-than-average number of natural disasters this summer and fall. Millions of people in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have experienced life disruptions because of these disasters. As we know, following a large storm requires a significant amount of time, years instead of months, and a wealth of resources, including money, social support, goods, and services, to recover. We (FES & ACEC Florida) wish for the rehabilitation and restoration of the impacted areas as well as the earliest possible return to normalcy for those affected regions.

This takes me to this month; I am sure that all of you are fulfilling your civic duty by casting your vote on or before November 5^th. By casting your vote, you can improve your community and determine a better quality of life for you and your family. By voting alongside your neighbors, family, or friends, you can make sure that your everyday concerns and beliefs are taken into consideration, that you have a say in who represents you, and that you have a say in how government funds and resources are allocated. Voting increases the strength of our voices and increases the likelihood the issues that matter to us will be heard.

Vote for elected officials who support your values. There is no more fundamental value than the right of every eligible voter to be able to cast their ballot. Never doubt that your vote is powerful, but it must be exercised to remain so. Your voice is expressed through your vote!!!

Reflecting on my October message, one of our inspiring goals is to envision engineers being the cornerstone with trendsetting values that not only support our members but also Florida’s plan and stakeholders for a future-ready infrastructure. Additionally, we contribute our knowledge, both individually and collectively, to the state’s continuous advancement by teaching, mentoring, developing, and utilizing innovative technologies. As I have stated in my August President’s message, the work that FES and ACEC Florida do can and should directly affect every aspect of our lives.

This is why we met with Carolyn Johnson, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce regarding having a seat at the table and membership levels. This opportunity will provide both FES and ACEC Florida the eligibility to participate in Florida Chamber initiatives such as Autonomous Florida, Consumer Protection Coalition, Future of Work, Health Committee, Healthcare Partnership, Infrastructure Cabinet on Safety, Health and Sustainability, Litigation and Regulatory Reform Center, Small Business, and more potential opportunities. Furthermore, it will:

• Provide valuable networking opportunities with the Chamber of Commerce, which offers business expos, trade shows, and networking events, and can help us connect with potential partners and customers.
• Increase our companies’ visibility through the Chamber website, social media, and local events, which can lead to more brand recognition and customer trust.
• Advocacy for policies that benefit businesses and the community, providing our industry with a voice in government decisions and access to experts and resources.
• Help to improve our abilities and expand our organization. The Chamber can offer professional development events like workshops and seminars.
• Promote community service, increase customer trust and loyalty, and improve our organization’s standing as a socially responsible enterprise.

After determining our level of membership with the Chamber of Commerce, I’m urging our chapters to contact their local Chamber of Commerce to discuss how our members can support the efforts to reimagine and reconnect with our communities, which are dealing with many of the same issues, and ask for their event calendar.

Not to forget one of our other goals, which is workforce development. As engineers, one of our greatest challenges is keeping up with the rapid changes taking place in our society. Because of this, it is not just the trainers from our industrial partners who recognize the value of workforce development and take action to improve productivity and competitiveness by identifying and meeting the needs of the local workforce. Planning, instruction, and the creation of educational policies and initiatives are also included. This is why we must target talent while managing interventions to ensure organizations have the “right people, skills implemented in the right places and at the right time to achieve our goals.”

Changes such as these will set the path for the future of engineering by uniting us to work together and engage in our communities for positive outcomes.

I was also honored to conduct the Pinellas and Tampa Chapters Officer Induction ceremony on October 29, 2024. The event was amazing, and the following officers were inducted:

Position	Tampa Chapter	Pinellas Chapter
President	Megan Tetro, P.E.	Jeff Antonacci, P.E.
Vice President	Trevor Hawkins, P.E.	Pavan Paiavula, P.E.
Treasurer	Daniel Hoelfich, P.E.	Amin Vosolui, P.E.
Secretary	Uni Chen, P.E.	Vince Burns, P.E.

Again, I want to thank you for your support, encouragement, and confidence. As part of my objectives and vision for what we can accomplish as a team, I am incredibly excited about what FES and ACEC Florida continue to achieve, as well as other opportunities. I am looking forward to reporting our progress next month.

Sincerely,

Charles W. Davis, Ph.D., SSGB | Associate Professor
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | davisc14@erau.edu