Noelle Cochran named NSPE Fellow!

Noelle Cochran, immediate past-president of NSPE-CO has been named an NSPE Fellow! The NSPE Fellow Program is a national program intended to recognize deserving professional engineers who have demonstrated long term professional service at the chapter, state and national levels of NSPE. The NSPE Board of Directors established the Fellow recognition program in 2000 to honor those licensed members who have demonstrated exemplary service to the profession, the Society, and the community. The state board nominated Noelle for this recognition. In that nomination, it was stated "Ms. Noelle Cochran has served NSPE in Colorado non-stop since 1991 when she became Treasurer of the Metro Denver Chapter (which evolved into the Central Chapter). Each of the last 21 years she has been a board member or officer at the Chapter or State level. She has demonstrated on-going professional commitment to the organization, and strongly represents NSPE to other organizations as well. In 20 years of service to MATHCOUNTS she has been a strong advocate for the program nationally, locally and across the state of Colorado." Noelle serves as Vice President/Program Manager/Project Manager for URS Corporation, in Denver. Congratulations Noelle!

 

	Thank you to everyone who participated in the HENDERSON MINE TOUR May 3rd. Special thanks to our hosts and tourguides at the Mine!!!

19th Annual NSPE-CO Education Foundation (PEC-EF) Golf Tournament is Monday June 18th at Perry Park Country Club!

Click here for the registration form

 

AES Request for NSPE-CO Postions

Professional Engineer:

Work has begun on the Sunset process for Licensing for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Architects. These three professions are all under the purview of the Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (AES Board). Current legislation for the AES Board sunsets in 2013, requiring a review of existing statutes to determine if they continue, change or cease. This process will result in legislation in the 2013 legislative session.

A task force with representatives of the professional associations from each of the practice areas AES regulates has been meeting to look at existing statutes and taking a proactive role in the process. This work will continue through the Sunset process, and we will be coming to NSPE-CO members through the process for feedback on a number of issues.

The AES Board has asked each of the participating professional organizations to provide a position on three preliminary questions for discussion at the Board's December meeting. The NSPE-CO Executive Committee draft responses received overwhelming support from those responding to the recent survey. In the coming moths there will be more items where your feedback is needed. A helpful tool in looking at the practice acts which fall under AES was compiled by DORA. Click here for a pdf comparison of the Architects, Engineers and Professional Engineers Practice Acts.

Throughout the Sunset process, your involvement will be very important as NSPE-CO works to represent the interests of Professional Engineers in service to the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Colorado Licensed Professional Engineers Expiration Date Change!

The expiration date is changing to one biennial date for all Colorado licensed Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors: October 31, 2013. As a result of this change, you will be receiving a license with the new expiration date and you will not need to renew your license by the previous expiration date on your old license. Those with expirations of October 2011 should renew as you normally would.

This information from DORA (The Department of Regulatory Agencies):

Expect to receive your new license by the end of this calendar year, and please destroy your old license when you receive the new replacement. You will be notified within 6-8 weeks of your new expiration date of October 31, 2013 that your license is ready for renewal. Remember: Timely renew your license and keep your contact information, including your email address, current by visiting the Division homepage at www.dora.state.co.us/registrations and clicking the button on the left titled “Registrations Online Services.” For more information regarding the Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, please visit www.dora.state.co.us/aes . If you have any questions about the license expiration date change and your new license, please contact DORA at aes@dora.state.co.us or 303.894.2270.

What does DORA hope to accomplish with this change?

• Having one expiration date for all of the Engineers and Land Surveyors will eliminate renewal fee inequities. Currently, if you renew in June, you often may pay a different fee than if you renew in July, due to the change in our fees with the transition in fiscal years.
• Having one expiration date for all three professions associated with the AES Board (Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors) will allow us to leverage communication channels through the Board's tools, your resources, and professionals talking to one another, to raise awareness of the renewal period. The anticipated outcome is fewer professionals practicing with an expired license and fewer disciplinary actions, both of which would be beneficial to consumers and to licensees.
• Having one expiration date for Engineers and Land Surveyors over the two-year license period will increase our Division's efficiency by accomplishing the renewal process once instead of continually during that timeframe.

QBS

Our thanks to Michael Fink, P.E. who is completing his term as a NSPE-CO representative to QBS-CO on December 31st, 2011.

Do you have a passion for Qualifications-Based Selection of Professional Services? Nominations are being accepted to serve as a NSPE-CO representative to QBS-CO. The three year position starts January 2012. Contact the state office at (303) 480-1160 oe email steve@nspe-co.org if you are interested in volunteering. Primary responsibilities include representing NSPE-CO at the monthly QBS-CO meeting.

Click here for the QBS Colorado Winter 2011 Newsletter.