Newz and Viewz

December2009
Calendar of Upcoming Events
December
01 ACEC of Arizona Business Practices – 7:15 a.m. Breakfast
University Club, 39 E. Monte Vista, Phoenix
Special Guest: Kris Mayes, Arizona Corporation Commission

02 ADOT/AGC/ACEC Partnering Event

Glendale Civic Center

03 ACEC of Arizona Board Meeting – 11:30 Lunch

University Club, 39 E. Monte Vista, Phoenix

09 ACEC of Arizona and Maricopa County Liaison – 7:15 a.m. Breakfast

University Club, 39 E. Monte Vista, Phoenix
Presentation by Dennis Holcomb, Landscape Architecture Branch Manager,
Flood Control District of Maricopa County

Topic: Context Sensitive Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning and Design Approach

15 SPECIAL PROGRAM: Update on LEED v3 and What it Means to Engineering Companies

Presentation by Mark Wilhelm, Green Ideas

17 ACEC of Arizona Roads & Streets Committee – 11:30 a.m. Lunch

University Club, 39 E. Monte Vista, Phoenix

Happy Holidays!!!
Special Program
 From the “Principal Roundtables” selected programs …

Please join ACEC of Arizona in welcoming Mark Wilhelm, Principal

Green Ideas Environmental Building Consultants

Tuesday, December 15th – 11:30 Lunch

University Club, 39 East Monte Vista, Phoenix

Update on LEED v3 … And What LEED Means to Engineering Companies

Mark has had direct involvement in every Green Ideas LEED project,
including 30-plus certified LEED projects and over 70 registered LEED projects
representing more than 28 million square feet of built space.
He also has trained over 3,000 professionals in the various LEED rating systems.
Mark is a LEED accredited professional who has devoted over three decades to energy-efficiency,
sustainable building design and planning, and solar energy technology.

Additionally, Mark is a founding member and past Chairman of the USGBC Arizona Chapter. He is a
past Director of the USGBC West Region Council. Mark is the appointed Chairman of the State of
Arizona’s Solar Energy Advisory Council and its Climate Change Subcommittee. He is also Past
President and Chairman of the Phoenix Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers, a member of the
U.S. EPA’s Technical Advisory Group for Building Healthy Hospitals, and a member of the GPEC
Technology Leadership Council. Mark served as Chairman of the 2009 Host Committee for the
Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, which is the world’s largest green building conference.

Attendee(s) ___________________________________________________________________________

Company ____________________________________________ Phone (_______)__________________

Address/City/Zip ______________________________________________________________________

Please make check in the amount of $30 per attendee payable to ACECAZ

OR Charge to: _____ Visa // _____ MasterCard // _____ American Express

Cardholder Name _________________________________ Card No. _____________________________

Signature ________________________________________ Exp. Date ___________ CV Number ______

Register by Friday, December 11th – Complete and return registration form to:
ACEC/AZ, 1309 E. Echo Lane, Phoenix 85020 or Fax to 602/995-2218
Meeting questions, please call 602/995-2187
One Professional Development Hour
Refer billing questions to: accounting@acecaz.org
Note: Please save a copy of this form as your receipt.

People in the Newz

Congratulations to Eric Coffey, R.L.S., CFedS, Project Manager/Crew Chief for Coe & Van Loo who
recently passed his CFeds exam and is now a Certified Federal Surveyor.
David Evans and Associates, Inc. has moved to 4600 E. Washington St., Suite 430, Phoenix 85034.

Structural Grace, Inc. is looking to sublease office space (1,115 sq ft). If interested, contact Kelly Sloan
at 520/320-0156 or admin@structuralgrace.com.

Looking for an Outstanding Employee … Jeannie L. Wright, has a BS in Business Management and can
help you with management, operations, leadership and business development. Contact Jeannie at
602/330-4819 or jlwright@cox.net. Her resume is on file with ACEC/AZ.

LEAP 2010 Class

Welcome 2010 LEAP Classmates!!!

Richard Alexander, AECOM

Colt Alvernaz, Ritoch Powell & Associates
Jessica Belowich, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
Tricia Boyer, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Suzanne Deitering, Point Engineers

Cynthia DePonti, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.

Stephen Drake, Huitt-Zollars, Inc.
Keith Drunasky, Ritoch Powell & Associates
Adrian Enriquez, Nabar Stanley Brown
Alberto Gonzalez, Entellus
Brian Grimaldi, Premier Engineering Corporation
James D. Joder, Stanley Consultants
Joe Kraft, EPS Group
Carlos Lara, Tristar Engineering
Julie Leid, GHD Inc.
Kelly Lenhart, Dibble Engineering
Michael LoTempio, Stanley Consultants
Nicholas McLain, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Dave Matson, Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Mark Peterson, Gannett Fleming
Kevin Robertson, Premier Engineering Corporation
Devin Shaffer, Carollo Engineers
Brad Tackett, Carollo Engineers
Kristin Tytler, Wood, Patel & Associates, Inc.

Be Safe With Your Holiday Cheer

By Scott Schmidt, CIC
Stuckey Insurance
 “In a troubled economy, the last thing your firm needs is the headache
of a lawsuit resulting from an overserved employee.”

The following material is provided for informational purposes only. Before taking any action that could
have legal or other important consequences, speak with a qualified professional who can provide
guidance that considers your own unique circumstances.

With the holiday season coming up, many companies are beginning to plan their holiday party. While the
plan is to socialize and celebrate the year’s success (or survival), employers need to keep safety in mind
while spreading the holiday cheer.

Many employers and their employees can find themselves in trouble as a result of poorly planned holiday
parties. Employers are encouraged to discuss the risks of these celebrations, and plan accordingly to
mitigate potential issues.

The use of alcohol at holiday parties is widely accepted, and can present the most problems for you and
your workforce. Arizona law states that social hosts can be held liable when their guests cause an accident
because their driving was impaired due to alcohol use. In a troubled economy, the last thing your firm
needs is the headache of a lawsuit resulting from an over-served employee. The following tips can help
your firm be a more responsible host this holiday season:

Pre-Party
Be cautious of the message you are sending to your employees in your invitation. Displaying cocktail
glasses or bottles of liquor may incorrectly convey a message that your holiday party is focused on
drinking. Instead focus on the celebration/socialization, and downplay any alcohol-based themes.
November, 2009
Alcohol
Deciding not to serve alcohol at the holiday party is one solution, although not a popular one. A recent
survey shows that 86% of holiday parties serve alcohol. If you do plan on serving alcohol, consider
limiting the number of drinks per person. Drink tickets are one way to track consumption. You may also
want to consider excluding hard liquor or mixed drinks from your menu. Serve food that will slow alcohol
absorption, and be sure to stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the end of the event. Your
bartenders should be adequately trained to observe guests for signs of intoxication and refuse service
to anyone who has had too much to drink. Whatever your plan is, make sure it is communicated to all
involved.

Liquor Liability
Arizona liquor laws allow for a host to be held responsible if their guest is involved in an alcohol-related
accident. “Liquor Liability” provides insurance coverage if you are responsible for personal injury or
property damage resulting from serving alcohol. If you are using a third-party service to provide/serve
alcohol, be sure to request a certificate of insurance including liquor liability that names you as an
additional insured. If you plan on serving alcohol yourself, have your insurance agent review your general
liability policy to see if host liquor liability is included. It’s bad enough if you are sued because of an
alcohol-related accident; even worse if there is no insurance to cover it.

Post-Party Transportation
It is now well known that Arizona has some of the most strict DUI laws in the country. Jail time starts at
10 days, and can increase dramatically depending on circumstances. Fines are in the thousands of dollars,
attorney fees can be more expensive, and you may lose your driver’s license for months. Many employers
consider DUI for grounds for termination, regardless of whether or not it occurred on company time or
personal time. Furthermore, most commercial insurers consider a driver “uninsurable” if there is a DUI
on a motor vehicle record in the past five years.

There are a number of options to help keeping an inebriated person from getting behind the wheel of a
car. Many of your employees may not drink alcohol, and can volunteer to be a designated driver. Taxi
services can offer group discounts for company parties, and may provide services to bring the employee
back the next day to pick up their car. Many services have recently emerged that not only bring you home,
but will also provide a driver to deliver your car as well.
Professional Liability Update Page 3

Conduct
The holiday party can be a breeding ground for inappropriate behavior. Months of stress in the workplace,
fueled by a relaxed atmosphere and alcohol consumption can result in a morning-after harassment
headache. Harassment suits can be costly both in time and money.

Reinforce with your employees that the standard conduct rules in your employee handbook continue to be
in effect at the holiday party. Your management team should have a plan to keep an eye open for trouble,
and be prepared to diffuse a situation should it arise.

Conclusion
Enjoy your holiday party, and celebrate your firm’s success. Make sure you have a plan to keep your
employees safe, so you can all welcome in a new (and hopefully more prosperous than 2009) New Year.

CAN WE BE OF ASSISTANCE?
We may be able to help you by providing referrals to consultants, and by providing guidance relative to
insurance issues, and even to certain preventives, from construction observation through the development
and application of sound human resources management policies and procedures. Please call on us for
assistance. We’re a member of the Professional Liability Agents Network (PLAN). We’re here to help.
STUCKEY INSURANCE is the leading provider of Professional Liability to design professionals in
Arizona. Please call us if you like to schedule a consultation for your insurance needs.

5345 N. 16th St. Suite 110

Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: Fax:
(602) 264-5535 (602) 279-9336
E-mail:
scott.schmidt@stuckeyinsurance.com