2023 ACEC Midwest States Conference

ACEC MSC Header

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7
10:00 AM-12:00 PM - Site Visit of Lake Springfield Master Plan
Description: The Lake Springfield area is a key natural asset to the Springfield community and surrounding region. The lake and surrounding area was identified as a redevelopment opportunity area during the City’s Forward SGF comprehensive planning process. The Plan will include adaptive reuse planning for the decommissioned Power Station and a Plan for the Lake Springfield area encompassing approximately 1,000 acres of publicly owned land. An in-depth Hydrological Study will be conducted to identify feasibility of various opportunities for the Lake and James River and will inform the development of the plan. The Plan will be a catalyst for innovative economic and recreational opportunities, new infrastructure, sustainable water quality and green infrastructure, compatible development which increases the tax base, creates jobs, improves the quality of life of the workforce and their families. More Info can be found at: https://Lakesgfplan.com.
11:00 AM-1:00 PM - Registration for Conference
1:00-3:00 PM - CEO Roundtable Discussions for Small & Large Firms (Small: 1-50 employees; Large: 51+ employees) (2.0 PDHs)
Description: The purpose of this program is to discuss business practice issues in a roundtable format. Discussion will include areas such as liability, profitability, ownership, human resources, business development, information technology, etc. (We will split into 2 groups by firm size in separate rooms for this discussion.)
3:30-5:30 PM - ACEC/PAC Fundraiser at BigShots Golf (see separate registration link below or click here to register)
Description: Come and have some fun while support the ACEC National PAC. We'll head to BigShots Golf where each tee box is powered by TrackMan* Range, a Doppler radar-based system that covers the entire tee box and range. Sit back and try your hand at their virtual games, have a full practice session complete with stats or play virtual courses from around the world. All you need to do is swing!
7:00-9:30 PM - Welcoming Reception & Dinner (includes entertainment by Springfield Improv)
Join us for drinks, entertainment, dinner and networking with other members.

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

8:00-9:00 AM - Breakfast Program on Scope Creep, Level of Service and Leaving Money on the Table (.5 PDH)
Speaker: Lydia Zabrycki, Vice President/Client Engagement, ACEC Retirement Trust

Description: Avoiding these pitfalls by crafting an innovative retirement plan benefit that optimizes outcomes, minimizes risk, improves employee engagement, and manages costs while navigating the compliance nuances of today’s employer-sponsored retirement plan landscape is no easy feat. We will look at how plan design, fiduciary process, vendor management, investment oversight, and participant engagement all contribute to making your retirement plan benefit an attraction and retention tool and win the war for talent.
9:15-10:15 AM - Why Engineers Need to Show Up Panel Discussion (1.0 PDH)
Speakers: Rep. Bob Bromley, Rep. Don Mayhew, & Rep. Crystal Quade, Missouri House of Representatives
10:30-11:30 AM - ACEC Members Filling the Engineering Pipeline Panel Discussion (1.0 PDH)
Moderator: Kathleen Trauth, Associate Professor, University of Missouri - Columbia; Speakers: Aisha Bowe, Former NASA Rocket Scientist & Founder/CEO of STEM Board; Emily Rhoden, Senior Community Relations Strategist, Burns & McDonnell; Kimberly Robinett, CEO & Managing Partner, TREKK Design Group, LLC
11:45 AM-12:45 PM - Lunch & Keynote Speaker: Aisha Bowe, Former NASA Rocket Scientist & Founder/CEO of STEM Board
Description: Aisha is a former NASA rocket scientist, a global motivational speaker, and the founder and CEO of STEM Board. A serial entrepreneur who is passionate about empowering students to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), Aisha raised over $1.6 million to create LINGO, a self-paced coding kit for learning technical concepts at home. Currently used by over 5,000 students in 10 countries, LINGO has clients that include tech giants such as Microsoft, along with nonprofits, HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities), and federal organizations.
1:00-3:00 PM - ACEC Kansas Meeting
1:00-3:00 PM - ACEC Missouri Meeting
1:00-3:00 PM - ACEC Oklahoma Meeting
5:30 PM - Buses Depart Hotel for Springfield Cardinals Baseball Game at Hammons Field - meet outside hotel lobby between 5:10-5:25 PM
6:05-7:00 PM - Reception at Springfield Cardinals Baseball Game at Hammons Field
7:05-9:30 PM - Springfield Cardinals Baseball Game vs. NW Arkansas at Hammons Field
Join us for a great night of fun watching the Springfield Cardinals play baseball against NW Arkansas. This includes all you can eat baseball food and beverages in the Redbird Roost.
Buses Will Depart Stadium to Return to Hotel Immediately After the Game (There are Ubers available if you prefer to get to the game and/or back to the hotel on your own.)

FRIDAY, JUNE 9
8:00-9:15 AM - Breakfast Program on Cyber Trends in 2023 (.5 PDH)
Speaker: Mary Erchul, Executive Director, ACEC Business Insurance Trust
Description: The ACEC Business Insurance Trust presents updates on current best practices including the latest trends in Cyber Security.
9:30-10:30 AM - Program on Ownership Transition Planning - Direct Ownership, ESOP or both (1.0 PDH)
Speaker: Tim Cleary, Managing Director, Chartwell
10:45-11:45 AM - Program on ESG 101 - Are You Ready for the ESG Ripple Effect? (1.0 PDH)
Speaker: Lou Raiola, Strategic Advisor & Practice Leader, Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) for ethOs
Description: Join us for a thought-provoking session on ESG so that you're prepared to go back to your organization to begin or enhance the ESG conversations and position your company to be ready and aligned with future ESG regulations. Learn how to leverage ESG as part of your purpose, people, and culture brand and overall value proposition. While ESG is still evolving and quite dynamic, there are things your organization can do today to begin your journey. What you'll learn: Understand what ESG is and the importance of it for all types of organizations; How to assess their own organization’s ESG readiness; Gain an understanding of what key elements align with each pillar of ESG: environmental pillar, social pillar, and governance pillar.

For a printable copy of the schedule of events, click here.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Conference Registration: To register for the conference, click here. The early-bird deadline to register is Thursday, May 18, 2023.

Early-Bird Registration Fee (register by May 18): Members - $575.00; Spouses/Guests - $300.00; Child (18 & over) - $175.00; Child (17 & under) - $150.00.
Registration Fee (register after May 18): Members - $600.00; Spouses/Guests - $325.00; Child (18 & over) - $200.00; Child (17 & under) - $175.00.

ACEC/PAC Fundraiser Registration: To register for the ACEC/PAC Fundraiser at BigShots Golf on June 7, 2023, click here. The deadline to register is Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

HOTEL INFORMATION:

CONFERENCE HOTEL: All events will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 2431 N. Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, MO 65803, unless noted otherwise. Our block of rooms filled up so we added a limited number of rooms to the block. Call 417-831-3131 and refer to our group code “AC2” to get our group rate of $244.00. You can also book your sleeping room online. The deadline to reserve your sleeping room is Thursday, May 25, 2023. To see more information on the hotel, click here.

We also set up a small block of rooms at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Springfield North, 2455 N. Glenstone Avenue, Springfield, MO 65803 (which is next to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel). The rate is $159.00 per night. You can reserve a room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Springfield North by calling 417-833-9599 and mentioning "ACEC Midwest States Conference" to get the rate, or you can reserve your room by clicking here. The deadline to reserve your room at this hotel is Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

To see the 2022 Springfield Area Guide, click here.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Airport: The Springfield-Branson National Airport (2300 N. Airport Boulevard, Springfield, MO 65802) is just northwest of the city and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is just 6.7 miles away. For more information on the airport, click here.

Cancellation Policy: Full registration will be refunded, less a $50 processing fee, if written notification is received on or before May 26. No refunds will be granted after this date, however, substitutions are welcome.

Recommended Attire: All events are CASUAL.