Calendar of Events

Florida International University Pedestrian Bridge Failure, A Study in Structural Ethics or Ethical

Overview

This webinar is hosted by the New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers (NHSPE)

Experience Level: Any level of experience

On March 15th 2018 a pedestrian bridge across a 6 lane highway being built for the Florida International University failed and fell across the highway killing 5 occupants of crushed cars and a worker. An additional ten persons were injured, six seriously.  The bridge was constructed using a design/build contract and an Accelerated Bridge Construction method.

This seminar examines the failure and identifies the various times in the design/build process that the design flaws could have been identified and corrected, preventing the failure. The seminar will also discuss the apparent ethical issues arising during the design and building of the bridge, leading to its failure.

Speaker

Rebecca A. Bowman, Esq., P.E., D.F.E.
Senior Director for Ethics and Professional Practice
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

Rebecca A. Bowman, Esq., P.E. is the 36-year principal of a woman-owned business in forensic civil engineering, dispute resolution, real estate, and legal services. She is a registered professional engineer, licensed attorney, and a certified arbitrator, mediator, and Christian conciliator. She received her B.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of North Dakota, her M.B.A. degree from Oklahoma University, and her J.D. degree from Duquesne University. Mrs. Bowman recently joined the National Society of Professional Engineers as the Senior Director for Ethics and Professional Practice.  She also serves as the Executive Director for the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

1 PDH (NY Approval Pending)

Doing Bad Things for Good Reasons: An Examination of Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior Among Pro

Overview

Experience Level: Any level of experience

Unethical behavior in organizations can be extremely costly. It exposes firms to direct costs, such as fines, settlements, and legal expenses, as well as indirect costs like damage to the firm’s reputation. This presentation will examine when employees perform unethical acts to benefit the organization (i.e., unethical pro-organizational behavior), what factors contribute to it, and what professional engineering firms can do to reduce unethical behavior at work. Participants will leave with a specific, documented plan to reduce unethical behavior in their workplace, drawing upon the latest research and customizing solutions to their needs

Learning Outcomes

• To understand unethical pro-organizational behavior and factors that contribute to it.
• To understand strategies for mitigating the risk that professional workers will act unethically to benefit the organization.
• To understand the potential dark side, or unintended consequences, of professional workers identifying with their organization.

Speaker

Kyle Payne, PhD
Bellevue University

Dr. Payne is a strategic, data-driven talent development manager and leadership consultant with 10+ years of experience finding innovative ways to bring out the best in people, especially in manufacturing and AEC firms. He has also applied his expertise in Lean Six Sigma to help organizations build quality management systems that meet strict regulatory requirements and foster continuous improvement.

Dr. Payne researches and gives talks related to evidence-based practices that foster identification, engagement, and citizenship behaviors among employees while mitigating the “dark side” of these phenomena. He has served as a volunteer exam developer for ASQ, AWS, ICC, AMPP, and SHRM. He currently serves on the Ethics & Professional Practice Committee for AMPP.

 1 PDH (NY Approval Pending)

Ethical Insights: Lessons in Reporting

Experience Level: Any level of experience

Using the most recent cases from the Board of Ethical Review, attendees with gain insight to the duty of engineers to report.  One case will examine the duty to report all available information and that acts of omission can be just as dangerously unethical as acts of commission.  The second case will consider the duties of an engineer when observing an issue that is unrecognized by the public.  The third case will analyze the engineer’s duties when a submission is mischaracterized.  The final case will examine the issue of whether or not ethical duties are changed by changes in legal liability.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognizing a duty to report all available information.
• Recognizing a duty to report an unrecognized issue.
• Recognizing a duty to report a mischaracterization of status.
• Recognizing the ethical implications of a change in liability.

Rebecca A. Bowman, Esq., P.E., D.F.E.

Rebecca A. Bowman, Esq., P.E. is the 36-year principal of a woman-owned business in forensic civil engineering, dispute resolution, real estate, and legal services. She is a registered professional engineer, licensed attorney, and a certified arbitrator, mediator, and Christian conciliator.   She received her B.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of North Dakota, her M.B.A. degree from Oklahoma University, and her J.D. degree from Duquesne University. Mrs. Bowman recently joined the National Society of Professional Engineers as the Senior Director for Ethics and Professional Practice.  She also serves as the Executive Director for the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

Keep Yourself in the Game: A Panel of Women PE Leaders Present their Strategies for Successful Work/

Organized by the NSPE Women's Leadership Program Task Force

Experience Level: Any level of experience

This session will be a moderated panel discussion with members of the Women's Leadership Program Task Force. We all wear many hats with multiple responsibilities. Sometimes our personal lives bleed into our work lives and vice versa as we attempt to manage it all. The panel members will discuss their individual approaches to dealing with the demands of their professional engineering work and their personal lives while avoiding burnout. Each of our panel members will share strategies and techniques for achieving work-life balance allowing for successful navigation of their careers with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction both professionally and personally. Participants will leave with a host of tested tips, tricks and techniques.

Learning Outcomes

Attendees will learn several techniques for prioritizing, maintaining energy and focus, and personal management and know how to adapt these tools for their own use.

Speakers

Tricia Hatley, P.E., F.NSPE

Executive Vice President Operations, Central Plains and Southeast US Regions

Freese & Nichols

Tricia Hatley is an Executive Vice President for Freese and Nichols, Inc overseeing operations in the Central Plains, Southeast US and Gulf Coast Regions. Along with her wide variety of transportation, planning, and public infrastructure design experience, she is also particularly skilled in public involvement and outreach. Tricia is an Envision Sustainability Professional with proven success in assisting clients in the development of sustainable project alternatives. Outside of her work at Freese and Nichols, Tricia recently completed her term as the 2020-21 President of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). While serving as President she led the organization in implementation of their strategic plan which includes a focus on the promotion of diversity and tomorrow’s engineers. Major accomplishments during her term as President include the hiring of the organization’s first female executive director and CEO and successfully navigating the impacts of the COVID pandemic. Tricia graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. An avid runner, Tricia has completed eight marathons.

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Monica Fulkerson, PE

Senior Environmental Engineer

Jacobs

Monica Fulkerson, PE is a Senior Environmental Engineer with Jacobs (formerly CH2M) since 2006. Monica is located in Charlotte, NC. She has 19 years of experience and serves as a Senior Technical Consultant, Design Manager, and Project Manager, specializing in site management and remediation projects. Monica is currently the Past President of the Professional Engineers of North Carolina and will be leading North Carolina’s Women in Engineering Conference in 2024. Monica has a B.S. and an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech.

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Daphne King, P.E.

GEI Consultants

Daphne King, P.E. - Daphne is a licensed professional engineer with GEI Consultants in Dallas. She graduated from the University of Missouri KC and has more than 20 years of experience in transportation design, utility coordination, project management, and business development. She has served on her company’s Board of Directors, D+I Committee, and Risk Review Committee. Daphne is passionate about supporting others in their path of individual growth, professional development, and small business advancement. Daphne has been involved with NSPE since 2007. She is a TSPE Preston Trail Chapter Past President and serves on NSPE’s DEI Advisory Committee and Women's Leadership Program Task Force.

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Victoria Ballestero, PE, MBA, ENV SP

Vice President and Operations Manager

ATCS

Victoria Ballestero, PE, MBA, ENV SP is a national-award winning Professional Engineer with nearly a decade of experience in Maryland and DC-Metro centric land development engineering. In her role as Vice President and Operations Manager at ATCS, Victoria launched the firm’s Prince George’s County office and leads a team of professional engineers, planners, and land surveyors. Victoria serves as President of the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers, Vice Chair for the Maryland Building Industry Association, and a Board Member for the Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Council at her alma mater Clarkson University, among other industry roles. When not working, Victoria can be found running, backpacking, and ice climbing.

Professional Engineers Day

Celebrate licensure and the profession with PEs around the world on August 2, 2023 for the eighth annual Professional Engineers Day!