ACEC Florida President Richard G. Acree, PE
To the ACEC Florida Community,
As we close out 2025 and look ahead to a new year of opportunity and impact for our profession, I want to thank each of you for your engagement and leadership. Your involvement strengthens the voice of engineering in Florida and helps advance the business of engineering across the state.
A special thank you to Shahin Hekmat for leading the Executive Director Search Committee, of which I was pleased to be a part, and for keeping us on track. I would like to thank the remainder of the committee for all of your hard work: David Keough, P.E. – President of the Florida Engineering Society; Charles Davis, P.E. – Past President of the Florida Engineering Society; Scott Gombar, P.E. – Member at Large; and Carlos Penin, P.E. – Member at Large. We recently held in-person interviews with four candidates at our ACEC Florida/FES Headquarters in Tallahassee, and we have a couple more steps to take before the selected candidate is official and can be announced. I am optimistic that our new Executive Director will be “on board” in January 2026 and available for our Board meeting and Legislative Days.
Our Regional Directors have been busy with events throughout the state. I was invited by Jeff Sullivan, P.E., ACEC Region 2 (Northeast FL) Director, to give an update on ACEC at their Region 2 – FDOT Transportation Innovations meeting held at the First Magnitude Brewing Company in Gainesville. The event featured several FDOT District 2 leaders giving updates on the district, was well attended, and was at an excellent venue that encouraged meaningful conversation and engagement. Kudos to Jeff and other supporters for a great event!
Region 2 event in Gainesville
January kicks off with a crucial advocacy event that matters for every firm and engineer: Professional Engineers Legislative Days on January 20 and 21 in Tallahassee. This event gives us a direct platform to engage with lawmakers, share how public policy affects our businesses and clients, and influence the direction of engineering practice in Florida. Your presence amplifies our collective message and ensures that decision makers understand the real impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.
During the 2026 legislative session, it is also critical that members stay informed in real time. I encourage you to register for the Weekly Legislative Update calls, held every Friday during session. These calls provide timely insights on bills, issues, and opportunities that affect consulting firms and our industry as a whole.
Darrick McGhee, Johnson and Blanton, giving legislative updates at the November 19, 2025 Board Meeting in Tampa
Continuing to look ahead to January, ACEC Florida is again partnering with FDOT on the FDOTConnect Virtual Training Labs. Our new Beginner Series, the week of January 27-30, is specially developed for beginners and young engineers to provide the essential skills necessary to contribute to plan production. These virtual sessions will help build foundational skills with FDOT’s CONNECT tools and workflows, a benefit for firms and professionals working on DOT projects.
Planning is already underway for signature events in the first quarter of 2026. The Engineering Excellence Banquet on February 13 in Orlando is a celebration of our top-performing firms and their award-winning projects. All sponsorship levels include banquet tickets, and individual tickets will also be available for purchase. Last year’s banquet featured entertainment by SAK Comedy Lab, and it was one of the most fun and memorable evenings we’ve had. I have no doubt this year will deliver the same level of laughter and connection as we honor our winning firms.
Thank you for all you do for ACEC Florida and the engineering profession. Your commitment to advocacy, education, and excellence is what drives our success. I wish you and your families a safe and meaningful holiday season!
Best regards,
Rick Acree, PE
Terracon, Director of Florida Transportation and Infrastructure
Senior Principal – Vice President
