A Message From FES President Dr. Charles Davis
Dear FES members,
As always, I want to thank all of you for your continuous support and contributions to the Florida Engineering Society (FES) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida). I want to give pause to those families and friends who have been affected and impacted by Hurricane Helene and heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones because of this tragedy. I would also like to express my sincere respect for the many individuals providing support and rescue efforts on the ground. We (FES & ACEC Florida) hope for the earliest possible return to normalcy for those affected by this disaster and for the recovery and restoration of the areas affected.
For more than 100 years, FES has been the Sunshine State’s premier organization supporting engineers and the engineering industry. FES unites a network of 3,000 professional engineers to enhance successful career opportunities and networking opportunities with engineers in their communities by promoting and advocating for Florida’s professional engineers, supporting education, licensing, and ethical and intelligence of the engineering profession by enhancing performance and celebrating achievements through motivational awards. FES also networks with its partners in communities throughout Florida through local parent and student chapters.
My friend and esteemed colleague, Andy Lauzier, P.E., is committed to ACEC Florida as a voice of engineering firms in the Sunshine State. ACEC Florida brings together more than 300 leading engineering firms, representing 20,000 employees, and strives to bring excellence into the everyday lives of Floridians. ACEC Florida works to strengthen engineering for its members through advocacy, policy work, education, and growth opportunities. For half a century, ACEC Florida has partnered with the engineering community to deliver innovative projects, advance public policy, create jobs, and improve the lives of Floridians.
This takes me to October. I am resuming focus on how we are meeting the goals that I outlined in my August President’s message. One of the goals I presented is our inspirational vision to be the engineering cornerstone with trendsetting values that support not only our members but also Florida’s plan and stakeholders for a future-ready infrastructure. Also, teach, mentor, create, and utilize innovative technologies, among other contributions (expertise individually and collectively) to the state’s ongoing progress. As I stated in my August message, we (FES & ACEC Florida) can and should have a direct impact on every part of our lives by the work we undertake.
We have met and spoken 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.
Another opportunity we have is with the Floridians for Better Transportation (FBT). This organization is a statewide business and transportation association dedicated to making transportation safer and more efficient in Florida. Our passion is aligned with FBT because they, too, are advocates and conduits between the state legislature and the transportation industry. Thanks to our Executive Director, Allen Douglas, for initiating these conversations with both groups to define our engagements. He is doing an amazing job chartering these endeavors.
As engineers, we need to keep up with the rapid changes happening in our society, which is one of our biggest challenges. This is why it is not just the trainers from industrial partners who recognize the need for workforce development; they also actively address it by identifying and meeting the needs of the local workforce to enhance productivity and competitiveness. This includes planning, training, and the development of educational policies and programs. Employee development differs from on-the-job training in that it takes a long-term view and focuses on employee growth and development over time. Our world is changing rapidly due to automation, digital disruption, and the emergence of new industries. We must adapt to these changes by keeping our moral principles. By adapting to these changes and maintaining our ethical principles, we can implement workforce planning by analyzing, forecasting, and planning the supply and demand of workers, assessing areas, and deciding on targeted talent management interventions to ensure that the organization has the “right people, skills implemented in the right places and at the right time to achieve our goals.”
Once we have established our membership level with the Chamber of Commerce, I encourage our chapters to engage with their local Chamber to discuss how members can help support their initiatives to reconnect and reimagine communities that face many similar challenges. I also encourage you to contact your local chapter leaders to obtain their calendar of events and support them within your respective communities.
The below outlines the first steps toward reaching our goals for this year.
Goal #1 – Being a Partner and Collaborator in Florida’s Infrastructure
- Participating in discussions and solutions with state and local Chamber of Commerce.
- Be a trusted partner and advisor to stakeholders and mobility agencies in transportation, water, environment, climate change, and resiliency.
- Serve as advisory body to the Florida Legislature on matters affecting our industry.
- Challenge local parent and student chapters for solutions to address disconnects and rethink how they can collaborate with communities.
Changes like this will pave the way for the future of engineering by bringing us together to collaborate and engage in our communities for positive outcomes.
Thank you again for your confidence, guidance, and support. I am incredibly excited about what FES & ACEC Florida continue to achieve and other opportunities that are part of my goals and vision of what we can execute as a team. I look forward to reporting our progress next month.
Sincerely,
Charles W. Davis, Ph.D., SSGB | Associate Professor
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | davisc14@erau.edu
