The National Capital Section
COST FORUM
Volume: 7 Issue: 1 September 2015
GREETINGS TO ALL NATIONAL CAPITAL SECTION MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES
Welcome to the 2015 and 2016 Program Year. First, I want to update everyone on the activities and events that occurred during our summer break. The National Capital Section (NCS) was awarded the Platinum Award for the fourth or fifth year in a row. This award level only happens when our NCS members dedicate themselves to achieving this level of recognition. My personally thanks to everyone that made this award possible.
I also want to update you on changes to the NCS Officers, Directors and Chairs for this program year. First, Regis Fox has been nominated and accepted the Vice President position for this year. Regis is Director, Project Controls at McKissack & McKissack. Regis and his firm are excited about participating in NCS activities and events. I want to thank Dave Mazzullo for his service as the Vice President over the previous years. Additionally, Chowdhary Gondy, our NCS Treasurer, took over this position during the summer break and is now up and running. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, Bruce Lyall is stepping down from the Communications Chair position, however, John Buonagurio is stepping into this Chair position. Bruce and John are working together through a transition period to ensure continuity is maintained.
Based on a Board meeting in September, we have decided to reorganize responsibilities slightly. Going forward Bruce/John will manage the NCS website and email communications, and Chowdhary will be responsible for our financial duties, including our banking transactions and our PayPal account. We will still provide easy access for registering and paying for program events on the NCS website as we have done in the past.
Wrapping up changes to the NCS Officers, Directors and Chairs for this program year, both Dennis Allen and Tim Boatwright informed me that they resigned their positions as Directors for this coming year. I want to thank both Dennis and Tim for their participation and efforts. Hopefully, we'll see them again in NCS' leadership in the near future.
We have a full program schedule planned for this year. On October 15, we have a technical program on VDOT's Project Controls to be hosted at VDOT's Northern Virginia District Offices. In November 19, we have scheduled a technical program on activity based costing with a focus on DOE EM and NNSA. Our annual NCS holiday party will be in early December, we are finalizing plans now for this event. For more details regarding these programs and events, please see the scheduled below. Looking ahead into 2016, we are also organizing a networking happy hour in conjunction with a software demonstration for January 2016.
As always, you can check the NCS website for updates to our program and events schedule. Additionally, you can register for these program and events on our website (aacei-ncs.org). We urge you to register early so we have an accurate head count for order food and refreshments.
For the 2015/2016 program years, I would like NCS to achieve the following goals and objectives:
- Increase attendance at monthly technical programs and other events.
- Increase participation with local college and university faculty and students.
- Ensure that NCS makes one to two scholarship award(s) this program year.
- Continue to provide our membership training programs to assist in the preparation for certification examinations.
- Develop increased participation by corporate sponsors to offset costs of programs and events.
Based on our success this past May with our CCP Training Program, we want to offer the NSC membership another review course this winter. Currently, we are planning an EVP review course. Niyi Ladipo has agreed to champion this effort, so please let Niyi or myself know if you are interested in providing instruction to attendees or can volunteer space for conducting these training sessions. If you are not aware, we do pay our instructors for their time for these review courses. If you're interested, please contact Niyi at (703) 967-8380, or myself at rfreas@exponent.com
I am looking forward to reconnecting with everyone this Fall. Please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or the NCS Officers and Directors if you have any questions or comments regarding the NCS. I'll close with this quote by Dee Hock: "An organization, no matter how well designed, is only as good as the people who live and work in it." So I ask that you get involved and participate this coming program year.
Robert (Bob) Freas, PSP
President NCS